Saturday, April 29, 2017

How To Begin With Lean Six Sigma

By Gary Reed


Many of the top companies in the world want to improve processes, eliminate waste and save money. A Lean Six Sigma project can be time consuming, but the outcome is certainly worth the effort and training that will be put into working to streamlining the way things are done.

There are 5 steps in the process. When followed, is is easy to see the progression and what the next steps should involve. Involving people from throughout the organization can be beneficial as there will be many different views about how to tackle the issue. The 5 phases in the process are Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and, finally, Control, and they are better known by their acronym, DMAIC.

Defining the problem is the first step, which is Define. A problem statement is developed, that describes what the problem that will be solved is. Making a statement about the end goal will help as well. How the process is currently done should be mapped out in detail. Finally, taking the time to identify the benefits of solving the problem and who will benefit from it sets a final target but defining what those who will benefit require of the way things are done.

The next phase is Measure. Data collection plans are outlined with plans in place to be sure that the data is collected consistently and accurately throughout the phase. Initial data is collected and out into charts. This is a good time to add people to the team that can help with the collection of it and may identify other areas where more information should be added.

Next, the data collected in the measure process is analyzed in the Analyze phase. The processes in place a scrutinized and the data that has been collected is organized and displayed using a number of tools and charts. The team can get together and come up with ideas for what is causing the problem.

Gather the team now to brainstorm potential solutions to the issue in the Improve phase. Map what the new process might look like and implement it to test the validity of the solution. Plan to collect more data to ensure that it will actually improve the process. Make sure that the data that is collected is in line with the data collected during the measure phase to ensure it is relevant and accurate.

Finally, in the control phase, it is important to come up with steps that will be out in place to ensure that the new processes are followed. The outcome should be shared with the rest of the organization as it may be useful in other process improvements. Celebrating the successes of the team involved is important.

There are a number of organizations in North Carolina and the surrounding area that have seen excellent improvements since adopting this process. Finding solutions to problems and streamlining the way things are done helps make teams stronger, work more efficient, and makes customers happy.




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