20.Support Function Alignment

Support-Function Analysis

Three Potential Roles
- Regulator/Enforcer
-Policies, laws, contractual agreements
- Service Provider
- Administration of programs and activities
- Change Agent
- Systems change implementation and procedural fairness

Sample Support Functions
- Human Resources
- Finance
- Materials/Purchasing
- Quality
- Maintenance/ Engineering
- Information Systems

Support-Function Exercise: Roles

Form sub-groups for the following support functions:
- Human Resources
- Finance
- Materials/Purchasing
- Quality
- Maintenance/ Engineering
- Information Systems

Assess what you understand to be the "current state" and the "desired state" for this support function when it comes to lean / six sigma implementation – for each the three roles listed in the following support material.

Sample Activities/Competencies --HR

Role Regulator/Enforcer
Sample Activities: EEO, OSHA, ADA, Collective Bargaining Contract
Sample Competencies: Legal/technical Detail oriented Risk adverse

Service Provider
Sample Activities:Benefits, Recruiting, Compensation, Technical training
Sample Competencies:Procedure oriented Consistent

Change Agent
Sample Activities: Champion for effective Work Groups, OD, Culture change
Sample Competencies:Innovative/flexible Proactive Risk taking


Sample Activities/Competencies --Finance

Regulator/Enforcer
Sample Activities :Budget compliance, tax and audit regulations
Sample Competencies :Legal/technical Detail oriented Risk adverse

Service Provider
Sample Activities :Payroll and information systems, financial reports
Sample Competencies :Procedure oriented Consistent

Change Agent
Sample Activities :Champion for Total Cost, Linking ERP and process improvement, Work Group analysis of performance data
Sample Competencies :Innovative/flexible Proactive Risk taking

Sample Activities/Competencies – Materials/Purchasing

Regulator/Enforcer
Sample Activities :Material storage rules and regulations, Global purchasing terms and condition
Sample Competencies :Legal/technical Detail oriented Risk adverse

Service Provider
Sample Activities :Delivery of parts and materials, Schedule management
Sample Competencies :Procedure oriented Consistent

Change Agent
Sample Activities :Champion for Material Flow and Just-In-Time Delivery
Sample Competencies :Innovative/flexible Proactive Risk taking

Sample Activities/Competencies – Information Systems

Regulator/Enforcer
Sample Activities :Adherence to Standards,Protocols, and Policy
Sample Competencies :Legal/technical ,Detail oriented ,Risk advise

Service Provider
Sample Activities :System maintenance,upgrades, and protection
Sample Competencies :Technical Information Systems expertise Customer/service mindset

Change Agent
Sample Activities :Champion forManufacturingResource Planning(MRP) and EnterpriseResource Planning(ERP) systems
Sample Competencies : Innovative/flexible ,Proactive ,Risk taking