Creative and fun methods to infuse lean knowledge into your culture

Join the members of the Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) continuous improvement steering committee who will introduce innovative and interactive games, videos and crazy activities to demonstrate how lean training can be challenging, enticing, impactful and most of all fun!

The Center for Comparative Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital supports the biomedical research that leads to scientific and medical breakthroughs. The CCM Continuous Improvement Steering Committee (CISC) was formed in 2013 to identify the gaps in its lean program and to develop innovative countermeasures to close those gaps and to enhance employee engagement. The CISC will take attendees on an interactive journey as it shares its tactics to teach lean quickly and effectively outside of the classroom. Some innovative learning techniques will be demonstrated, including using lean games, video and teaching practices to make learning fun. Learn about modifying rapid learning techniques to address attrition, using interactive technology and videos to teach simple concepts and adapting simple games to engage staff.

Massachusetts General Hospital is consistently ranked in the top 10 “Best Hospitals” from the US News & World Report annual assessment. Affiliated with the Harvard Medical School since 1811, MGH is the home of the nation’s largest hospital-based research program. The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM), which supports the biomedical research enterprise, started its lean journey in 2004. CCM developed a tools-based lean program in hopes that a problem-solving culture would follow to moderate success. Today, constrained by increased regulations, NIH budgetary restrictions, regional talent competition and the learning expectations of the new employee, CCM has shifted the focus of the program from a tools-based program to a culture and empowerment-based program. In doing so, CCM has created a continuous improvement steering committee that has become the voice and pulse of the front-line employee and the architects for establishing a problem-solving culture. CCM has assisted close to 50 biomedical research programs to start their lean programs and is a founding member of the Vivarium Operational Excellence Network, a lean think tank for the biomedical research community, which currently has more than 30 organizational members from seven countries. www.massgeneral.org

The interactive presentation will be facilitated by the continuous improvement steering committee: Gerry Cronin, Kaizen Promotion Office Manager; Dr. Lori Palley, Assistant Director of Veterinary Service; Bobby Lania, Financial Analyst; Nicole Freeman, Facility Manager.