Talking Quality

Community Manager — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:20:00 GMT

Quality, that measure of excellence that defines all that is desirable in a product, a process, or a service, is the Holy Grail of companies. At Esselte, delivering quality office products that enhance productivity is our raison d'être.It is our belief that delivering quality products requires strict attention to quality processes: it's the chicken and the egg if you will.

At Esselte, we make use of kaizen or lean tools first popularized in Japan to continually improve all business functions, for all employees, from the CEO to assembly line workers and administrative personnel.

As part of our continuous quest to enhance efficiency and improve value, we are constantly on the hunt for new and better tools and resources. Often, we are introduced to resources online, by experts or through research, but another fantastic avenue for ideas is homegrown. Often a company's own employees are the best source of inspiration. Witness the examples in Harness the Power of an Employee Suggestion Program: Beyond the Suggestion Box.

The article posits that an employee suggestion program can enhance existing idea-generating mechanisms such as brainstorming sessions and staff meetings. To set your suggestion program up for success, be sure to designate an administrator of the program and establish guidelines for suggestions. Also, define rewards or recognition for ideas that are selected and successfully implemented. Making employees stakeholders in success encourages participation.

Does your company have an employee suggestion program? How are valuable ideas generated and shared in your office? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Facebook page.

by Bradley Eggers

Beyond Folders : kaizen

Talking Quality