Ideas for today, tomorrow, and the future

Improving the Process of Workshops Hosted by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce

By: Brianna Jackson, Di Yang, Mingyu Li - Group 3

• Our purpose is to use the DMAIC cycle to suggest improvements to the current process the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce uses for conducting workshops and trainings.

• The objective is for this improved process to cause an increase in the demand for and the attendance at scheduled Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Events.

Goal and Objective

• The SCCC currently conducts the workshops on an as-needed basis. When a specific company requests a training, the SCCC will organize, promote, and host the event.

• As stated in their 2014 Goals for Development, they would like to “Provide Sumter Country with educational, training and development, and leadership opportunities (Including the 7 Habits workshop, and Customer Service, Entrepreneurship, and Financial workshops)”

• Upon doing an analysis of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, we have defined the problem as the SCCC not hosting enough trainings and workshops.

Today’s Situation

Company tells chamber they want a workshop training

Current Process

• Stakeholders: Civic/Nonprofit Groups, Community Individuals, Health Care/Forestry/Automotive/Other Various Industries, Real Estate Agents, Churches, Banks, Schools, Retail Businesses, Social Clubs, Professionals, Recreational Organizations, and more.

• There is a very broad scope for workshops and trainings. Everyone can benefit from learning about how to be a more effective leader and be more responsible with their finances.

• From a business owners perspective, most companies need to improve their current processes in terms of financing and daily business operations.

Who Do These Workshops Impact? (Define)

• From the survey conducted to determine what the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce could do to improve their service to their members, 23 responses were returned.

• Of the 23 responses, 15 people indicated that they would be interested in educational workshops or leadership trainings. That is well over 65%, not including those who did not participate in the survey.

• The most important factor is that trainings and workshops are not hosted unless one is requested by a member of the SCCC.

What Do We Know? (Measure)

7 Habits AIDT Educational0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

9

6

10

Interest in Trainings

Number of Responses

8.33 average in-terest

The survey indicates that 66.7 percent of individuals interested in trainings would like to see Educational workshops, 40 percent would like the Alabama Industrial Development Training, and 60 percent would like the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workshop as displayed on the Run Chart.

Total interested in workshops was 15 out of 23 surveyed.

Survey Results

What Are the Underlying Causes? (Analyze)

LOCATION

• We believe that the solution lies in preparation and supplying the members of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce with the trainings they need and desire, before they have to ask for them.

• Taking into consideration the Six Sigma Methodology, one major cause of a defect in “make-to-order” process that the SCCC is a part of is that it does not take into consideration those who are afraid to ask for help (shy, timid managers). A more “make-to-stock” approach may be beneficial by allowing them to have new trainings prepared and on hand each month.

• We will design a process model that is meets the current financing abilities of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, while meeting the needs of its customers by providing workshops even when they are not requested.

Where Should We Focus Our Efforts?

Company tells chamber they want a workshop training

Updated Process

If no workshop has been requested that month, the SCCC will initiate a workshop

OR

• By planning to host at least one training or workshop every month, the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce will ensure that they are providing their customers needs without having to be asked.

• If no member has asked for a training by the 10th of the month, the SCCC will begin to prepare for a training on the last Saturday of the month. • By always having the training on the last Saturday of each month,

it will also eliminate the attendance issue because managers can plan ahead to have that day off every month.

Recommendations For Improvement (Improve)

• Hosting the event on the weekend will almost ensure there will be a UWA conference room available to use. (Location)

• The last Saturday of the month will give plenty of time to advertise to businesses and Saturday mornings most people are off work, so there should be a greater turn out. (People)

• By taking $40 of each members investment or annual membership fees and putting them towards the workshops, there will be more money available to fund them. Food/Drink sponsors should still be sought after.• $40 calculated because it is less than half of what it takes a business to

be a member, and they are all mostly joining to become more improve their businesses—That’s what the trainings teach! (Finance)

• Enlist the help of other members, interns, and UWA to advertise and take on some of the burden. (People)

• Find new leadership books, events, videos to have a variety of topics to discuss each month that are fresh. May even enlist the help of the Livingston Book Club for ideas. (Content)

Eliminating Potential Defects

• By saying that if no member has asked for a training by the 10th of the month, the SCCC will begin to prepare a training for the last Saturday of the month.

• We will keep documentation and designate one board member to be responsible for calling the Executive Director on the 10th of every month to see if any Chamber members have requested a workshop.

• If no member has requested a workshop or training, the Executive Director will begin the process of deciding a topic to discuss.

Controlling the Process

• We are suggesting an update to the current process the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce uses for conducting workshops, to conduct the training on the same day of every month, regardless of if it was requested by a Chamber member.

• We hope our suggestions will cause an increase in the demand for and the attendance at scheduled Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Events.

Conclusion

Thank You!