Atlantic Process Improvement Initiative

Through the Atlantic Process Improvement Initiative, the Atlantic Region is leveraging available talent in order to empower employees to challenge the status quo and be innovative in its service to Canadians.

In 2016, nine “change maker” employees were trained in process management and continuous process improvement. Equipped with this training, these employees engaged almost 50 of their colleagues by having them examine basic processes and find ways in which to improve them by saving, time, money or gaining efficiencies.  All ideas for improvement to service to Canadians came from the employees who are actually doing the work.

According to Keir Lowther, a Project Manager with Chief Financial Officer Branch in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the key to the project’s success has been a supportive management team for employees who are attentive to improving the way we help Canadians. He added “It is awesome to create something from nothing but it does take time and you have to be prepared to commit to it.”

The team, in collaboration with College@ESDC, has shared its best practices directly with other regions and all federal employees through GCconnex. Employees who participated indicated a very high rate of satisfaction with the training. In fact, 100% of the employees indicated they recommend it to others. One employee stated that “being asked to participate provided me with a sense of inclusion and I felt that I was making a positive contribution.”

The region wants to instill a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, be a leader in process management and improvement, and continue to focus on serving clients through employee engagement and empowering. The initiative’s success and popularity has led to planning for additional employee training in the near future.