Seminar: creative problem solving methods for specialists, group and departmental leaders and continuous improvement teams

A tried and tested seminar on structured work-related problem solving for

• facilitators of shop floor continuous improvement teams
• managers, specialists, project and departmental leaders

Work-related problem solving methods are the basis for the creative process of finding ideas and solutions in teams. Team oriented leadership concepts and KAIZEN / CIP (continuous improvement process) need a methodological approach. This seminar supports company staff e.g. process engineers, project and team leaders (as well as facilitators of continuous improvement teams) with methods for solving problems and how to implement these methods in practice.

objectives:

• to understand the basis of continuous improvement approaches
• needs and requirements for successful problem solving in teams
• problem solving methods in practice
• enhance confidence in facilitating small groups

content:

• fundamentals of state-of-the-art techniques of continuous improvement
• creative thinking and creative process
• Deming´s PDCA-cycle
• the improvement / problem solving team: roles, tasks, responsibilities
• recommendations and psychological fundamentals of successful, creative group work
• running a problem-solving session
• learn and exercise problem solving in practice with some of these methods: facilitation with cards / brainstorming / pot of ideas / workflow analysis / matrix-diagram / Pareto-analysis / cause-and-effects-diagram (Ishikawa) / why-analysis / 6-3-5 method / relational-diagram / perspective thinking / mind-mapping / Osborn-checklist / simple decision-making tools / other methods
• implementation of solutions
• dealing with conflict in a team
• preparation of first in-company problem solving session

benefit:

• participants will learn to use simple but smart methods of creative problem solving.
• to consolidate the transfer of learning, exercises will be from participants´ business practice
• a brief handout will support participants in following up on each of the methods after the training

methods: trainer input, group- and pairwork, discussion, participants will actively exercise with these methods in the training

The methodology will be applied to participants´ real-life examples from the workplace, which will lead to solutions in the training.

participants: max. 12

• facilitators of shop floor continuous improvement teams
• managers, specialists, project and departmental leaders

- the design of the training will be adapted accordingly

duration: 2 - 3 days (depending on number of methods and objectives), in-company training

Trainer: Kevin O´Cuinn – native speaker, trainer und language coach with many years of experience in business contexts at all levels of management with multi-nationals in Germany, France, Hungary, Slovakia.

This training has been successfully conducted many times already.