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Hank Kolb Case

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Hank Kolb Case

What are the causes of the quality problems on the Greasex line? Display your answer on a fishbone diagram.

What general steps should Hank follow in setting up a continuous improvement program for the company? What problems will he have to overcome to make it work?

The first action I would suggest Hank Kolb to do is hold an entire company meeting, one meeting per shift, to clarify the current issue amongst all management and workers. I would like for everyone to be on the same page on the matter, so there won’t be any rumors or discrepancies. While having everyone from the company at a meeting area, we will do a PowerPoint presentation in regards to refreshing all employees the company’s policy, morals, motives, specifications, and goals. Highlight the issue of safety factors versus production time constraints. Yes, we do need to meet all deadlines and schedules; however, we will NOT put our customers in danger due to meeting schedules. I would schedule some cross training sessions for all employees from all departments, so everyone will be able to operate any type of machinery the company has in the process. Plus, we can rotate all the employees to prevent any injuries and boredom of their jobs, thus creating knowledgably employees on all equipment. I would sit down with all management and pressure them to preach general industry safety and specifications of the new line of merchandise. I would encourage all management take TQM classes for all processes of the process, while offering a seminar on general motivation techniques. I would weigh out the cost between getting a new machine to replace the old one to maintained costs to run the old one. Assuming it will be more feasible and economical to purchase and run new equipment, we will get the machine replace and all personnel will get immediately trained on the new equipment. This shall

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