Focus and Leverage The Critical Methodology for Theory of Constraints, Lean, and Six Sigma (TLS)

Most books about continuous and process improvement are written in a textbook format with straightforward information and plenty of graphs and charts to convey the points being made. Sometimes, even the best step-by-step instructions can escape even the most adamant of followers for an improvement method in determining exactly how to apply what they’ve learned.Taking a different approach, Focus and Leverage is presented in an engaging business-novel format and is a sequel to the authors’ bestselling book, Epiphanized, Second Edition. The primary characters remain the same, but this time the storyline features two different industries: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and Healthcare (hospital) environments.This book expands and highlights the two improvement methods first introduced in the appendix section of Epiphanized: the Interference Diagram (ID)/Intermediate Objectives (IO) map (ID/IO Simplified Strategy) and Multiple-Drum-Buffer-Rope (M-DBR).Both of these innovative methods are the result of some much-focused thinking that allows for multiple improvement methods, and steps, to be combined into a single thinking process tool. This groundbreaking new method is designed to save time and money and allows faster and better results to be achieved.The two storylines move the reader through the necessary system analysis, problem identification, and solution implementation. The novel format aids in presenting several realistic situational discussions as well as a multitude of graphs and figures to explain the step-by-step process for success.The storyline of this book weaves some well-known and some not-so-well-known thinking tools into the problem-solving sphere to provide you with an understanding of how to first discover and then overcome issues not readily known or expected at the start of any project.

The MeetingPreliminary Strategy SessionAviation Dynamics—The First VisitThe Plant TourAviation Dynamics—Day 2The Hospital VisitAviation Dynamics—The StrategyBecky Leaves the HospitalMRO Strategy—Day 1MRO Strategy—Day 2: MorningMRO Strategy—Day 2: AfternoonThe Hospital—Preliminary StrategyHospital Improvement TeamAviation Dynamics—The Return VisitMRO—Scheduling DiscussionHospital ExecutivesFollow-Up Meeting—Hospital ExecutivesMRO Scheduling RolloutMRO Review and TrainingHospital Wait TimesEmergency Room—Wait Time ReductionMRO—Unscheduled Maintenance StrategyThe Finale

Bruce Nelson is an independent consultant (co-owner, Focus and Leverage Consulting) specializing in the enhanced profitability of organizations in a variety of business segments. Bruce received his BS degree from Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. In addition, he is board certified by the Theory of Constraints International Certification Organizations in the TOC Thinking Processes, TOC Operations Management, and TOC Project Management and is a certified Jonah, Jonah’s Jonah, and Academic Jonah. Bruce is an internationally recognized professional in Constraints Management and Systems Analysis. Bruce has 33 years combined experience as an educator, executive, and consultant with numerous Fortune 500 companies and a number of international organizations and companies. Bruce is the coauthor of two books: Epiphanized: A Novel on Unifying Theory of Constraints, Lean, and Six Sigma, Second Edition (coauthored with Bob Sproull, Taylor & Francis) and Epiphanized: Integrating Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma (North River Press). He is also a frequent contributor to the Focus and Leverage blog site (http://focusandleverage.blogspot.com). Bob Sproull is an independent consultant who, along with Bruce Nelson, owns and operates Focus and Leverage Consulting, a Management Consulting firm specializing in improving the profitability of organizations from all business sectors. Bob is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, a Theory of Constraints Jonah, and an experienced manufacturing executive who has served as Vice President of Quality, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement for two different manufacturing companies. He has an extensive consulting background in manufacturing, healthcare, and MRO and focuses on teaching companies how to maximize their profitability through an integrated Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma (TLS) improvement methodology.Bob is an internationally known speaker and is the author of four books: Second Edition Epiphanized: Integrating Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma (co-authored with Bruce Nelson 2015, Taylor & Francis); Epiphanized: Integrating Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma (coauthored with Bruce Nelson, North River Press); The Ultimate Improvement Cycle—Maximizing Profits Through the Integration of Lean, Six Sigma and the Theory of Constraints (Taylor and Francis); Process Problem Solving—A Guide for Maintenance and Operations Teams (Productivity Press).