Implementing PATS: A hands-on system
MSQPC Newsletter, March 2002
Two Memphis based companies have reached a new understanding of work processes and how
internal decisions affect both the supplier as well as the customer. Fed Ex, the
overnight package giant, and The Memphis Group, a privately owned and operated
aircraft parts provider, met for two days to learn how to shorten process cycle time as
well as the importance of including hands-on employees when determining work flow
processes.
| PATS was created to
help teach companies to utilize their most valuable assets-their employees. .... PATS
has been an overwhelming success for major companies and organizations such as the United
States Postal Service. |
Donald C. Fisher, Ph.D., is the creator of a
successful system of on-the-job training and of written processes known as
"PATS" (Process Activated Training System®). PATS was created to help teach
companies to utilize their most valuable assets-their employees. This training system
teaches a company's subject matter experts (SMEs) to take best practices and eliminates
bottlenecks by pinpointing each step in a process. PATS has been an overwhelming success
for major companies and organizations such as the United States Postal Service. Fed Ex and
The Memphis Group (TMG) conduct business (buying and selling of aircraft parts) however,
neither really understood the other's processes and impact on each other. Both companies
were surprised at how internal processes affect one another and how communications are
vital in synchronizing processes. |
The greatest benefit of these two days was having a facilitator (Donald Fisher, Ph.D.) lead both
companies to agree on efficient processes and the relationships established during the
program.
TMG has implemented PATS as the internal driver to determine its most critical
processes, provide effective on the-job training (OJT), and to eliminate unnecessary steps
that cost both money and time. Fed Ex is still considering PATS as a development and
training medium.
Dr. Donald Fisher is the
Executive Director of MSQPC -
The Quality Center.
