All Lean Six Sigma problem-solving projects follow the DMAIC framework, but with different levels of rigor.
There are three different types of DMAIC projects:
Yellow Belt Projects
Yellow Belt projects are solved by gathering clues through direct observation. Some of those clues are directly actionable, while others are traced to their root causes.
Sometimes more rigor is needed, which may be accomplished through a Green Belt Project.
Green Belt Projects
Green Belt projects are solved in a similar manner, with additional rigor. In addition to direct observation, we find clues in the data we collect. Have a measurable goal that we track throughout the project, and after.
Black Belt Projects
Black Belt projects take the rigor further by using advanced statistical tools to find clues, along with confirmation of the measurement system.
Automate Your DMAIC Projects With Kure
Kure helps Green Belts in a variety of ways. If a Yellow Belt project proves to be too difficult, Kure can create a Green Belt project from the information already in the Yellow Belt project.
Once you begin a Green Belt project, Kure helps you to stay on track, guided by best practices to avoid common pitfalls.
Keep All Your Projects On Track
Kure organizes the most commonly used tools into the sequence in which they are usually used. This avoids the indecision that occurs when a tool is completed and there is uncertainty about what to do next. Kure provides a clear pathway, recording completion along the way. Users may vary from the path they desire, but the roadmap is always there to guide them.
Simple, Clean Goal Statements
Goal Statements should be concise, clearly stating what is to be improved, by how much, and when. This seems easy, but many Green Belts have difficulty doing it. Kure asks simple questions, building a solid Goal Statement, which propagates through the project, ensuring that the project always keeps the end in mind.
Easy Process Maps
Kure makes it easy to create As-Is Process Maps in the popular swimlane format, allowing for color coding of boxes and annotating with comment boxes.
Intelligent Data Collection
When it comes to data collection, Kure helps avoid two mistakes:
- Gathering too many types of data, leading to wasted time through analysis paralysis
- Few or no stratification factors
Kure remedies this by focusing on data about the Goal Statement measure, and encouraging as many stratification factors as possible. This keeps the data collection focused on producing useful clues.
Digging Out the Clues
Finding clues from data is accomplished by finding non-random patterns. A skilled Green Belt can often find some, but many clues are hidden if you donât specifically look for them. Kure makes it easy by identifying data patterns that suggest:
- Trends:Â A trend over time
- Outliers:Â Extreme outliers
- Oscillation:Â Cycling, or oscillation
- Stratification:Â Performance difference associated with stratification factors
Kure shows you each of the potential clues found and can choose to include them in their root cause analysis.
Keeping the Goal in Mind
Another pitfall that Kure avoids is focusing Root Cause Analysis on something other than the objective. Kure does this by forcing the head of the cause-and-effect diagram to be the Goal Statement.
Easy Process Revision
Improvements are documented with a To-Be Process Map, which in many cases has much in common with the As-Is Process Map. Kure makes documentation easy by giving the user the option to copy the As-Is Map into the To-Be Map, and editing to show changes.
Managing Your Project Team
Kure allows the project leader to assign specific tools to each of their team members, automatically recording completions.
Every tool has the ability to attach comments, facilitating and preserving discussion regarding specific tools.
Keeping Track of Project Ideas
As projects are worked on, ideas for other projects or other improvements are often discovered. Kureâs Portfolio provides a place to quickly record ideas, so they may be preserved while the project proceeds.
Insuring an Orderly Handoff
Kure ensures that users know what information to provide to Process Owners to make a solid handoff.
Automatic Project Summary
Kure automatically summarizes project results and allows the ability to export PDF files, saving the project leaders from hours of tedious report generation.
Help When You Need It
Kure provides help in multiple formsâtooltips, explainer videos, blogs, tutorials, and live coaching as needed.
Kure works with users in a never-ending effort to make projects faster and easier to do.
Give Kure a try on your next project and see for yourself!
