Improvement Methodologies: PM, Six Sigma, DFSS, Lean – Choosing the Right One
Organizations have a variety of tools and methods available to improve their products, services, and processes. Deciding on which methodology to use can often become confusing because management does not understand how these methodologies are separated or used. In this article, I’ll try to alleviate some of this confusion by providing you some examples of when it is appropriate...
Read MoreDetermining Which Tool or Technique to Use Gets Easier With Experience
Deciding which tool or technique to use is sometimes challenging, but usually becomes less of a problem with experience. As an MBB I have certain favorite tools and techniques I use more often because I am more familiar with them and am more comfortable using them. I personally like tools that are graphical in nature, tools such as Pareto charts, box plots, run charts, control charts, VSM,...
Read MoreControl Your Lean Six Sigma Success
The control phase is one of the most important in the DMAIC process, for it is this phase that makes or breaks the success of your project. Up to now, you’ve done a lot of hard work collecting and analyzing data, identifying the root causes of the problem, developing and implementing solutions to address those root causes. Now it’s time to document what you’ve done and make...
Read MoreThink Your Way Through The Improve Phase
You and your team have identified the causes of your problem and are now ready to develop solutions that will keep the problem from ever occurring again. In this phase, the team will develop, test, pilot, and implement the solutions for the problem or issue they’re trying to improve. Some critical checkpoints for this phase are: Try to generate several possible solutions. The goal is...
Read MoreThe Analyze Phase Is Similar To Putting A Puzzle Together
By the analyze phase, you and your team should have the project well defined, smart goals and objectives identified, the scope of your project narrowed, a project metric established, and pertinent data collected. You’re now ready to determine which of the x’s is causing the variation in your product, process, or service. Hopefully, the team has spent considerable time at Gemba...
Read MoreThe DMAIC Measure Phase Requires Diligence and Patience
The measure phase is important for a number of reasons. It is in this phase that the team gets into the nitty-gritty of the project. Because of this there are a number of things that can go wrong for an inexperienced team. Here are some of the more common pitfalls that can occur: Failure to go to gemba. I’ve never seen a problem or issue that’s been resolved in a conference...
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