Bureau/Division Director’s Meeting

May 4, 2005

Commissioner’s Conference Room

                                                                        

 

The following are points of interest that were discussed at the Bend the Curve portion of the Bureau/Division Director’s meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.

 

·        Continuous Improvement Practitioners are skilled Lean practitioners.

·        Six Practitioners are not enough to facilitate all the projects that need to be done in DOL.

·        A new training program for Practitioners is scheduled for June 27 through July 1, 2005, with advertising beginning on Friday, May 6.

o       Directors are asked to approach and encourage their employees to participate.

o       Hope to have DHHS included again this time.

o       Only full-time employees will be eligible.

o       Practitioner skills are transferable and this training provides career-ladder opportunities.

·        Arthur Davis, John Rioux, Jane Gilbert and Larinda Meade will meet to discuss the relationship and roles and responsibilities between the Bureau Directors and the sponsors and managers.  The Directors need to communicate with sponsors and managers.

·        A meeting is scheduled with sponsors and managers for June 16 to discuss formal cross-over of implementation plans with Bureau Directors.

·        Jane Gilbert continued the MBTI presentation on inferior functions and leadership style.

·        Members of the VSM Project on Fact Finding and Appeals (Judy Williams, Linda Stevens, Mike Brooker, Peggy Smith, Eileen Jones and Skip Tompkins) gave a presentation to the Steering Committee.

o       The Team consists of employees spanning three Units – Claims Adjudicators, the Division of Administrative and the Unemployment Insurance Commission.  Some members are leaving and people from the caucus member list will be moved to active team members.

o       Future state includes getting it right the first time to reduce the need for appeals.

o       Highlights are: increased training, automatic and uniform scheduling, instant fact finding, fewer overpayments, electronic transfer of documents, video conferencing, instant appeals, training waivers by adjudicators, to name a few.

o       The Law book and Deputy’s Manual have been updated and are now on-line.

o       Some no-cost, low-cost recommendations have already been implemented.

o       A conservative estimate of savings is $506, 894, annually.

o       Some recommendations would need Legislative approval, i.e., if fail to participate in hearings would forfeit further appeal rights.

o       Employees working on this VSM learned much about what other units do.

o       The VSM identified efficiencies that will enable everyone to continue operations in the face of all the attritions that will occur.

o       The Team came to the realization that continuous improvement is essential. 

·        Local CareerCenters and Call Centers have initiated internal VSM Teams and are working on improving services to the customer and saving money in various ways.