Layered Process Audits - Getting Results? Show me the data!

[AndyN]

When DaimlerChrysler launched its supplier requirement of LPA's the training sessions told the story of one of the DCX transmission plants which got a huge (40% or so) improvement in FTT, as a result of doing LPAs.

Do any Covers have any stories of the benefit to their organizations of performing LPAs? No 'feel good factors' here please, show me the data.......

Andy

[Helmut Jilling]

Originally Posted by AndyN

When DaimlerChrysler launched its supplier requirement of LPA's the training sessions told the story of one of the DCX transmission plants which got a huge (40% or so) improvement in FTT, as a result of doing LPAs.

Do any Covers have any stories of the benefit to their organizations of performing LPAs? No 'feel good factors' here please, show me the data.......

Andy

A number of my clients do these, and about half actually claim to get benefits. Better awareness, better attention, some findigns of things needing fixing. ...but few can show me hard metrics, outside of the number of findings.

I'm not a big fan, but if they think they help, why not. They don't hurt.

I find the more robust the system, the less additional benefit derived from LPA's. But, if the system is weaker, LPA's help.

[AndyN]

'H'
As I suspected, from your post and the lack of response overall, that LPA's are 'much ado about nothing'. Surely, there must be benefit from getting management engaged, but I think the forced nature of revisiting the scene of the crime over and again diminishes it.

I'll wait to be proven wrong...........

Andy

[Duke Okes]

I agree with you Andy. Not only do such "over audits" eventually become rote, but when it's done because the customer says you have to, there's no cognitive incentive. External versus internal motivation.

[Crusader]

From what I have read in the Cove, it seems that one really has to have a good grasp of the LPA process and how to do one properly/effectively to make a difference. I'll admit, our audit team does not completely understand the LPA deal. Everyone has commented on how they feel that they are not performing an effective audit by following the LPA process of auditing.
Is there a recommended/good book or video or canned training package of some sort for self-training?

[AndyN]

None that I know of, that's worth a hoot.

I've done them and put a LPA systems together and written the training for in-house use. I think it's more than simply training - there's a law of dimishing returns at play here...

Andy

[eduveg]

I am planning on going to the ASQ Quality Mgmt Conference in Dallas next month and take the LPA course. But after reading this thread I am hesitating. Do you think it is a good idea?

[AndyN]

If you have to implement LPAs, then you should get some training or implementation assistance, one way or another. That session may be useful to you.

Andy