What Metrics (Measurables) Does TS16949 Require?

[Caster]

Covers

We all know TS is big on measurement and metrics, and I guess that's OK now that Deming is no longer with us.

As we plug away here at impleminting TS, I keep finding more and more required or implied metrics.

Here is my "big list O TS metrics" (I'm a big Dilbert fan)

I am sure I have missed a bunch

A lot of the same stuff comes up in several different places. Some seem to be motherhood statements rather than anything actionable.

We are going to through our current business measures to create a TS compliance matrix to see if we need to add any new measures.

There are some people here who feel that 5 or 6 key measures will meet the requirements. I'm not sure I agree.

Any thoughts? Is my interpretation too extreme? What did I miss?

Caster

 

[Marc]

Any comments, folks? I see DCM and GM CSRs are needed.

 

[Karen R]

Depending on the size of your organization, a handful of metrics may in fact be enough, at least for now. We have a small shop (about 75 employees) and we have about 15 "macro" goals, which include safety, quality, environmental, operational efficiency, cost and attendance targets, that we track monthly. Our operations are small enough that a lot of information is simply communicated - like status of actions from previous MRT, we don't have any charts or graphs, we just review the list from the last meeting as the first agenda item of the next meeting and note the progress and any concerns.

You were also correct when you mentioned that it seems like a lot of the metrics overlap. Customer claims and complaints, for instance, could account for at least six of the items on your list (nice list, BTW).

My suggestion would be to use your list to make a cross-tab matrix, listing out to the right all the things you currently measure for your organization. Then working down column of implied metrics, put an X next to all the items that metric could support. For example, if you have a process to track customer claims and complaints, it could probably cover 5.6.1.1, 5.6.2.1, 8.2.1, 8.2.1.1 and part of 8.4. Once that exercise is complete, you'll have identified any "gaps" that need to be addressed.

Again, don't "over measure." Numbers alone aren't information. Another "soft" measure we use supports 6.2.2.4, employee awareness. When we audit, we ask employees about the policy, the metrics and how their job relates and then we rate the answer low, medium, high. A quick glance at the audit summary sheet tells us where we're at. If awareness seems to be slipping, we increase communication. No plots, no graphs, no stats - we see the purpose in keeping our pulse on the workforce and manage accordingly.

Good Luck!

 

[Sam]

Aside from the obvious, TS2 requires that each process be measured to verify efficiency and effectivity. Refer to 4.1e.