Workshops
Neovista has trained thousands of people in the tools and methods of continuous improvement and Lean Thinking. Below are some of our most popular titles, and if you don’t see what you are interested in, please ask! Typically, one-hour overview sessions can be arranged for most titles to explore potential benefits, provide highlights for executives, or even cover “lunch-and-learn” type sessions. Full hands-on workshops range from half a day to one or more days, depending on topic and depth. Onsite, virtual, or blended delivery modes are available for most titles.
Please contact us for our latest topics, pricing and schedule.
One-Day Lean Overview
This workshop focuses on the “what and why” of Lean Thinking, and introduces the “how”. Participants (from all process types, production and office) learn about lean’s background core principles, and most used lean tools like standard work, 5S, cells, pull systems, and mistake-proofing. This course is useful as day-one training, project kickoffs, senior leader orientation, supplier development, and more. Includes hands-on exercises.
Value Stream Mapping
Eliminating process waste requires that you first see and target it. Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a proven tool for doing so, planning action, and measuring improvements to flow value to customers. We teach both classical VSM, as well as variants, such as Swim Lane Mapping and Customer Experience Mapping. One- or two-day workshops provide general instruction, or targeted focus on your real world applications.
5S and Visual Management
5S techniques of organization, standardization, visuality, and sustaining habits address many of the most common workplace problems. 5S is often a starting point for improvement efforts. Unfortunately, it is also often misunderstood and misapplied. This workshop goes beyond “tidying up”, and focuses on 5S as a basis for finding and fixing problems. Delivered as a classroom orientation or a hands-on experience in your workplace.
Standard Work
In lean, Standard Work is the basis for continuous improvement. It is not enforced rigid rules; rather, it is like scientific discovery: it is the baseline recipe people establish to serve as the control against which problems are identified and improvement experiments are compared. This workshop is a practical introduction for applying Standard Work in production, office, creative, and personal work activities.
Office Lean
Lean is historically associated with manufacturing, but it applies to any field of human endeavor. Principles, tools, examples, and exercises are included in the classroom session, or we can guide you in selecting a practical pilot in your office. Learn how to create flow, visual controls, standard work and other features that make office work simpler, faster, more rewarding, and more hassle-free, both for customers and those doing the work.
Problem-Solving and A3 Thinking
In a lean culture, everyone solves problems. This workshop teaches systematic templates for solving problems, and the compact format for telling a complete problem-solving story, called the A3. This workshop is potent, not only for teaching front-line employees how to solve problems at their level, but for helping supervisors and above to develop problem-solving skills through coaching and doing.
Pull Systems
One of the common tools for improving flow in a value stream is to handshake processes with real-time control signals. Also known as “kanban”, pull systems can be designed to suit specific needs. This workshop addresses the theory and practice of pull in sessions ranging from a one-day overview, a two-day deep dive with classroom hands-on examples, to multi-day advanced concepts for low-volume/high mix, and highly variable demand.
Cellular Processing
Modern workplaces are often islands of activity, with poor visibility, communication, and overall flow. Cellular Processing - grouping activities in cross-functional product/service/customer groups - “de-balkanizes” the work stream. It creates a more efficient, customer-centric arrangement of talent. Our one-day workshop reviews theories, and additional days can be added to adapt them to your workplace needs.
Toyota Kata
Kata in Japanese means “way of doing”. If you have ever focused your practice to develop music or sports skills, you already know kata. Toyota Kata is a routine for scientifically thinking and acting to develop new skills, and a way for managers to teach their people this way of thinking. Toyota Kata has gotten great traction over the last decade, and we can bring this to you in a range of formats: a one-hour snapshot, and hands-on workshops from one to several days.
Lean Product Development
Lean principles have been very successfully applied to development and discovery processes across many industries. Many companies design unique systems, but the core principles across them are consistent. Our one-day workshop explores these common pillars, and we help you develop an approach to suit your specific challenges and needs.
Lean Supply Chain
As each company’s lean transformation matures, it grows its lean scope beyond its four walls into the extended value stream; Lean Supply Chain becomes an inevitable focus. Our Lean Supply Chain workshop helps you expand your improvement effect to develop and involve supply chain members in mutually-beneficial partnerships.
Kaizen and Kaizen Events
“Kaizen” is synonymous with continuous improvement. The Kaizen Event is a discrete project conducted by a cross-functional team. These blitz or burst events can be an effective method of advancing performance. Some teams flourish while others flounder, and our workshop will show you “the first and the worst” practices to emulate and avoid.
And so much more!
In addition to these most popular titles, Neovista has dozens more topics in our library: Six Sigma, creativity and innovation, leadership development, team building, lean transformation strategy. Contact us to discuss your needs.