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.
Here are 10 of the most popular Lean Six Sigma Templates which you, our learners, and our team of Master Black Belts also find the most valuable. You can download all of these useful templates on each of their respective pages below. We hope you find them as useful as…
A Process Walk, also known as a Gemba Walk, consists of a team of people walking a Value Stream together. The Japanese word "Gemba" translates to, “go to the real place.” This means go to where the work is being performed, even if that work is performed in cubicles. Process…
When starting any process improvement effort, whether it’s a Quick Win, a Kaizen or a larger Green Belt Project, building the “As Is” Process Map is an essential first step. Teams often find immediate and actionable opportunities for improvement simply by uncovering “the way we do things now." The following…
It turns out that for Yellow Belts and Green Belts, taking the Certification Exam is key to understanding the material. A New York Times article, How Tests Make Us Smarter, raised an essential point related to Yellow and Green Belt Certification. Taking these tests improves learning and retention, "Used properly, testing…
Looking to Launch Lean Six Sigma? Here’s how to do it in 3 months! Partner with us and we’ll help you create a Culture of Continuous Improvement. A key objective of every project is to deliver results in an agreed upon time period with an agreed upon set of resources.…
The “To Be” or Future State of the process is a critical component of the Lean methodology and the Value Stream mapping exercise. It is a powerful exercise that strokes the imagination and helps break free from the current inhibitors of the current state which are contributing to any one…
When organizations want to address an issue, they frequently bring people together to determine what actions to take. Often, part of the group’s process is to brainstorm about what causes the issue to happen in the first place. Maybe you have been in one, or several, of these situations with…
The Value Stream Map is a critical tool within the Lean methodology. It serves as the basis for documenting the "As Is" state of the process and is the platform for designing the "To Be" state of the new and improved process flow. A Value Stream Map (VSM) is a…
5S is a fundamental pillar of a Lean deployment. The 5S exercise captures core principles of the Lean philosophy that facilitate the extension and development of a lasting lean implementation. Think of it as the foundation upon which a house is built upon. While some think of it as a…
We spend countless time in meetings discussing roles, responsibilities and accountabilities. Yet, I find managers and associates still have misunderstandings about what they’ve been asked to do and what it is they are responsible for. A tool I use when implementing Lean Six Sigma that leaders, managers and associates have…