WHAT IS AN ACTION TEAM?
A small, cross-functional group that works on a project focusing on bottom line results in a short period of time (60-90 days). Projects are carried out in a way that promotes learning new skills and behaviors. Once a project is completed, the team disbands or targets a new project.

EXAMPLE: Butane Action Team

    Team Members:
  • 2 operators
  • 2 mechanics
  • 1 engineer
Problem:
In the summer, butane spheres got overheated and approached their pressure limits. For safety reasons, operators had been flaring the product for years.

Project:
Reduce the pressure built up in the butane spheres.

Results:
With only a $5,000 investment in increased cooler capacity, the team was able to eliminate all loses to the flare from the vessels saving over $1.5 million annually.

Other Successful Action Teams

TEAM PRINCIPLES

ROLES
Two roles that need to be filled at each meeting of the action team:

The Facilitator
Takes notes on the flip chart, helps ensure everyone gets a chance to participate and keeps the team on time and on topic
The Recorder
Takes the team notes, fills out team forms, collects a team copy of any analysis or data and facilitates the next team meeting

Additionally, it may be helpful for the team to fill the following roles. It is possible for one person to play more than one role and for more than one person to play a single role.
The Champion
The agent for change in the area - the champion monitors communications and promotes the need for change from a position of authority or with the influence of a strong personality
Information System Know-How Provider
Provides the knowledge of current and proposed information systems that provide the team with historical information and tools to institutionalize any change
Process Know-How Provider
Familiar with the area's current operations and maintenance practices, identifies areas of opportunity, frequent contact with other process specialists is very important
Procurement Know-How Provider
Familiar with the area's procurement system, determines where information is incomplete or ambiguous, seeks solutions for supply problems

THE ACTION TEAM PROCESS BEGINS BY DEFINING AND REFINING THE TEAM'S GOAL

THEN DEFECT ELIMINATION TARGETS ARE SET
The means to achieve the team's goal, as in The Manufacturing Game®, is defect elimination.

FINALLY AN ACTION PLAN IS CREATED
Action Team meetings will result in a list of things for the team to do to eliminate the targeted defects. This is the team's action plan. As the project progresses, the team should cross off items completed and add or modify action items to move toward completion.

Action items will usually be things like:

  1. Collect data on pump downtime.
  2. Review operating specs with manufacturer.
  3. Run trial with 1/4 inch thicker shaft to see if bending is eliminated.

But they can also be things like:

  1. Recruit Joe Smith for the team because he is the expert in vibration analysis.
  2. Schedule a two day training session with corporate maintenance on using infrared-red analysis to detect wear.
ACTION TEAM MEETING APPROACH

Example Agenda


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