Leading in turbulent times requires a deliberate shift from command-and-control towards a collaborative style of leadership. This may be easier for some than others. It requires a shift in mindset! The idea of collaborative leadership requires individuals at all levels take initiative and act in ways that supports the achievement of the vision, purpose and objectives of the enterprise. The freedom to take risk, to fail, to engage in constructive conflict, to participate in decision making and to experiment, learn and innovate. This is collaborative leadership.

Take the time to watch this informative video!

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The concept of collaborative leadership seems foreign to some professionals new to a leadership role. Most newly anointed leaders anticipate an environment where they are streaming orders down the line and their staff are jumping into action. Things are getting done as long as they seem to be in control, barking orders and expecting complete subordination of their authority.  It is an idealistic world that truly only can be successful in the most limited environments or in times of life-or-death situations. The practice of collaborative leadership can be crucial in times of uncertainty or turbulence, but is also a driving element in the lean manufacturing environment. Simply put, it creates a collaborative environment where people can unite with purpose, with clear vision and a solid set of values.

Leaders practicing in an environment of collaborative leadership have a purpose and vision, with character and values that are unwavering.  These elements blend together and create passion, but that passion must begin with the leader. Others will not follow a leader that lacks passion, simply because they lead by example. This element of passion in leadership creates the spark that drives others to initiate actions independently and step up to the challenge.They are will to take on ambitious responsibilities and accept the risks associated without  fear.

The elements of purpose, character and values brings a leader forward in the work environment. One of the hardest lessons learned in that environment is that they are really never in control. It is understood that people comply with authority when the leader is present. The real key to success is what they do in the absence of authority. Collaborative leadership principles demand leaders that can lead without the safety net of a title, position or authority of a superior. This doesn’t mean that you cut deals or accept substandard performance. It simply means that your drive, passion and commitment inspire others to follow your lead. 

Finally, collaborative leadership focuses on developing people and other leaders at all levels. It instills the concept that everyone is a leader.  Everyone has voice that is respected and that they are expected to take the responsibility for their actions. This means that mistakes are no longer there to be documented and considered as punishable infractions. They become opportunities for learning and development. You must take your people outside of their comfort zones and encourage them to succeed.

There are many elements involved in collaborative leadership. They require a leader to give up their authoritative tendencies, get out of their office and join the work environment they are responsible for. It requires character, passion and the establishment of trust. It is truly the foundation of a successful team and the collaborative process. It is all about the people. 

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When there is a leadership change in an organization, there is always a broad idealistic plan on how things are going to change. Invariably, one of the first things a new leader will state as a goal to get things on track is to change the culture’ of the organization. Culture change is an ongoing battle, across all industries and institutions. Unfortunately, culture change is usually one of the first things that simply and quietly falls by the wayside after the initial period of change in lean leadership. There are many reasons why culture change doesn’t work in an organization, but the fact is that all goes back to leadership. Effective lean leadership is the key to success in any organization. When considering quality improvement initiatives and methodologies, changing the culture is crucial to the success of the process.

There can be no doubt that to change the culture, you must change the way the organization thinks. To make that radical leap, everyone in the organization must clearly understand the commitment, vision and focus on the new way. This is the most crucial hurdle a new leader faces. You can give inspiring speeches, send out inspiring emails and cheer the staff on, but if they don’t believe your commitment, then the existing culture will remain firmly intact. Here are a few points to consider when implementing a culture change in an organization.

• Stop Playing With Toys – Across an organization applying lean methodologies, you will find the tools of the trade. Kaizen submission cards, A3 forms, visual management boards and 5S checklists will be scattered across the organization in various forms. Without the proper focus and application, they are seen as toys’ or time-wasters.’ People are just going through the motions using them. There are no results. Leaders must show commitment to their use and demonstrate to the staff that they work! They must see that they provide true value.
• Doing It Cheap – To build a business, you must invest in the business. Training must never be compromised. Get your people training and make sure the training they are provided is the highest quality possible. Ensure that everyone, through proper training, is speaking the same language and focused on the same goals. Leaders must be willing to invest in the future of the organization to get results. There is a difference between cost effectiveness and just being cheap.
• Speak Well – Communicating change and commitment requires character and integrity. It is all in how you say it and you better be ready to back it up. The term or else’ can never be spoken if you are going to build trust and empowerment. Staff must understand that you committed and that you will follow through. Clearly communicate that you will train them, empower them and let them succeed. Leaders are not there to be micro-managers. They are there to train, empower, and eliminate road blocks to success. It is about trust and mindset.

Changing an organization’s culture is tough. It requires lean leadership that is up to the task. They must have a focus and commitment that is unparalleled. There can be no excuses. The only way this can be done is to have a leader that is truly leading from the front. You cannot effect change from your desk, behind a laptop, issuing orders. You must be out among the people who really count. Everyday, you make a little change when you are out there, watching, listening and acting. This will quickly build trust and empowerment which leads to the change in culture you are seeking.

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TED is a global community. It welcomes people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. TED believes passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately the world. Through the website, they are building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world’s most inspired thinkers and innovators.

Most professionals have found TED to be a wealth of spirit, knowledge and thought. Here is a collection of TED Talks videos that will inspire and provoke!

Ten Thought Provoking TED Talks You Must See

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There is a saying that success leaves clues. If you look at successful people, you will find a common core of habits that contribute directly to their success. One of the most common habits is reading. Successful people across all industries dump the TV and read! They are voracious readers and consume books with an energy level that matches their success.

One of those highly successful individuals is Jeff Bezos of Amazon. Now the world’s richest man, with a net worth of over $90 billion, Bezos devours books! Of course, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise, when you understand that Amazon began as a book platform. He’s spent his career changing the way books are published and sold, devouring many small bookstores in the process. Amazon now appears to be laying claim to the entire retail universe ” and beyond. It is a formidable force in such disparate fields as cloud computing, movies, music, food, artificial intelligence and the distribution of washing machines and toasters. What does Jeff Bezos read for success and professional development?

The Bezos Top 12

1. “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro
2. “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by Jim Collins
3. “Creation: Life and How to Make It” by Steve Grand
4. “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ¦ and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins
5. “The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen
6. “Sam Walton: Made in America” by Sam Walton
7. “Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation” by James Womack and Daniel Jones
8. “Memos from the Chairman” by Alan Greenberg
9. “The Mythical Man-Month” by Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.
10. “The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvements” by Eliyahu Goldratt
11. “Data-Driven Marketing: The 15 Metrics Everyone in Marketing Should Know” by Mark Jeffery
12. “The Black Swan” by Nassim Taleb

But Jeff Bezos isn’t alone in reading for success and professional development. When Warren Buffett was once asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it. He takes this habit to the extreme, reading between 600 and 1000 pages per day when he was beginning his investing career, and still devotes about 80 percent of each day to reading.

Successful people tend to choose educational books and publications over novels, tabloids, and magazines. And in particular they obsess over biographies and autobiographies of other successful people for guidance and inspiration. There are many examples of successful people dropping out of school or foregoing a formal education, but it is clear that they never stop learning. Reading is a key part of their success and professional development.

If reading as a pathway to success isn’t enough to get you motivated, consider these health benefits of reading: it has been shown to help prevent stress, depression, and dementia, while enhancing confidence, empathy, decision-making, and overall life satisfaction, not to mention, enormous wealth and success.

What is on your nightstand?

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Reading: The Secret Sauce of Success

Have you ever thought about what one habit ultra-successful people have in common? Sure you have! We look up to highly successful people as mentors and guides to the path of our own success. Everyone looks at them and studies their habits to learn the secret sauce’ of just exactly what creates their success.

Well, here is the answer: Every highly successful person will tell you their one secret to success ¦ they read. A lot!

Warren Buffett was once asked about the key to success. He pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it. Buffett takes this habit to the extremeŠ ” Šhe reads between 600 and 1000 pages per day when he was beginning his investing career, and still devotes about 80 percent of each day to reading.

Other top business leaders and entrepreneurs who make reading a major part of their daily lifestyle:

¢ Bill Gates reads about 50 books per year, which breaks down to 1 per week
¢ Mark Cuban reads more than 3 hours every day
¢ Elon Musk is an avid reader, and when asked how he learned to build rockets, he said, I read books.
¢ Mark Zuckerberg resolved to read a book every 2 weeks throughout 2015
¢ Oprah Winfrey selects one of her favorite books every month for her Book Club members to read and discuss

A study of 1,200 wealthy people found that they all have reading as a pastime in common.

Successful people don’t just read anything. They are highly selective about what they read, opting to be educated over being entertained.

They believe that books are a gateway to learning and knowledge.

In fact, there is a notable difference between the reading habits of the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy. Successful people tend to choose educational books and publications over novels, tabloids, and magazines. And in particular, they obsess over biographies and autobiographies of other successful people for guidance and inspiration.

Start Reading Books Written By Paul Akers

Paul Akers is an entrepreneur and leader in creative and innovative business practices. As the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for the professional builder. His intense curiosity on how things could be improved paved the way for him to become a prolific innovator. Today, Paul holds many US and international patents, and his company launches approximately 20-30 innovative products per year.

Paul’s core passion is helping people discover their full potential, and showing others how to implement Lean in their business and personal life. His passion for Lean has taken him around the world to over 65 countries to work and speak. He has devoted his life to teaching Lean concepts with passion and excitement. You can learn more about Paul on his website at PaulAkers.net

The following 3 books are a great way to get your reading discipline off to a great start! His 3 books below are easy to read, motivational, entertaining, and filled with practical examples.

The best part is that they are FREE from his website, if you want an electronic or audio version!!

   2 Second Lean

Can you make an improvement at work that saves 2 seconds from your day? Everyone can do that! That’s what makes “2 second lean” so much fun, and it engages everyone in the company in making improvements.

“There are plenty of workshops, executive manuals and textbooks on the market. I wanted to write a book that would make Lean accessible to everyone, from homemaker to executive. This is a real life journey that examines the astounding results Lean thinking can produce!”

Get the PDF, Kindle, or audio file here.

   Lean Health Book

Are you looking to get in shape, or live a healthier lifestyle? Paul will help you re-think your relationship with food and exercise, using the concepts of lean and waste. The results speak for themselves, as Paul has transformed his own life over the past couple years.

“Lean thinking can make a difference in your health if you think of it as a car. Do you think of your body as a Ferrari and treat it like a powerful and well designed machine? Or, do you treat your body like an old jalopy, lacking in power, efficiency and just getting down the road? Not surprisingly, most people find their machines low on the necessary fuel, oil and maintenance required by the machine to achieve the highest performance possible. Learn to take care of your body just like a high-performance Ferrari.”

Get the PDF, Kindle, or audio file here.

  Lean Travel

Does traveling cause you stress and headaches? For most people, it can cause just as much stress as what your vacation is trying to relieve. Paul is an avid traveler, and shares his advice and tips for making travel easy and efficient. Again, he ties everything back to lean concepts and the 8 forms of waste.

“Travel is one of the most inspiring and educational experiences we can have. For most, the true experience of global travel is elusive. For the ones who do experience travel, most miss out on the pure joy and enlightenment travel brings us. In this book, we learn to understand and experience travel the way it was intended, through the simplicity of Lean thinking.”

Get the PDF, Kindle, or audio file here.

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As you stare across the piles or paper and clutter that marks your workspace in the office, you get a feeling of resigned frustration. You know that this collection of organized chaos cannot possible be the best way to work, but it makes total sense to you. Others may see it as a disorganized mess, but you see a well organized system. Only you can decipher the code of chaos. Well, today is the day to make a change! Clear the minefield of chaos and restore order and discipline to that space you call a desk.

Using the 5S Tool to Restore Order

Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day. To regain control over your workspace, it is the day to take action. Experts agree that the average worker has on average 36 hours of work in those mountains of clutter on the workspace. Those same workers spend about three hours a week searching’ the chaos for specific things they need to get the job done. What a waste!

Now it’s time to take charge and organize the chaos and clutter. We cannot think of a better tool to help you take control than the 5S Tool used with Lean Six Sigma methodology.

5S Tool

Sort – The first step is to go through all the clutter and determine what must be retained at the worksite. Only essential files, paperwork and documents are allowed to remain. When you find something that doesn’t belong, return it to the correct person or department or simply get rid of it.

Straighten – Now all you have left at the workspace are essentials. You must now give each of these a single, proper place. You’ve heard the saying, A place for everything, and everything in its place. That’s exactly what we’re talking about. Be creative and organized in establishing places for things so that returning an item to where it belongs is natural or easy.

Scrub – To help maintain the order you’ve created, thoroughly clean everything remaining at the workspace. The time and money spent on polishing or cleaning, will be returned manyfold in a more positive attitude and with greater productivity.

Standardize – Make things in your workspace consistent with files and organizers. Model your workspace after the most organized person in your work area. Find out how they organize and work to duplicate their system. If everyone does the process the same way, things will become significantly more efficient.

Sustain – This final step means to put a schedule and system in place for maintaining and refreshing the 5S’d workspace. It is your responsible to maintain and sustain.

The Dawn of a New Day

Your workspace is now clutter free, organized and streamlined. It is like a new day. You feel more refreshed and confident. You get things done quicker, with more accuracy. It feels great to come to work and you are proud of your space. Success is about habits and the 5S tool allows you to have a habit that is easy to practice. Now, let’s get to work!

Get your free download of the 5S tool here.

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As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

John F. Kennedy, 45th President of the U.S.

Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has”as opposed to, for example, a consumer-driven emphasis on what one wants. It is getting a great deal of attention as a facet of positive psychology: Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so. In addition, gratefulness”and especially expression of it to others”is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy.

Making Gratitude a Daily Practice

Gratitude is crucial for successful leaders. They must understand the importance of this habit in their business operations. It is a force that transforms and focuses. Making a habit of practicing gratitude is one of the most important skills a leader can possess. Studies have shown that being grateful is a result of and promotes moral behavior. It demonstrates that a leader cares. People are more likely to feel gratitude when declarations are made in public.

Leaders find it easier to be grateful when they seek out the good in situations. Those who constantly criticize and carry on with a negative air in their environment find it difficult, if not impossible, to identify and express gratitude.

Changing the Culture

Gratitude and being grateful is a powerful tool. A leader can shape the culture and destiny of their business by simply making it a habit. There is an old adage that a great leader praises in public and corrects in private. Be genuine! Look for the good in every situation, recognize it and then praise it publicly. Learn to harness the power and you will see a powerful change!

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No matter how organized you are, the classic task or to-do list is a monster that has a mind of its own, and grows at an alarming rate. Isn’t it time to quit working for the monster, and start making the monster work for you?

Make the Task List Monster Work for You

Making the task list monster work for you, instead of being a slave to the monster is really simple. It takes organization and mindset. Nothing more, nothing less. So how do you take simplistic steps and slay the monster?

First, get your self organized. Clean up your your workflow and make your practices habit. Do them everyday and without a thought. Habits are powerful when they are done as second nature. Some prefer the pen and paper written list, others go digital. Whatever you choose, make sure that the platform of choice is simple, clear and easy to use. There are multitudes of platforms in the digital space that sync across all of your platforms. Do your research and pick one that makes your comfortable, then stick with it. Stop jumping from solution to solution! Almost any solution will work if you stick with it, and are disciplined in following it for a month.

The next step is straightforward logic. You probably work through a task list that is greater than 20 items. Every evening, you refine and prioritize that list for the next day. However, this is where the monster grows out of control! Instead of reducing a task list during the work week, your list tends to grow. This is called “inventory” and it is one of the 7 forms of waste! This leaves you with a strong feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control, and you spend a lot of time sorting through the list to decide which tasks are most important.

Simply, take control of the list! The idea is to have a task list with three items on it. Yes, we said three! Take that monster list, dig in and critically prioritize where you end up with the Top 3 tasks on your list everyday. These tasks are of highest priority that align with your business goals. Now, you can start each day with a clear, manageable focus on just exactly what needs to happen every day. If you’re afraid of losing all the other ideas and tasks you need to complete, find a place to store them for later retrieval.

Another key is to break down each task into a manageable task to move it forward. Don’t put down items like “write a book” or “clean out garage.” Instead, put down tasks like “create book outline” or “clean out one container in garage.” These tasks should not be on your to-do list for days and weeks, otherwise they are too daunting and need to be more specific.

Embracing the Top 3

At first, this is just not going to seem either logical or practical. It takes time to make the practice a habit, and see the effectiveness. However, if you practice the Top 3, you will quickly fall into a habit that gets results. That monster to-do list reduces into a manageable form that works for you! Get up in the morning and attack the Top 3 with gusto. As you complete the Top 3, go straight to working on other items that are presenting as opportunities. Your day is not done when the Top 3 are complete. It simply means that you achieved a significant goal. You feel successful and accomplished, which changes your mindset. Working on other items in your realm will then feel like icing on the cake, with a cherry on top. It’s a great feeling to have the monster working for you and seeing success!

What tips and tricks are working for you? Add your comments below…

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Are you a believer in continuous improvement? Do you believe that a state of continuous improvement can exist harmoniously in any business environment and succeed? Well, if you are so confident, then what are you willing to risk to achieve your dreams? You just took on a new leadership role, in a new organization. You were hired to be a change agent. You have the skill sets and history to establish your authority as an expert. Once you get settled in to the organization, you see that making the changes you envisioned are going to be a real battle. Even worse, your boss specifically wanted you to be a change agent’ in the organization and start making a difference. However, there is a big difference in words and deeds with leadership. They say they want change and continuous improvement, but their actions don’t back up their ideas. Now, for all the reasons you were attracted to the new organization and new job, you feel like you are a sole survivor on a desert island. Stranded!

What Will You Risk for Continuous Improvement?

Now that you feel the world is against you ¦ it is time to go to work! Set out on your journey with purpose and determination. Leave the bravado behind! Quickly identify and work with your new boss to identify quick opportunities for change. Use your skills and Lean Six Sigma practices to establish process and document progress. Learn to effectively communicate your goals and vision not only up the chain of command, but equally, down the chain of command. When people understand your purpose and see tangible results, they are more than likely willing to change. Be a great leader, coach and mentor throughout all aspects of your process. Be willing to embrace slow progress just as much as you cheer for the success. It will be a trying time for you. When you have a successful project completed and new processes in place that work, it’s time to take on something bigger and harder! Keep in place your focused leadership and professional skills.

Risk vs. Reward

Belief is equally balanced with risk. The bigger your beliefs, the more you are willing to risk. Your vision for the future should be greater than anyone around you and your willingness to risk everything should match that. Your confidence in your professional skills and abilities will go a long way to gaining the trust and confidence of those around you. The benefits of continuous improvement outweigh the risk of change. Be bold, be confident and use the tools of your practice that are proven tried and true!

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Reasoning and Justification

What is the importance of Minitab training to a Six Sigma professional? The practice of Six Sigma requires us to rely on statistics and hard data. This allows the professional to provide continuous process improvement. Being able to evaluate and determine variances is a base of knowledge that just cannot be retained without reference. A Six Sigma practitioner depends on specialized tools to achieve success, such as Minitab. Being able to successful navigate and implement this powerful tool with confidence requires training and practice. The software platform enables a Six Sigma practitioner the ability to enter data, manipulate that data, understand trends, then extrapolate solutions to the challenges of the project. Without a clear understanding and confidence in operation of the Minitab software, Six Sigma professionals would struggle to provide accurate solutions to very complex issues, in a timely manner.

Minitab is Tailored For Quality

Achieving success in the Six Sigma profession demands that you have available and fully understand the use of the proper tools of the job. Every industry has their specific software that is unique to the application of their trade. Minitab is the leading software for Six Sigma professionals. Like any other process, it is crucial for a professional to understand the basic mechanics of the process, then graduate to an automated software platform. This ensures the professional understands the hows and whys of the process, before using the software. Learning the statistical applications of Six Sigma is crucial to anyone in the professional, it is simply a stepping stone to the next level of proficiency. Once you have mastered manual manipulation of the statistics, then moving into the Minitab software is the beginning of another learning process. Every professional software has a learning curve of manipulation and data entry. Minitab requires a certain level of education and understanding to achieve the desired results. Any practitioner of Six Sigma should complete a comprehensive and detailed training course on the Minitab software.

Achieving Success With Minitab

Your continued success in the Six Sigma profession depends on continuous and consistent training and education. An important part of this ongoing training effort should include a formal and comprehensive training on the Minitab software platform. When you are proficient and comfortable with the platform, you will be able to provide a better quality work product and achieve the results you are seeking in any project. It is a crucial skill to master.

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Setting a Bad Example

We have all seen it many times before. That meeting organizer that comes into a meeting 25 minutes late. Everyone in the room respectfully held off starting the meeting and simply took care of busy work or catching up on social connections with others in the meeting. Time passed slowly and schedules later in the day started getting pushed back. Frustration was starting to fill the air. In a rushed flurry, the meeting organizer entered the room, briskly apologized for the tardiness. The excuse? Well, we have all heard them. They were on the phone, in another room, signing documents, caught up with an issue, another meeting ran over, delayed getting back from lunch, etc, etc, etc. All things considered, the apology and excuses wear thin. Making matters worse, the meeting organizer is the one who called the meeting. Are you feeling the familiar level of frustration yet? You bet you are! Use this example as a learning point and make sure you aren’t guilty of the same type of behavior. As a Lean Six Sigma professional, accountability and constant improvement starts with you first!

Accountability Starts At The Top

In our day-to-day work process, we are focused on eliminating waste from the organization. Sometimes your focus on organizational waste become so intense, you may be forgetting about how to improve yourself. As a Lean Six Sigma practitioner, your skill set is entirely focused on eliminating waste and constant quality improvement. Take the time to refocus those powerful tools and skills back on you. It is where it all begins. Here are some steps to get you to that:

• Define Yours – What is your definition of value? Just as the customer defines what is value and what is waste in our process, you must precisely define what is value in your day-to-day. Anything else is waste.
• Make an Assessment – Identify the waste in your own work. The seven wastes of lean provide a compass to guide you. Use your skills.
• Develop Solutions – Develop accurate and specific solutions for every example of waste. Don’t try applying a broad brush stroke. Be laser focused.
• Be Systematic – Waste will continue to creep if you don’t systematically practice habits to eliminate waste.

Get control of yourself and start eliminating waste in your daily process. Use your Lean Six Sigma practice and tools to eliminate the waste and propel you towards a more productive practice. Setting the example is a demand of your profession. Make it a daily habit to eliminate waste as an individual, then as an organization.

To learn more about applying lean to your daily life and work, check out the book A Factory of One, Applying Lean Principles to Banish Waste and Improve Your Personal Performance.

The author is Dan Markovitz, who we interviewed back in 2014, as part of our Lean Leadership interviews.

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Recognizing Success

Excellence is the standard. Professional recognition from your peer group is always a humbling honor. It is a mark of true accomplishment and professionalism. Recently, Thomas VanEimeren, a Lean Six Sigma practitioner with Arrow Electronic was appropriately recognized for a career of accomplishments. Thomas was recognized as a Global Top Lean Sigma practitioner. This award was bestowed by The LMJ, which is a business improvement magazine covering lean, operational excellence and continuous improvement that acts as a bridge between academia and industry. 

A Story of Excellence

Thomas is a Continuous Process Improvement Leader for Arrow Electronics global logistics and supply chain operations. During the last eight years of a 20 year career with Arrow, Thomas has led more than 200 projects. He is a member of the Lean Benchmarking Council, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and APICS. Thomas was recognized with the Innovation of the Year award at the Lean & Six Sigma World Conference. He was also named a finalist in the 2016 Gartner High-Tech Manufacturing Supply Chainnovators awards. 

Success Leaves Clues

When you closely examine professional success, you will find that success leaves clues! Professional success and recognition from a peer group is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a practitioner of Lean Six Sigma. It then becomes a game of inches when determining honors and recognition that is awarded. The best of the best always work just a little bit harder, have just a little more focus and reach just a little bit higher for the achievement. Professionals celebrate the success of peers and they let that success drive them to the next level. The years of focus, leadership and just plain old fashioned hard work elevate them to the pinnacle of the Lean Six Sigma profession. Start looking at the clues of success. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to rise higher. Constant and consistent quality improvement is the hallmark of the Lean Six Sigma professional.

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The process of Lean Six Sigma helps an organization highlight the 8 main kinds of waste that delay or slow down the production process. Finding out what they are and getting rid of them enables an organization to streamline their methods of production and get the best results while saving plenty of time.

1. Waste as a result of defects

This is waste that comes from things like employing low skilled laborers to do a job, poor communication, incorrect information being as well as defective processes. Waste caused by defects can easily be dealt with by having an open line of communication, dealing with the correct information, employing skilled labor and updating equipment or tools used during work.

2. Waste as a result of overproduction

When an organization is overproducing, it simply means they are making more than they should at a fast pace. This causes an inventory mess as they will have a massive pile of stock that isn’t being used. An example of overproduction can be buying a bulk of perishable products and not using them all to a point where some of them rot.

The best way to deal with overproduction is by making sure that there is a balance between supply and demand. This requires the doors of communication to be open as well as an organization making sure that make, purchase and produce products based on accurate estimates.

3. Waste a result of waiting

This is the most common form of waste as it deals with things like waiting for deliverables, at queues or even transport. Waiting causes a great deal of stress and significant delays can make an organization and even people lose revenue. An organization can deal with waiting by hiring private transport for their deliverables and if someone is waiting for output on their co-worker, they can move on to other tasks.

4. Waste as a result of not using talent properly

This is often called the 8th form of waste, in addition to the original 7 developed at Toyota. An organization can have a huge amount of waste on their hands if they don’t use the talents of their team properly. Not performing well in this department brings about what is known as opportunity costs. An organization might choose to retain such talents over upgrading its infrastructure and being competitive in their field. The best way to deal with this is by making sure that every team member knows their jobs and has something they are working on which suits their talents.

5. Waste as a result of transportation

This is brought about by unnecessary placement and movement of materials or people from one place to another. One of the best ways of dealing with transport waste is removing any form of wasteful transportation. If a particular job can be done at home, for example, employees should be allowed to do it there. If a meeting can be held over Skype via video conferencing, let it be done.

6. Waste as a result of poor inventory management

Inventory waste is any materials that have no purpose or haven’t been used during the production process. An example of inventory waste can be ordering 70-floor tiles to upgrade a bathroom while only needing 35 tiles. Dealing with inventory waste is very simple, money should only be spent on things that their utility and purpose can be justified. Another way is by estimating the requirements and need accurately to avoid breaking the bank.

7. Waste as a result of motion

A bit similar to transport waste as it involves an unnecessary moment of equipment and people to various workflow processes. This causes things like a waste in resources, delays, and consumption of energy. The best way to bypass this problem is to have a plan in place, creating a checklist of all the tasks that need to be done does help in getting things done systematically.

8. Waste as a result of processing methods

This is where plenty of time, effort and money is spent on achieving something that brings very little result. An example of waste processing can be cleaning and washing a car for hours for no logical reason. An organization can prevent excess processing through a method called parametric estimation. Before any task is done, questions like how much effort is needed to get the job done need to be asked. If the effort needed is not clear, management can base it off tasks that are similar to it.

Conclusion

It is clear to see that the process of Lean Six Sigma helps an organization highlight the 8 main kinds of waste that delay or slow down the production process. When each of the 8 types of waste is dealt with the right way, an organization is able to streamline their methods of production and get the best results while saving plenty of time.

Like this topic? Learn more by downloading our free 7 Forms of Waste guide at:

You can also download some Powerpoint slides of the 8 forms of waste, based on the acronym TIM WOODS

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Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control is better known by its acronym DMAIC and this is a 5 phase problem-solving technique that is part of Six Sigma. DMAIC allows management in an organization to plan their projects well in advance and have a series of steps that will help things go smoothly.

DMAIC history

When Motorola came up with Six Sigma, DMAIC was not part of the original concept way back in the 1980s. They called it Six-Step to Six Sigma back then and the steps included

• Highlight the service or product being provided
• Know who the customers are and what matters to them
• Highlight the things needed to provide them with good service
• Know the process needed to get the job done
• Make improvements while eliminating anything that brings about waste
• Always seek to improve all the time by controlling, analyzing and measuring

While the steps above do have similarities to the process of DMAIC, it is clear to see that it is a very important component of Six Sigma. This method has played an important role in helping organizations across the world maximize their production, improve what they offer to customers and most importantly, achieve long term results.

Advantages of DMAIC

1. Increase revenue

When an organization manages to cut out production processes that are not needed thanks to DMAIC, they will experience high levels of production. When production is increased, mistakes are few which brings in plenty of profits

2. Reduction in cost

An organization that is not on top of things will not realize the number of resources and time they are wasting until it’s too late. The process of DMAIC helps an organization to reduce wasted resources and time which ultimately saves them plenty of money long term.

3. Max production

The main reason why organizations use Six Sigma is to reduce cost and this will increase how much an organization produces because they are able to use fewer resources.

How does the process of DMAIC help an organization maximize production

1. Define

During this very important phase, an organization has to ask themselves some very crucial questions like what are the flaws in the production process and what how have any problems affected business operations.

When these two key questions have been properly addressed, an organization can define its goals and make sure their production process is effective. They do this by looking at all their available resources and formulate a plan.

2. Measurement

An organization here needs to look at their production system and see what’s working and what isn’t. When everything is measured up, an organization is able to know what the root cause of their production problem is and start looking for ways to solve it. Having a data collection plan is very useful when conducting this phase.

3. Analysis

During this phase, an organization needs to analyze what they have gathered during the measurement phase about their production process. When data is analyzed by the management, an organization is able to narrow down the cause of their production problems and figure out ways to maximize things.

4. Improvement

When the production problem is well understood by everyone, it is time for everyone in the organization to start brainstorming ideas on how to make things better. This is the stage where an organization tests and implements all their ideas in terms of improving production and makes any changes if needed.

5. Control

Implementing the chosen solution to the production problem is only the beginning, an organization has to make sure that they maintain it. This is the last stage of the continuous improvement process and it is all about coming up with strategies to maintain high levels of production all the time.

Conclusion

Overall the process of DMAIC is all about improving while making as little mistakes as possible. Six Sigma wouldn’t be the world-renowned model it is today that delivers concrete results if it wasn’t for DMAIC.

It helps businesses find solutions to their problems as it acts as a roadmap. When a business uses DMAIC the right way, their production quality improves and customers, the cost is reduced and revenue is increased.

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