INSTRUCTIONS: For this assignment, you are creating a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to address the Operations Manager’s concerns, as well as a separate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) plan to investigate the complaints of misplaced buttons and wrong size labeling.
It is not possible to execute the RCA plan and arrive at a root cause because you do not have the data. Conduct your research and find good quality improvement and RCA methodologies. Then, take those methodologies and apply them to the scenario. Upon completion, the plan should list checklist steps for the staff to improve quality overall, as well as a separate checklist that should be included for the staff to conduct an RCA into the scenario’s issues.
Note: This plan should be prepared in a single Microsoft™ Word document and attached to the unit discussion thread. There is no minimum or maximum in terms of the word count; however, the response should explicitly address all required components of this discussion assignment. The document should be prepared consistent with the APA writing style and reflect higher-level cognitive processing (i.e., analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation).
You are the Production Department manager at Kibby and Strand (fictitious clothing company), and last month there were complaints from customers that the quality of the products shipped to them was lacking. Some shorts were labeled with incorrect sizes and boys’ shirts had buttons sewn on the wrong side.
The Operations Manager tasks you to prepare an overall Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), including a plan for conducting a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify the causes of these quality issues. In addition, he recently read the article https://www.intouch-quality.com/blog/3-key-areas-of-quality-control-for-garments and wants you to detail how the quality inspections in the article can be implemented within Kibby and Strand’s quality improvement plan.
You will create a QIP and RCA plan using the research. Please note that it is not possible to actually conduct the RCA and document findings, because the data is not provided in the scenario.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE INSTRUCTOR: When you create the Quality Improvement Plan, first research quality improvement methodologies such as TQM, PDSA, etc., and select one as your foundation for the quality improvement program. Next, create short checklists for each department to implement the methodology. The article in the assignment instructions by Burkhart will work well for creating a checklist in the Production Department. The thing to keep in mind is the QIP in a continuous process improvement effort. It is always being executed to ensure high quality products and services. The QIP is considered a preventive plan because its purpose is to prevent / minimize quality issues in a product or service.
The Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is used when a bad outcome event occurs affecting the quality of product or service the company provides, so the RCA plan is executed by exception when an event occurs such as the one in the assignment scenario. A RCA plan is a reactive plan and it is executed after an adverse quality event occurs. Once the RCA determines the root cause of the problem, then any fixes are implemented in the QIP and monitored to ensure the problem does not reoccur. Here’s a good industry accepted RCA methodology with a checklist you can use.
http://www.6sigma.us/etc/root-cause-analysis-important-steps/
Below are steps you should find useful in preparing your Quality Improvement and Root Cause Analysis plans.
1. Read the assignment scenario and write down what the tasks are.
— prepare QIP and RCA plans and submit in the same Word file.
2. Read the information in the assignment instructions and write down the information and requirements.
— You are playing the role of the Production Manager at K & S.
— The Operations Manager tasked you to prepare QIP and RCA plans.
— The article by BurkHart is provided and Operations Manager wants the
article’s inspection process integrated into the QIP.
3. Read guidance provided by instructor and write down the information / guidance provided.
— Research quality improvement methodologies and select one. Examples of
methodologies are provided.
— Using the selected quality improvement methodology create checklists for
each department that implement the methodology.
— The QIP is a continuous plan, which means it is always being executed.
— The RCA plan is executed by exception after a quality issue has occurred.
— An industry accepted RCA methodology is provided.
4. Formulate the research questions.
What is the purpose of a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)?
What goes into a QIP?
How will Burkhart’s article be integrated into a QIP for Kibby and Strand?
What is the purpose of a Root Cause Analysis Plan (RCA)?
What goes into an RCA plan?
5. Conduct Research. Note, Additional research can be conducted, but the articles below can be used to answer research questions.
6. Prepare submission to meet requirements in Steps 1 and 2, using guidance provided in Step 3. You want to create checklists for the three departments the staffs can use to integrate the quality methodology you choose into the operational processes. In addition, create a checklist for the staff to conduct the Root Cause Analysis.
