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WELCOME TO IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE !

March 26, 2011
2 min read

THE MARKET

Surely the most important issue facing everyone in the homebuilding industry, indeed every industry today is improving performance. Reducing costs and leveraging resources to improve profitability.

In fact an ASQ (American Society for Quality) survey (with 1000 respondents from around the world) shows a majority of manufacturers are optimistic about an economic uptick at their organizations. However, respondents believe further cost-cutting measures will continue to be implemented. The results show a majority of respondents (64.7%) employed in the manufacturing sector predict their organizations will experience financial recovery. 61.3% believe their organization will create processes to reduce costs

The top 3 tipsthat the respondents give to ensure revenue growth in were:

  • Continue to take part in continuous improvement practices and increase use of quality processes
  • Increase customer satisfaction
  • Implement more lean processes

It’s interesting to note that while these organizations are focusing on reducing costs they are also focusing on increasing customer satisfaction!Yes that is possible. This is not the time to cut quality or customer satisfaction and it can be done while reducing costs. In this blog I will be discussing ‘Process’ Performance Management and using my experience to provide you with quality improvement tools, techniques, links, tips, templates, case studies and other materials to help YOU improve the process performance of your business!

In this blog I will be discussing how quality management tools can be used to impact the performance of your business. This will include such tools as the National Housing Quality Award, Builder Certification, Lean, process maps and their connection to a wide range of programs such as the Energy Value Housing Award and Energy Star. Each of these tools are inter-related and need to be used at the appropriate time. For example they are layered at Strategic, Tactical and Operational levels as shown in this diagram.

NEXT TIME, Processes & Metrics

Upcoming topics

  1. NHQA & Self-Assessment with links to an assessment tool
  2. Part 1 Basics of Process Improvement with links to more information
  3. Part 2 Quality Tools with links to FREE downloadable templates
  4. Part 3 Recommended Performance Improvement books
  5. Change Management, with a FREE downloadable tool
  6. Lean & Six Sigma
  7. Improving Customer Satisfaction through Employee Satisfaction

About the Author

Denis Leonard

Denis Leonard has a degree in construction engineering, and an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in quality management. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality and has been an Examiner for the Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners, a Judge on the International Team Excellence Competition, and a Lead Judge on the National Housing Quality Award. He has experience as a quality manager in the home building industry as well as construction engineer, site manager, and in training, auditing, and consulting with expertise in strategic and operational quality improvement initiatives. His work has achieved national quality, environmental, and safety management awards for clients.

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