The diagnostic review is used to understand where the organisation is positioned on its business excellence maturity or lean operation deployment.

Two improvement frameworks have been agreed by SC21 companies to form the basis of a standard approach to supply chain development, these are:

• Determining Excellence - SEE BELOW (EFQM publication Ref: ISBN 90-5236-098-7)
• Manufacturing Excellence - SEE BELOW

Determining Excellence is the recommended SC21 approach for small to medium companies. Larger companies would be expected to benefit from a detailed assessment against the EFQM Excellence Model.

This approach has been developed from 'lean manufacturing' / 'just in time' philosophies. Both the manufacturing excellence and determining excellence diagnostics will be delivered through joint or self analysis between companies or supply chain groupings. The output from the diagnostic activity is used as an input to the joint, sustainable improvement plan. As well as identifying opportunities for improvement there are scoreboard mechanisms embedded in both the determining excellence and manufacturing excellence models which enable benchmarking and comparisons with other organisations to be conducted.

IMPORTANT:

Recognition of other Performance Improvement Programmes

Where an organisation engaged on SC21 has already undertaken diagnostics similar to Manufacturing and Business Excellence, we will actively commit to avoiding duplicate diagnostics.

Companies are encouraged to perform a gap analysis using the SC21 programme diagnostics against those which they have already used. Significant gaps mean that a full deployment of the SC21 diagnostics are required, However, if the gaps are less significant a desktop review by an approved SC21 training practitioner may be all that is required. This will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Deployment and use of diagnostic tools

To ensure consistent deployment and licensing control of the diagnostic tools a programme of training is required prior to use, further details are available from the SC21 project team.

Acknowledgment

The methodology used in the Business Excellence diagnostic is based on the EFQM Excellence Model. SC21 acknowledges the EFQM copyright and is grateful for the permission granted to reproduce the EFQM Excellence Model in full within this document.

For further information see the following websites : European Foundation for Quality Management and British Quality Foundation

® The EFQM Excellence Model is a registered Trademark.

What are the benefits?

• Helps an organisation identify its current position and determine future directions and priorities.
• Allow comparisons with the achievements of other organisations.
• Encourage an organisation to monitor its progress on a regular basis.
• Assess whether all members of a management team have the same view of the organisation's achievements and weaknesses.
• Create a focus for agreeing improvement priorities.
• Ensure that the organisation is not over-stressed by too many improvement actions.
• Provides a benchmark against recognised models for excellence.
• Evaluates the use and effectiveness of key processes, tools & techniques in the business.
• Identifies strengths and opportunities in a structured programme of continuous improvement.