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.
The DMAIC problem-solving method may seem like a stranger to the A3 but they actually make a great pair. This continuous improvement combo brings much-needed clarity to Kaizen Events, Projects or any process opportunity. But first, a bit of background. We all may know DMAIC as it was born from…
Growing up in the 1980s and 90s, somebody I always looked up to—and still do today—is Michael Jordan. It wasn’t the fact that he helped his team win 6 NBA titles or that he averaged 30 points a game or even that he followed up his playing career with a…
Have you ever failed at process change? Presented your findings—displayed impressive charts and graphs, described elegant solutions to fix a nagging problem—but no one seemed excited? They may have questioned the data and expressed doubts about the solution. If they were candid, they might have complained that no one asked…
I recently spoke at Lean Frontier’s Lean Leadership Week Summit, which focused on lean people development and lean accounting. This summit traditionally attracts a lot of HR professionals working in organizations undergoing a lean journey. During a concurrent session, I shared some of the ways that I’ve exercised with clients…
There was an article earlier this year with the title, “Whatever Happened to Six Sigma?” It focused on the rise and decline of the fortunes of General Electric—the most famous adopter of the Six Sigma Process Improvement method. It’s an interesting question, and the answers reveal some underlying truths about…
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Process improvement has changed dramatically over the last 20 years—but how? For one, there are generational shifts in the practitioners. We’ll provide a glimpse of those shifts through the eyes of two certified Black Belts—Dodd Starbird and James Starbird—who also happen to be father and son. Today, Dodd and James…
As a Lean practitioner, I often hear and see teams struggle to identify the need to improve. Sometimes employees flat out say “we don’t have any problems” or “we are already Lean.” There might be observable indicators such as Performance Boards continuously showing “on-track” statuses or outdated Standard Work. These…
Question: How big is the problem? Answer: We don’t know. This is how my initial conversation with one nonprofit organization began recently. They use a database to track all consumer encounters. Similar to an electronic medical record, the database keeps track of consumer interactions and treatment plans. It also connects…