Recognizing TWI’s Place Amongst
the Virginia Mason Production System
Martha Purrier

Virginia Mason Medical Center started its Lean Journey over 10 years ago, integrating Lean Principles into our culture and declaring the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS) our management method. In 2008, we discovered TWI’s Job Instruction as a tool to assist us in achieving reliability with implementing standard work. This excellent tool was folded into the existing production system. This presentation will describe the infrastructure supporting VMPS and how we thoughtfully integrated Job Instruction. Results of this blending will be highlighted.

Upon completion of this session, participants will learn…

• Identify example characteristics of infrastructure support for improvement efforts.

• Evaluate the rationale of JI as a continuing education program.

• Describe how commonly used Lean Tools enhance JI projects.

About the Presenter(s)

Martha is a Registered Nurse with over 24 years experience in the hospital setting. She earned a Master’s Degree specializing in the clinical care of patients with cancer and in the training of nurses. During the past 13 years, she has worked at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle Washington as the Director of Inpatient Oncology and IV Services. Virginia Mason adopted Lean as a management methodology in 2001 and Martha was Certified in Rapid Process Improvement Workshops in 2006. During her work in IV Therapy, the Team won the Mary McClinton Patient Safety award for the application of Lean Methods which produced increased safety for patients receiving Central Lines. In 2008, Martha was appointed to the Kaizen Fellowship Program. She currently works as a Director in Virginia Mason’s Kaizen Promotion Office and is piloting the application of TWI to health care instruction. Martha has received training in JI and JR.