There are an abundance of tools in the Lean Six Sigma toolkit but what really makes the difference is getting a little guidance and seeing some practical examples. Once you see how these tools and concepts function in the real world, it’s easier to apply them to your own processes and you’re more likely to see significant results.
What happens now? Zoom calls are a permanent fixture, but what else? Organizations have had to figure out how to manage processes virtually, and people are developing ways to work from home permanently. How does Continuous Improvement incorporate technology in the wake of the pandemic? What should change? What shouldn’t? …
We tell Green Belts to use group brainstorming to come up with solutions, but the research says it doesn’t work—the data proves they would come up with better ideas without it. That’s baffling since brainstorming promotes creativity, taps the wisdom of groups and it has a cool icon—the light bulb.…
Congratulations! You have just passed your exam and now it is time to tackle that Lean Six Sigma Green Belt project. “What makes a good Green Belt project?” is often the first looming question that comes to mind. Learners struggle with finding support, properly scoping their projects and other common…
Surely everyone knows that process improvement has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, and certainly there are generational differences in the practitioners then and now. The first post in this series, The Next Generation of Lean Six Sigma (Part 1): Then and Now, was about the generational shifts in…
When customers are satisfied with their first purchase from your company, they patronize you again and your business records higher sales. They tell their families and friends, and they may also choose to buy your products and services. That first experience with your product and your service matters. Customer satisfaction…
Goldilocks is a great source for guidance on A3 problem-solving. With the goal of getting the approach “just right” it’s critical to assess the kinds of problems that require A3s. As with Goldilocks and the Three Bears, some problems are “Papa Bear” sized, with multiple unknown factors to explore. A…
Finally, your leadership team commits to investing in building a culture of problem solvers. Yay! The greatest hurdle is behind you—or is it? An early mistake can quickly kill leadership support. Read on to find out the ugly truth and how to avoid it. Hundreds of organizations all over the…
Kaizen Charter? Knowledge Capture? Project Tracker? Posting Board? A3s have grown beyond their roles as problem-solving staples. They’ve expanded and staked out a richer domain in the Lean Six Sigma Toolkit. The A3 is often where we start to examine a challenge, address a problem or consider an opportunity. While…
We asked our learners to share a Quick Win or Process Improvement Project story related to how they’ve solved a problem that arose because of COVID-19. We were heartened by stories of hope from Hospitals, Military Bases and Family Businesses. Nurses, Logistics Managers, Consultants and Army Officers banded their colleagues…
One of the benefits of the current situation is being able to spend quality time with my new baby daughter Zelda. Unfortunately my lack of familiarity with her nighttime ritual was landing us in a pile of tears. My wife has (thankfully!) taken the lead on childcare, establishing routines and…