ChemRite achieves its corporate mission statement through continuous quality improvement (CQI). In this article, learn about recent enhancements to the CQI program and meet the new ChemRite CQI board formed to oversee the program’s progress.
From early in ChemRite’s history, our management team has been dedicated to creating a corporate culture of CQI or continuous quality improvement. CRCP team members are encouraged to be on the look-out for areas which could benefit from improvement…and our group does an outstanding job at providing suggestions. Someone may note equipment which could be upgraded through the use of new technology, another team member may see a need for a process improvement within their department or there may be an idea of how we could better serve a customer.
How do we address, prioritize and implement the suggestions we receive?
In 2014, that question motivated our senior management to make enhancements to our CQI program. They began by dividing potential improvements into two key areas: facility and process improvements. Managers were assigned to oversee each area. Heather Lyon, CRCP’s former project manager, is now the FIP manager. A FIP, or facility improvement project, is defined as a modification or upgrade to CRCP’s buildings, grounds or equipment. Linda Whitt, ChemRite’s controller, took on the additional responsibility of PIP manager. A PIP, or process improvement project, is defined as an internal process creation, modification or upgrade.
A new CQI board was formed to oversee the program’s progress. The CQI board members are: Ron Whitt (CEO/Founder), Linda Whitt (CFO and PIP Manager), Darrell Smith (COO), and Heather Lyon (FIP Manager). The CQI board meets once a month to review FIP and PIP requests and in-process projects. The improved FIP/PIP process follows a few simple steps.
- STEP 1: A CRCP team member identifies a potential improvement.
- STEP 2: They fill out either a FIP or PIP request form and submit it to the corresponding manager.
- STEP 3: The CQI board reviews new request forms. They either approve, deny or ask for more information about the request.
- STEP 4: The FIP/PIP manager relates the CQI board’s decision back to the person who submitted the request.
- STEP 5: If the request is approved, the CQI board assigns a project lead and anticipated completion date to the improvement project.
- STEP 6: The CQI board tracks the progress of approved requests at monthly CQI board meetings. Project currency is tracked and graded as part of ChemRite’s monthly report card system – the CRCP vision score. (For more details, please see the article “Measuring the Mission” in this month’s CRCP newsletter.)
There have already been many benefits from these CQI program enhancements. Monthly meetings have increased team communication, helped prioritize improvement projects at a senior management level and strengthened corporate financial planning. The new FIP/PIP procedures support our goal to be proactive vs. reactive to potential issues, encourages team involvement in continuous improvement and creates accountability for project completion.
The recent changes to our CQI program also demonstrate that we mean what we say to our customers – we are dedicated to exceeding their expectations. We accomplish that goal through continuous improvement. To learn more about the improvement projects we are currently working on, please contact a ChemRite representative today.