process improvement platform

STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

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Improving Tasks at the Individual Level

08-10-12

Process Improvement Platform

Prime Brokerage Middle Office

Nomura Securities International

Americas

Patrick Diamitani-Summer Analyst


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Why Process Improvement

Background:

8-14-12

•Was asked to perform a daily task that involved manual inputting (30 minutes to an

hour a day)

•Understood that the task could be made easier utilizing technology

•If this, then WHAT ELSE?



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First Suggestion

Proposal



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1. Monthly process review overview

• Encourages employees to assess their tasks for inefficiencies and create

individual improvements

• Process Improvement Assessment Platform.docx

• Process Improvement FAQ can suggestions on ways to improve

processes : FAQ-Process Improvement.pdf

Process Improvement Assessment Platform.docx

FAQ-Process Improvement.pdf




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Proposal

Second Suggestion

2. Biweekly Personal Development

•30 minutes every other Friday

•Work on excel, access, VBA skills

•Go through structured programs to measure growth

Full proposal: Proposal Evaluation.docx

Proposal Evaluation.docx


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Goals of Process Improvement Suggestions

Overview

1. Have employees consistently review their tasks to find ways they can be made

more efficient

2. Consult with employees on how they can make their tasks more efficient using

excel or access while a process automation request is underway

3. Facilitate the improvement of processes at a minor level throughout the firm



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How This Helps the Firm

Potential Benefits



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Suggestion One

•A monthly process review assessment could:

•Eliminate more inefficiencies which waste time or are prone to error

•This thus:

•Saves the firm money and improves employee productivity


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How This Helps the Firm

Potential Benefits



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Suggestion Two

•A bi-weekly continuing education section could:

•Facilitate growth of value-added skills for each employee

•Enable employees to use these new skills to improve processes

•This thus:

•Saves the firm money and improves employee productivity

•Gives employees marketable new skills


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End of Day Process Improvement

Trial Run


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Was given the green light to test this initiative.

•Previous process:

•35-40 minute wait period between tasks for a total of 45-50 minutes

•Subject to human error

•Improved process:

•Using Excel techniques: eliminated significant waiting period. 5 minute task

completion with two minute error review

Demonstration: ..\..\Cash PB\End of Day Check Out.xlsx

../../Cash PB/End of Day Check Out.xlsx








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Trial Run


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Problems Within Trial Run:

1. The information that I am looking for does not completely match the information

that comes from the computer. Therefore, a manual quick-check is still needed.

2. An issue with the excel document occurred and I did not have the Excel acumen

to resolve it.


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Trial Run


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Possible Solutions to Problems:

1. Consult with employees responsible for sending out data and find out which

datum will always align with the MOB platform and which won’t; reducing time

spent checking errors.

2. Develop a greater excel skill set to be able to correct minor and major issues that

come up within the spreadsheet.


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Tutorial Building System

Potential Innovations



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Idea:

Develop an innovative tutorial creating program. Instead of having each

employee create a sop for each one of their tasks, develop or utilize a program

that can act as an internal screen camera and recording device. Here is how it

could work:


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Step 1

An individual initiates the program and begins his or her task. The program activates

its internal camera and records all actions being performed on the screen.


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Step 2

As the individual completes each step of the task, have the individual speak into a

microphone and describe the step that they are completing. Each time the employee

is finished with a certain step, have the employee click, “screenshot.”


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Step 3

Afterwards, incorporate a voice-to-text translation system to match the speakers’

words with the step taken and the screen shot. This can create a SOP that can be

read as a transcript instead of viewed as a video.


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Step 4

When the employee is finished with the task, they can then press the, “create

tutorial” function. This can then create a step by step tutorial which allows any viewer

to watch a task being done and listen to the instructions. At the beginning the

employee should also explain the purpose of the task, how it relates to the rest of the

group and how it helps the business, so the view can grasp a fuller understanding of

the task and concept.


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Feasibility

There are several pieces of technology that currently exist that may help make this

program a reality. The first is the existence of video-tutorial creation program.

CamStudio (camstudio.org) is a program which essentially already does steps 1-4

minus the voice to text translation process for creating documents via the tutorial.


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Feasibility

The second piece of technology is voice-to-text software. There are dozens of voice-

to-text software programs that translate human speech into text. The key is to

combine both programs into a unique new software or hardware to create a more

complete tutorial creating system.


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Benefits

•This system can then be applied for every task set across the business

and uploaded into a master database.

•The database can aid in the training process for analysts and new hires

and allow employees to handle critical tasks upon the absence of a team

member or use free time to finish day to day tasks that they may otherwise

wait for other team members to do.


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Benefits

•There is a potential for increased efficiency across all groups, saving time

for employees and money for the business.

•Additionally, such a program can be used industry-wide as an efficient

training program and licensed to other firms throughout multiple industries.


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Voice-to-Text Trading Platform




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Idea

Using the same voice-to-text concept, this platform could host a database

of common terminology used by traders who trade verbally.

When a trader verbally submits an order, the system can match the words

with the relevant terminology (possibly determining the context), and create

the written order.


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Purpose

Help operations officials if traders don’t correctly input orders

Create a more accurate process for matching trades with counterparties (if

the counterparty has the same platform)

Create a licensing opportunity to increase reputation across the Street


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Feasibility

Unsure, however, voice-to-text translating system could be synced to

current trading applications, including execution, clearing and settlement

platforms.

Operations personnel can check to make sure there are no computer errors

which would have caused terminology to be mixed up.


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Thank You



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Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and train me this summer.

Thank you also for allowing me to go through with my proposals and present

them to you and I hope you evaluate the two “innovations” I have laid out

before you.

I’ve had a great experience and I will always call Nomura home.

-Patrick

process improvement platform

Software

confidential nomura

process improvement

process improvement

previous process

improvement of processes

process automation request

human error improved

firm money