Expert Answers

With Process Sigma, is it true to say that Process Sigma increases when the Standard Deviation of the process deceases?

• Jef Spencer

Process Standard Deviation is directly related to process variation and high process variation is not good. A good way to view Process Sigma (or process performance) is to estimate how many process Standard Deviations would fit within the process requirements (or specifications). A higher number represents a better performing process.

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What is the best approach for a manager to sell a Lean Six Sigma program implementation to a potential Sponsor/Champion?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

Good question! But also not a simple question since there are a lot of ways to answer it. You could start by educating this Sponsor/Champion on Lean Six Sigma basics. You could send them a link to either the White Belt (1 hour) or the Yellow Belt course (8 hours) which are both free and…

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How can I apply Lean Six Sigma to an instant noodles production company?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

There are lots of applications in producing food. Yum! Brand foods (Owner of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Long John Silvers) has been incorporating Lean Six Sigma into their processes for a long time. They even hosted a class for their vendors to learn and apply Lean Six Sigma to their own processes and products. A…

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How Would You Compare Lean Six Sigma And ISO 9001 In Quality Systems?

• Elisabeth Swan

How Would You Compare Lean Six Sigma And ISO 9001 In Quality Systems? Any Advice To New Learners Who Already Have ISO 9001 Knowledge? I cannot claim to be an ISO 9001 expert, but I can give you the bird’s eye view of the two methods. Lean Six Sigma grew out of a desire for…

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Does every output and every input correlate to one or to multiple customers?

• Carol Knight-Wallace

I am assuming you are talking about the use of the SIPOC (a chart that shows Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer). In this case, the process steps are high level and may incorporate many steps. With a SIPOC, there can easily be a one to many relationship for outputs. A single output might have multiple…

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What should I do if I’m being asked to report on the success of a Process Improvement Project, but do not feel comfortable with the data?

• Tracy O'Rourke

We recently got one of our items on our list automated, but now we have no support for the process. I am now being asked to report on the success but do not feel comfortable with the data, while management won’t let me stress the concern. What should I do? That is a tough place…

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How do you handle an employee who is constantly looking for cracks in the process to revert back to the old way of doing things?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

This is a great question. But before we can develop a strategy, we have to understand the root causes behind the behavior. Here are some questions I would have about the employee and the process changes: Did we call his/her baby ugly? In other words, how invested were they in the old process? Did they…

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How do you know when to stop asking Why?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

If you are unsure, keep asking! Often, we fail to ask why enough.

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How do you overcome a scenario where the people who use the process want the improvement but their management is resistant to change?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

We have seen this happen before, and ultimately, we have discussions with management about why they are resistant to change. There could be many reasons: Too risky or too much risk of failure The cost is too much The change isn’t solving the right problem The consequences are too negative for a customer, stakeholder or…

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How do you prevent the why from going global (instead of getting to the root cause, trying to ask it to every other thing)?

• GoLeanSixSigma.com

First, you need to brainstorm all the potential root causes, fill your fishbone! Go ahead and let it be unfiltered. Then, start the filtering process. A good questiont to ask is: “Of these causes, what do we have control over?” (circle them, or highlight them), Then from those, start to prioritize the root causes that…

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