If you are looking to bring Lean Six Sigma into your business, it is important to know that the numerous tools associated with the process are the driving force behind Lean Six Sigma’s success. Lean Six Sigma follows the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control, or DMAIC, project phases. Each phase has its own set of associated tools, that will drive the process, and ensure the success of your Lean Six Sigma projects. The first Lean Six Sigma phase, Define, is where opportunities for improvement are identified, and where the project scope and deliverables are defined. In the Define phase, there are several Lean Six Sigma tools that are used, the most important of which is the SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers) Diagram.
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.
These Lean Six Sigma maps will produce a more detailed representation of the processes within the business than the SIPOC Diagram will. Wait times, processing times and resource consumption will all be included in these maps and measurements, along with other such information. The Cause and Effect Matrix will also be introduced and used as well as the Preliminary FMEA, or Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. These two are related to one another, but they do have some different application.
Other tools will be introduced throughout the Lean Six Sigma Training courses. The data collection plan is an important tool that will be utilized in all Lean Six Sigma projects and processes. The data collection plan will, of course, be the plan on what data is necessary to collect for the project, the identification of stratification factors, the determination of a sample size, identifying the data sources and the development of data collection sheets.
Pareto Charts, Control Charts and various other charts will be used in the Lean Six Sigma projects as well. All of these tools are needed to implement a successful Lean Six Sigma process into a company.
six sigma has many various belt levels of specialties. One of the highest levels is the six sigma black belt. To learn more about the process stop by www.sixsigmaonline.org.