What is a Fishbone Diagram (aka Cause & Effect Diagram)? A Fishbone Diagram is a structured brainstorming tool designed to assist improvement teams in coming up with potential root causes for an undesirable effect. Its name derives from its resemblance to the bones of a fish. It is also…
Shadow Boards are visual methods of storing tools or materials and are always placed where the work is being done. Each shadow board consists of outlines or “shadows" in the shape of individual items to make it obvious where each should be put away. The shadow board accomplishes two essential…
Work Balancing or Line Balancing involves balancing the work rate between sub-processes in order to efficiently match customer demand or takt time. The idea is that process is always on time but never idle. For a better understanding of Workload Balancing and an overview of Lean Six Sigma, check out our Free…
A Supermarket is inventory used in tandem with Kanbans as a Pull system to stock materials according to demand. The name comes from the type of shelving used in a supermarket where as one bottle of milk is removed from the shelf, another one rolls into place. Anyone viewing the…
A Rework Loop is a situation where a step in a process is repeated in order to correct a defect; also known as backtracking. Rework Loops are work that must be done over and over. They often become an accepted part of the process as people get used to them…
