Initiatives

Our initiatives provide expert solutions on quality improvements.

Rapid Cycle
Rapid Cycle is a community initiative aimed at strengthening the productive capacity and performance of organizations from all sectors of the Rochester economy. It works by bringing to them the tools of continuous process improvement.

The Rapid Cycle approach is based on a business methodology, known as Lean Six Sigma, developed in Japan (Toyota) and America (GE, Motorola) to attack waste and reduce defects in core business processes. While originally applied to manufacturing, this approach has been successfully adapted to any work or service environment in business, education, nonprofit, healthcare, and governmental settings.

Begun in 2003 with projects in 10 nonprofit organizations, today the initiative boasts a count of more than 50 successful projects, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Rochester, Hillside Family of Agencies, and the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency.

Rapid Cycle is jointly sponsored by GRQC, United Way of Greater Rochester, and the Council of Agency, Executives. It is made possible by generous in kind support from Eastman Kodak and Xerox, which have provided professional coaches and trainers.

Rapid Cycle Overview & Results


What is Rapid Cycle?
Rapid Cycle is a program offered by Greater Rochester Quality Council and United Way of Greater Rochester, in partnership with the University of Rochester Medical Center, Eastman Kodak Company, and the Council of Agency Executives. Its purpose is to enable community organizations to apply continuous improvement tools, specifically Lean and Six Sigma, to achieve breakthrough improvements in performance and efficiency.

What type of organization is Rapid Cycle for?
The Rapid Cycle is appropriate for any organization regardless of size or sector. It is designed especially to serve organizations that are new to continuous improvement and would benefit from the resources that Rapid Cycle provides, in particular, training and coaches.

How do participating organizations benefit?
First, over a period of three months, participating organizations develop and begin to implement an improvement plan for a critical business process. Improvements are measured in terms of reduced costs, increased productivity, or improved customer or client-related outcomes. Second, they develop internal expertise in applying continuous improvement tools. Third, they are linked to a network that encourages and assists them in their continuing efforts to use these tools to improve operations.

Participating organizations, in turn, are responsible for four critical factors:

1. Identification of a process that is important to improve and measurable goals for improvement;
2. Commitment on the part of senior management and teams to put in the time and effort required;
3. Willingness to share learnings and work together with other community organizations;
4. Accountability to the community, through Rapid Cycle, for following through.

What's involved in Applying to Rapid Cycle?
Preliminary Workshop: What is Rapid Cycle and How Can It Help? (2 hrs) Application: Organizations submit proposal specifying process to be improved and measurable objectives

Review and selection of participating organizations (based on readiness and commitment of both management and team)

Coaches are assigned and meet with team leaders and team sponsors to clarify objectives and expectations

Workshop (for teams): Overview of Rapid Cycle process and basic tools (2 hrs)

On-site work (teams and coaches): Using Lean/Six Sigma, with just-in-time training in appropriate tools, coaches guide teams through development and early implementation of improvement plan (12 weeks)

Team leaders meetings (as needed): Share learnings and best practices, discuss obstacles, etc.

Wrap-up and evaluation (Phase 1); Celebration

Follow-up evaluation of plan implementation (Phase 2)

Ongoing training and assistance as needed