| Tools Are The Key To Lean Six Sigma |
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| Written by Craig Calvin |
| Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:43 |
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There are various Lean Six Sigma tools that are used in this type of Six Sigma and each tool is introduced at a certain time in the stages of DMAIC, or Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. When learning Lean Six Sigma, the Define stage is the first stage you will go through. This stage is meant to teach individuals to identify where there are improvement opportunities and customer deliverables and a scope will be defined here as well. There are many tools that are introduced in this stage such as stakeholder analysis, SIPOC Diagram and the voice of the customer. The SIPOC Diagram will be one of the most often used tools in Lean Six Sigma. Following the Define stage is the Measure stage, where the existing processes within your business are measured, to baseline your current processing speed, cost and quality. This information is critical if you are hoping to find ways to improve efficiency and quality, and reduce costs. Again there are several Lean Six Sigma tools that are used to help you measure and analyze this data, like the value stream map and the complexity value stream map. In order to understand how to use these tools, and achieve the desired improvements, it is important that your project staff has the appropriate Lean Six Sigma training. Throughout the Measure phase of your Lean Six Sigma project, the various maps that are created will provide a more detailed representation of your business then the overview that is provided by the SIPOC Diagram in the Define phase. These are just some of the tools that will be used in a Lean Six Sigma project, throughout the first two phases of that project. Another important Lean Six Sigma tool, which used in every project phase, is a guide to manage the type and amount of data that will be collected by all of the other tools, called the Data Collection Plan. These are just some of the tools that are associated with a Lean Six Sigma project. There are many other tools, like Pareto Charts, and Control Charts, that are used throughout Lean Six Sigma, and are necessary for the success of your project. While it may seem like a lot of tools, and a lot of work, it will be worth it if you can improve your efficiency, reduce your costs, and provide a higher quality product or service for your business and your customers. About the Author: six sigma training is something that anyone in the business world could profit from having. There are varying 6 sigma levels that can be learned, each having different responsibilities in business. To learn more about the process go to www.sixsigmaonline.org |