Design for Lean Six Sigma

Project Definition is an Important First Step

The purpose of project definition is to articulate your project’s scope, goal, objectives, team members and sponsor, the project schedule and its deliverables.  These key project details are documented on your project charter and may change somewhat as you get additional information as you proceed in the DMAIC process.  The charter is not cast in stone, but is a living document that can...

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Reducing The Cost of Product and Service Complexity

The complexity of products and services is something that needs constant attention.  Different versions, options, offerings, etc. add confusion, cost, and waste to any business process.  Most commonly the waste is in the form of increased work in process (WIP), increased inventory, and increased processing and defects. Companies that want to reduce complexity generally have two options, either...

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TRIZ Principles Aid In Design of Products, Processes, and Services

TRIZ is a tool to help us see design opportunities and provide us with principles to resolve, improve, and optimize product, process, and service designs.  It is also a useful innovation and problem solving tool. TRIZ was developed by Genrich S. Altshuller of Russia.  Working in the Russian patent office, he was troubled by the common misconception that invention was the result of accident or...

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Understanding Customer Requirements

Understanding what your customers really want is sometimes frustrating for a new group of Lean Six Sigma students to grasp.  Customers may not fully understand what they want, or they can be awfully vague.  In addition, their attitudes may change over time.  It is usually easier for organizations that already have an effective system for translating the Voice of the Customer (VOC) into...

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When Should An Organization Consider a Process Redesign?

Some processes are like an old car, you can fix this or that problem and keep the thing on the road, but eventually you realize that you’d be better off getting another car.  In the case of business improvement, you don’t get a new car, you create or design a new process. Some issues that might lead you to this conclusion are: The gap between customer requirements and current...

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Understanding the Voice of the Customer

Understanding your customers, their requirements and needs, is critical when conducting Lean Six Sigma and DFSS projects.  In order to make any improvement in an existing process, it is important to know what your customers expect and their Critical to Quality characteristics (CTQ’s).  In a Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) project, understanding the VOC will enhance your ability to design new...

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