ABSTRACT
Team-based improvement activities have trouble when company and team objectives are different. Teams need to work on issues that matter to management as well as to their own jobs. An improvement suggestion system is a good way to get improvement teams started. Devise forms employees can use to submit improvement ideas, and give simple rewards for good proposals. Managers evaluating suggestions should recognize both the potential improvement effects of each suggestion and the work that went into preparing it. Improvement teams should not be assigned targets to work toward—they should devise their own. The workplace has been invigorated and everyone is enthusiastic about improvement teams. Morale is continually boosted through after-work activities that enable employees to relax and get to know each other better. Improvement teams composed of frontline workers use their hands-on expertise to set appropriate targets that deal with the work environment, human relations issues, and other issues.
