What does it do?

Brainstorming is a tool that allows for open and creative thinking. It encourages all team members to participate and to build on each other's creativity

Why Use?

Brainstorming is helpful because it allows your team to generate many ideas on a topic creatively and efficiently without criticism or judgment

When Use?

Brainstorming can be used any time you and your team need to creatively generate numerous ideas on any topic. You will use brainstorming many times throughout your project whenever you feel it is appropriate. You also may incorporate brainstorming into other tools, such as QFD, tree diagrams, process mapping, or FMEA

The types of Brainstorming are:

1. Group Brainstorming

2. Nominal Group Technique

3. Brain writing Technique

· Create an effective atmosphere

· No criticism or evaluation during the process “Suspend judgment”

· Open up healthy discussion to unearth unconventional flow of ideas “Freewheeling should be encouraged”

· Aim to generate more and more ideas “Stress quantity over quality” - No idea is a bad idea

· Contribution from each member as per turn: Everyone is encouraged to participate

· One idea per turn

· No explanation during session

· Pass can be given

· No dominance of members for idea generation- Ignore seniority

· Free flow of ideas and appreciation of creativity must during discussion

· Build on ideas of others permitted

· Be creative

· Take risks

After completion of a brain storming session we have to track the following points:

· Review ideas

· Vote on top candidates and consolidate

· Check requirements and restrictions

· Trim list to top 5-10 ideas

· Start turning ideas into reality.

· Assign the ideas for actions

One of our process needed component orientation in specific direction. Earlier orientation was left on operator . As it was a manual operation, if it was missed it was becoming cause of rejection hence we called brainstorming session. One of the operators gave us an idea to modify tool. At the time of meeting we thought it was impossible to modify the tool. But we have not said bad or criticized the idea. We fine tuned the idea and modified the tool and usage of it shows the downward rejection trend.

---