Importance of Monitoring Processes and Having Good Data
We’ve all been taught that without data our understanding of problems is just an opinion and in order to understand a problem or make a decision we must have good data. During our training in continuous improvement and Lean Six Sigma we are taught the importance of a good data collection plan, having an accurate measurement system and the need to establish operational definitions if...
Read MoreSolve Problems Faster By Improving Your Problem Statement
Over the years I’ve seen many organizations struggle with solving problems. They often lose focus and get side-tracked. Sometimes because of someone’s opinion, they even go down the wrong path and they never get to the root cause. A problem statement should be a concise description of an issue to be addressed or a condition to be improved upon. It should identify a gap that...
Read MoreDefects Create More Waste Than Meets The Eye!
Defects, mistakes, and errors are a major source of frustration for customers and cause them to look for other providers for the products and services they purchase. But in addition to customer dissatisfaction, these defects, mistakes, and errors create waste that suck up our precious resources of time and money. Employees are forced to rework and repair products and provide services all...
Read MoreHow Variation In Work Environment Can Affect Productivity and Create Problems
We seldom think of our environment as being a detriment to our job. But work environment can have a larger affect on your productivity and can create problems that lead to errors, defects, and costly rework. Mother nature and environment can have a dramatic effect on the products we produce and the services we provide. Some of the obvious factors include humidity, excessive heat, cleanliness,...
Read MoreA Successful CI Program Depends on Strong Project Management Fundamentals
I’ve seen it happen more than once where a company starts down the path of Lean, Six Sigma, or Problem Solving to only change course in mid-stream. It happens for many reasons – lack of resources, underestimating the time required to complete projects, allowing scope creep, project champions and sponsors that don’t ask the right questions, not putting the correct controls in...
Read MoreMake Something Happen – Establish Accountability!
Yesterday I met with a potential client that is looking for problem solving training for his employees. We discussed the logistics of the training, topics to include, and a variety of other training issues. He told me his organization would be very quick to say they know the reasons for many of their problems, based on past experience and opinion. Very few of their problems are addressed by...
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