A Note from Halden Zimmermann on Best Practices

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Our upper management focuses on addressing gaps in operations by constructing Alcan’s Best Practice Network teams. Middle managers then have employees participate in the Best Practice teams to gain exposure to available new Best Practices. Team members are tasked with taking the Best Practice back to operations and leading the implementation.

As project teams develop solutions, we want to take advantage of them and share these new standard methodologies throughout the entire organization. The mechanism for sharing these is called the Best Practice Networks. ProjX, the online CI database, can help us see what solutions already exist.

Alcan Packaging is large and has many facilities and businesses worldwide. Each of our businesses has developed methodologies or processes to improve market competitiveness. Best Practice Networks allow the entire company to benefit from lessons we have learned from individual projects completed at every level of our organization. How we all leverage what we’ve learned can benefit the entire company.

Our Best Practices methodology focuses on finding projects that maximize value and then implements them across the organization. The Best Practice Network allows us managers to reference and even shop for proven systems successes so we can implement them to benefit our business. Please note: Improvement can be made even if a current Best Practice is being used or if an operation is considered a Best Practice site. This process is perpetual, and CI tools help us to continually re-evaluate our systems and methods to maximize value even if we are a “Best in Class” facility.

A Best Practice is an existing practice or process that is transferable. It represents a significant and demonstrated improvement.

It is:

Any practice, knowledge, know-how or experience that has been proven valuable or effective within one organization and may apply to other organizations. It has been successfully demonstrated (even locally), is sharable and transferable (with limited delay) and is beneficial (measurable and tied to key priorities).

It is not:

Just an idea, a brand-new concept or an R&D project.

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Continuous Improvement Pt. 5 | Halden Zimmermann

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Policy Deployment: Primary Tool is the X-Matrix

The X-Matrix document is key to putting CI into action. This CI blueprint outlines everything we want to accomplish in order to be profitable in our business. It illustrates how we will achieve our objectives and who will be responsible for specific activities and tasks. It helps us align ourselves with the corporate objectives and vision. In short, it helps people in charge organize and integrate what people who report to them do.

While specific actions included in the X-Matrix differ from facility to facility and business unit to business unit, each matrix contains the following:

Deployment and X-Matrix – Halden Zimmermann

Once an X-Matrix is developed, managers need to direct individuals who have agreed to work on these goals so they can develop specific actions or projects to move forward. One way to generate project ideas to achieve target goals on the X-matrix is through a Project Selection Workshop (see page 33). Major project initiatives listed on the X-Matrix are tracked and reviewed with a Milestone Chart, which contains KPIs linked to specific projects, goals and actions. Bowling Charts help present KPI results to date.

Policy Deployment: Tools for Charting and Tracking Actions

CI tools such as Milestone Charts, Action Plans displayed on Action Item Registers, Key Performance Indicators and Bowling Charts help us track annual initiatives with our business unit vision.

Milestone Charts

Milestone charts help project managers lead initiatives because they detail how and when major steps will be completed and who will be responsible for them. They measure progress on plan implementation, so project sponsors review them constantly. A Functional Focus Group may keep several related initiatives under one umbrella on one Milestone Chart. Each level reports progress to the level above. Each key metric or annual initiative from the X-Matrix should have a Milestone Chart.

Action Item Registers

An Action Item Register is a format for an Action Plan that links people to specific tasks and resources related to an improvement project. If actions listed on a Milestone Chart are too broad to contain specific actions for individuals, an Action Item Register can be developed. In addition to a Milestone Chart, each key metric from the X-Matrix should also have an Action Plan displayed on an Action Item Register.

Example of X-Matrix – Halden Zimmermann

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Halden Zimmermann | Continuous Improvement with ProjX, Part 5

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Halden Zimmermann’s Continuous Improvement

Best Practice Networks Tools

Each Best Practice Network Team should have two measurement documents – a Bowling Chart and a Best Practices Network Tracking Document.

Bowling Chart

A BP Bowling Chart outlines KPIs associated with the process they are trying to improve. For example, a BP team on Business Development might focus on New Business Growth rate. A KPI can be baselined and tracked while the team is active to verify it is moving in the right direction. Bowling Chart metrics should reflect representation on the team. So, if four plants are on the team, each should have a KPI, if necessary. The bowling chart is communicated to the team members, sponsors and upper management so progress on investment can be understood. For more on bowling charts, see page 14.

Best Practice Networks Tracking Document

The Best Practice Tracking Document helps communication with the sponsors and upper management. It outlines the implementation success rate for the team and individual groups/plants. It tracks the pace at which Best Practices are being adopted.

Best Practice Networks: Creating a Best Practice Team

When a gap in the business has been identified and quantified by the business unit level management, a Best Practice Team can be created to address this top issue. This review can occur during the Project Selection Workshop phase. If the same type of project is given high priority by different parts of the business, an opportunity exists to form a BP team. The Best Practice Networks Team Roadmap can guide Best Practice teams. We strive to share many Best Practices through these teams and to start new teams on a regular basis. Teams consolidate expertise to work on problems that do not have easy solutions. The roadmap on how to start and run a Best Practice Team should be shared in the opening team meeting and customized for the team and sponsor. The team leader should seek to formalize elements that reflect successes other BP teams have enjoyed with this methodology.

Team-creation phases are cyclical and are used throughout the life of the team. A phase can be re-initiated to focus on different issues and be fine tuned. Phase structure similar to that of DMAIC is used for the process.

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Continuous Improvement Using ProjX, Part 4

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Halden Zimmermann: Best Practice Network Team Creation Phase II: Analyze

Create Process Documents Identify Opportunities

• Begin this phase at the same time as Phase I (i.e, at first benchmarking meeting) and continue with conference calls between meetings; when monthly benchmarking meetings are complete, continue with bi-monthly face-to-face meetings rotated between the member plants with conference calls between meetings.


• CreateProcessMap

What stages comprise the process?

• What are the desired outputs of each stage?


• What inputs to each stage influence the output?


• Create Cause and Effect Matrix


• What are our external and internal customers’ requirements (i.e., what are


• the key attributes of our product)?


• Rank requirements by importance to customer (including customer in


• process is desirable)


• Rank inputs identified on the process map by their effect on customer


• requirements/key attributes


• Create Process FMEA (Failure Modes Effect Analysis)


• Use ranking of inputs in Cause & Effect matrix to determine which stages of process are most critical (e.g., drying)


• For these stages, what are the failure modes of the process? Failure modes are the opposite of the desired outputs.


• What are the potential causes of each failure mode?


• Rank severity, frequency of occurrence and likelihood that the failure mode will not be detected – these three rankings are multiplied to produce a risk priority number (RPNs) for that failure mode. Rankings are achieved by consensus of member plants or averaged across the member plants.


• Rank failure modes by RPN. High RPN represents significant improvement opportunity.


• Introduce concept of control plan but do not complete at this time


• This is the plan to prevent the failure modes from occurring.


• What are the spec limits?


• Is the process capable relative to spec limits?


• What are the measurement systems? Where and when do we measure?


• What is the variation due to the measurement system itself (gauge R&R study)?

What do we do if we are out of spec/control (reaction plan)?

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Halden Zimmermann, Continuous Improvement Guide Pt. 2

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Alcan Packaging

Alcan Packaging is one of Alcan’s four business groups (as of 2006). It represents:

• Approximately 144 facilities in 33 countries worldwide

• US$ 6 billion in annual sales

• More than 31,100 employees

• 29% of Alcan, Inc. revenue

Alcan Packaging is dedicated to providing customers with solutions that will enhance their products and brands by capitalizing on our expertise and leadership positions in packaging. We are acknowledged as a global packaging leader in Food Flexible, Pharmaceutical and Beauty and hold a pre- eminent position in the worldwide supply of Tobacco cartons. Alcan Packaging’s improved ability to serve multinational customers and its multi-market capabilities constitute a strong platform for growth. We operate in a dynamic and intensely competitive global industry. Customers place increasingly steep demands on their packaging partners. They expect quick turnarounds, superior service and flawless product quality. To achieve our corporate goals and remain a leader in our industry, Alcan Packaging must:

• Adapt the organization to market needs

• Accelerate innovation of new products and technologies as well as business service models

• Leverage experience, offer a large portfolio of technologies and spread geographically to improve our customer offering

• Use a disciplined investment policy to target key profitable growth segments

• Operate at peak efficiency and ensure that we share Best

Practices across our entire system

Alcan uses a standard methodology called the Alcan Integrated Management System (AIMS) to build on our operational excellence, new product pipeline and market focus.

This management system allows us to focus our energies on market segments and geographies that offer the highest potential, fit our capabilities and provide an avenue for strong, continued and profitable growth. In short, Alcan Packaging is committed to becoming a world-class organization using AIMS as a standard to manage improvement.

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Halden Zimmermann | Continuous Improvement with ProjX Guide

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ProjX: Using it to Find Best Practices

ProjX allows us to share information about other similar projects currently being worked on by Black Belts and Green Belts. The ProjX online software can specialize searches to find other similar Black Belt projects. We encourage sharing with this tool because on average two or three similar projects are being worked on at the same time. Click on the Search function on the control bar after logging in to ProjX to access the filter screen and search for a listing of projects associated with a search. It also is possible to save the criteria of the search to use it another time. Search criteria can range from tools used in other projects to specific key words that can be found in the project (as described in the Best Practice Network Team section). We recommend looking for similar projects on the software even before starting. Using what other people have learned can provide great value. We can learn from their formats and methods to make projects easier to implement.

ProjX: Inputting a New LLS Project

To input a project, use the new project box on the My ProjX page and click the Create New Project button. When the Create New Project wizard page appears, complete it and the system will create the entire project roadmap based on the selected methodology. Project ownership will be assigned by default unless otherwise assigned. The ProjX system is organized by Phases, and a Black Belt or Green Belt is responsible for populating the phases with information pertaining to the project. Each phase will have specific questions and inputs designed to walk team members through the project in a controlled manner. E-mail offers prompts when a Deliverable is due by a specific team member. A user can either click on the hypertext in the e-mail or log on manually and complete the input. The project leader can assign the project tasks to any team member, but at the end of each phase, appropriate approvals are required. Deliverables are the specific tools, Action Items or Milestones identified by the company to complete a particular phase of a project. The work breakdown structure is logically arranged in a top-down fashion in the suggested order of completion.

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