About this Presentation
Our talk will discuss the experiences of The Texas Workforce Commission in applying TOC as the lead methodology in their Rapid Process Improvement initiative launched in 2012. While initially focused on Lean and Six Sigma methods, the success of using TOC to focus and guide the process during its pilot phase shifted the center of the effort toward following a TOC-guided approach. The initial pilot resulted in substantial improvements which were publicized in a report to the Texas State Legislature in August 2012. From there the agency rapidly expanded the process to all of its departments and the agency as a whole, under Alfredo Mycue’s direction and with the assistance of Kevin Fox from Viable Vision. We will recount the journey so far and discuss the many challenges and lessons learned in fostering rapid improvement in a large government agency. Among these were the difficulties in overcoming resistance to change, operating within a budgeting process that typically creates a disincentive to improve, and in finding new measurements to guide and motivate correct action within the many constraints of government. We will share the strategies used, successes, obstacles and many of the lessons learned along the way.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.