STFC RAL Space: The Road to Excellence

Are you looking for some inspiration on how to setup and get your organisations Continuous Improvement program up and running? Look no further than STFC RAL Space! With over 60 years of experience in space programs, RAL Space is at the forefront of driving innovation and unravelling the secrets of the universe in collaboration with leading agencies, universities and companies worldwide.

But here's the real secret to their success: continuous improvement, problem-solving, and people development. RAL Space has very recently crafted an extraordinary continuous improvement program, and today we have the privilege of hearing from the trailblazers leading the way on just how they've done it!

Matt is joined by Sam Tustain, the mastermind behind aligning the needs of the business with the CI program, ensuring that every step taken is a leap towards excellence. Dr. Helen Butcher, an admired physicist, focuses on understanding the needs of employees and collaboratively finding ingenious solutions to common challenges. And Sophie Hall, the remarkable software engineer and SCRUM master, who is dedicated to understanding the voice of the customer and delivering ground-breaking solutions that meet their every need.

Together, they form just part of a passionate and dedicated team, driving RAL Space's journey to greatness. In this episode of the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, they will share their captivating experiences, enlightening insights, and inspiring hopes for the future. Their stories will empower you to embark on your own organisation's road to excellence.

So, get ready to be captivated and inspired! Join us on the Ever-So-Lean Podcast as we explore the extraordinary story of RAL Space and discover how their pursuit of continuous improvement can launch your organisation to new heights. Sit back, relax, and prepare for an unforgettable journey!

Key Takeaways:

We could all learn from the approach of the three work-strands 1) voice of the business; 2) voice of the staff; 3) voice of the customer. Although they overlap quite frequently, the clear definition between the three listening to the voice of each of those different areas is such a great way of getting the engagement and making sure that you’re covering every aspect when you’re trying to identify the problems and find the solutions. Obtain sponsors for projects. Seeking sponsorship from stakeholders and directors which provides an overarching buy-in from a senior leader or an external stakeholder and get them behind you just adds momentum to the project you’re working on, and a really helps it move forward. Engaging people through mechanisms e.g. through talks, surveys, drop-in sessions etc. If you can get that buy in, it really helps with sustaining change. Think long-term over short-term gain. It’s the long-term culture that you’re trying to create. Value Stream Mapping very early on in their journey. This really helped them to understand their processes end to end. Doing this on the wall with Post-It notes is a great method! Demystify terminology. Avoid focusing on terminology that’s really confusing for people to understand e.g. Japanese words. By demystifying you can make it accessible for people. Start simple e.g. 5S activity of a small area. This approach can gain interest and inspire people because they can really see a visible change and an improvement in their workplace.

Find out more about STFC RAL Space at https://www.ralspace.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/home.aspxww.ralspace.stfc.ac.uk

 

To find out more about the BQF Certified, Lean Six Sigma Business Blackbelt, and other certifications available with Catalyst Consulting Ltd, visit www.catalystconsulting.co.uk

To learn more about the British Quality Foundation (BQF) visit www.bqf.org.uk

 

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