Mistake-Proofing, also known as Poka-yoke, means to consciously and diligently try to eliminate defects by preventing human errors before they occur or create alarms to warn of potential defects. For a better understanding of Mistake-Proofing and an overview of Lean Six Sigma, check out our Free Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training, Green…
Lean Culture refers to the combination of defining customer value, aligning around a common purpose, striving for perfection while at the same time respecting and developing employees. The idea is that there is more to process improvement than using a set of tools and concepts. Also, the people who do…
Lean is a systematic method for the elimination of waste from a process with the goal of providing what is of value to the customer. Much of what constitutes Lean stems from tools developed at Toyota while creating the Toyota Production System. Although the Lean roots are in manufacturing and…
Lead time is the measure of the cycle time from the moment a customer places an order to the moment they receive the desired goods or services. For a better understanding of Lead Time and an overview of Lean Six Sigma,check out our Free Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training, Green…
Just-In-Time is a system for producing and delivering the right items, at the right time, in the right place, and in the right amounts. This concept is integral to the idea of a Pull system. For a better understanding of Just-In-Time (JIT) and an overview of Lean Six Sigma,check out our…
Inventory is the materials, parts or units sitting unused in a process. Excess inventory before a process step indicates a bottleneck and maintaining more inventory than required ties up capital and takes up valuable storage area. Inventory is one of the 8 Wastes. To get foundational training on how to…
Gemba is a Japanese term that translates to the "real place" or where the work takes place. "Going to Gemba" is a philosophy that instructs management to spend time where real work occurs in order to build profound knowledge of the process. For a better understanding of Gemba and an…
The Future State Map is guide to the goal state of the process. This is generally projected out at 4 to 8 months from the Current State Map and provides a visual of how the process will flow when all identified forms of waste are removed and the process is…
Extra Processing refers to the concept of adding more features or producing a product or service of higher quality than required by the customer. Extra-Processing is one of the 8 Wastes. To get foundational training on how to complete Lean Six Sigma projects using the 8 Wastes, check out our…
Demand Levelling involves using external techniques to remove the variation when there are big swings in the volume of customer demand. Classic techniques involve bargains during off-peak hours or other incentives to effectively level demand. For a better understanding of Demand Levelling and an overview of Lean Six Sigma, check out…