Improve HTS and Schedule B Classification Process to Reduce the Turnaround Time in a Commodity Shipments Compliance Project

Abstract

The HTS and Schedule B classification process adds two days to the turnaround time of the standard process of the Commodity Shipments Compliance team. Throughout 2021, 108 of 326 requests approvals, requiring HTS and Schedule B classification took longer than three days. A process improvement has been made using the Lean-Kaizen methodology. As Lean-Kaizen tools, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and Value Streaming Mapping (VSM) were worked together to obtain efficient results. As a result, one delay, three waiting times, and seven kaizen bursts were identified. Twelve corrective actions were proposed for process improvement. The future VSM results reflect that the maximum lead and waiting times are reduced from almost 11 days to one day. These time reductions will help with the 50% goal of time reduction proposed for the classification process and the 33% reduction goal for the total turnaround time in the request approval process. Key Terms ⎯ Classification process, Lean-Kaizen, Time reduction, Turnaround time.