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.
Before we cover the subject of what is necessary for good Lean Six Sigma coaching, we have to make a clear distinction between training and coaching. With Lean Six Sigma training, the individual or the organization undergoes an intense course during which they learn about Lean, Six Sigma, the concepts…
Working through resistance is always one of the most challenging parts of a Lean cultural transformation. It’s difficult and time consuming to understand where each individual falls on a change management curve and their personal motivation for change. However, getting some of your biggest resistors to move forward can result…
Within the Lean Six Sigma world, the Project Charter serves as a contract between an improvement team and the Project Sponsor or Champion. It provides essential clarity to everyone involved as to what they’ve all agreed to deliver. It helps to align the team with each other, with the Sponsor…
Everybody makes mistakes, but wouldn't it be great to avoid the big ones? Black Belts make blunders like everyone else and this video lays out the top 3. Being a mentor brings great responsibility, so it helps to learn from your peers. This video takes a quick look at…
Have you ever attended a class where the instructor announced she was going to “curse and infect you?” That was how I started a class of mine. As I introduced myself, I let my students know that one of my goals was to “curse you all with Lean Six Sigma…
Government is challenged every day to get more done with less resources. In the public sector, change is often harder than in the private sector. But innovative leaders around the country at the federal, state and city/local levels of government are taking on the challenge whole heartedly, accomplishing their goals…
Are you new to Continuous Improvement? Are you excited about fixing what “bugs you” but overwhelmed with figuring out where to start? You’re not alone. Solving problems can be intensely gratifying and there is an entire industry devoted to the tools and methods to make it happen. But the sheer…
The other day I was invited to coach a two-and-a-half hour visioning meeting. I was super excited for the event. The group was working to create three innovative ways to serve future customers—and the meeting was planned to be totally interactive. Problem was, I was going to be five hundred…
Whether you prefer Lean, Six Sigma, or Toyota Kata as your method of choice, measurement is a key principle and a thread that weaves its way through any scientific-thinking or improvement approach. It is through objective measurement that we remove assumption, bias, opinion, and let’s face it—drama. The simplest and…
If you have ever read a Lean book, blog or article, you’ll know that “value” is defined by the customer. While often referenced, we don’t spend enough time thinking about what this really means. What Do Customers Truly Want? Henry Ford reportedly once said, “If I’d asked my customers what…