Technology Archives - 6sigma https://6sigma.com/category/technology/ Six Sigma Certification and Training Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:19:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://6sigma.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-favicon-blue-68x68.png Technology Archives - 6sigma https://6sigma.com/category/technology/ 32 32 Lean Six Sigma Tools Can Fix Data Warehousing Issues https://6sigma.com/lean-six-sigma-tools-can-fix-data-warehousing-issues/ https://6sigma.com/lean-six-sigma-tools-can-fix-data-warehousing-issues/#respond Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:45:02 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=22308 It is not a secret that Six Sigma methodologies increase efficiency and decrease errors, with more and more businesses getting with the program. Six Sigma was around many years before our current advanced technologies, and continue to evolve as we speak. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that data warehousing can dramatically benefit from […]

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It is not a secret that Six Sigma methodologies increase efficiency and decrease errors, with more and more businesses getting with the program. Six Sigma was around many years before our current advanced technologies, and continue to evolve as we speak. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that data warehousing can dramatically benefit from Six Sigma.

For those who aren’t too familiar with data warehousing, it describes the process of storing data that on a server that has to be managed so that it can be extracted and made available for use.

data warehousing lean six sigma

Software engineers can actually refine the software during its development stage; this is when they would apply the Six Sigma process. At the analyze phase of the Six Sigma process, the software engineers can discover the root causes of any defects, using process mapping, as well as cause and effect diagrams.

Data Warehousing Issues

Back in 2009, Bank of America used Lean Six Sigma to improve its data warehousing issues. They used the Lean Six Sigma methodology to track their data warehousing tasks on a value stream map. They discovered that 90% of their process was considered non-value processing or waste!

During the analyze phase, they also used the Fishbone diagram. This tool showed them in detail all the possible causes of the non-value processing they had been doing. Another important tool used was the 5 Whys tool, which helped them discover the root cause of their non-value added data problem. 

It is amazing how a technique developed back in 1986 (when the internet was in its infancy stage) can help figure out major flaws in a data warehousing management system and its data retrieval!

Want to learn more how Lean Six Sigma can help your organization? For more information on our courses and services, please click visit 6sigma.com. 

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Legal Software Platform Promotes Lean Six Sigma Methodologies https://6sigma.com/legal-software-platform-promotes-lean-six-sigma-methodologies/ https://6sigma.com/legal-software-platform-promotes-lean-six-sigma-methodologies/#respond Fri, 08 Sep 2017 12:15:49 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=21638 Large corporations, regardless of the industry, have a team of lawyers protecting their assets as well as dealing with various legal obligations throughout the company. Some of these lawyers could be in-house dealing with more generalized aspects, and others could be outside law firms who deal with more specialized aspects depending on the corporation or […]

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Large corporations, regardless of the industry, have a team of lawyers protecting their assets as well as dealing with various legal obligations throughout the company. Some of these lawyers could be in-house dealing with more generalized aspects, and others could be outside law firms who deal with more specialized aspects depending on the corporation or company.
casesmart legal software six sigma

Introducing CaseSmart, which is a technology-based platform that was created when Scott Forman, a Littler Mendelson Law Firm shareholder, and their client Cabela’s got together to discuss Cabela’s desire for the future.

CaseSmart is based on Lean Six Sigma, and provides real-time updates and data-driven metrics to keep clients informed and help them make better decisions for the future. CaseSmart is basically the marriage between knowledge management and information technology, coming together with practicing attorneys in specific fields, and mapping out a specific path of processes.

CaseSmart is like having a Lean Six Sigma team inside software, delivering an efficient and effective workflow while reducing legal spending for the employers/clients.

CaseSmart Software

  • Management of Employment Process
  • Focused on efficiency and quality
  • Client dedicated teams
  • Real time updates
  • Data analytics to reduce risk
  • Data to reduce spending
  • Data to see fee predictability

This genius software is just another way that Six Sigma and Lean have made their way into the future. When your company is dealing with legal matters, you want the best possible people on your team, but at the same time you want to get the best value for your dollar. CaseSmart does this because they contract experienced attorneys who are certified in legal project management. These attorneys will track workflow and expenditures so the client can view it any time.

Our 2021 course schedule is now available! For more information on our Six Sigma training courses or services, please visit 6sigma.com.

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Protect Your Reputation with a Recognized Six Sigma Certificate https://6sigma.com/20762-2/ https://6sigma.com/20762-2/#respond Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:57:11 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20762 There’s a reason why recruiters read a resume from Ivy League universities before ones from a community college. Likewise, there’s a reason why employers have come to expect more from renowned institutes with superior training and course work. That reason is simply reputation. For most industries, reputation can determine everything. Deciding if you’re the right […]

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There’s a reason why recruiters read a resume from Ivy League universities before ones from a community college. Likewise, there’s a reason why employers have come to expect more from renowned institutes with superior training and course work. That reason is simply reputation. For most industries, reputation can determine everything. Deciding if you’re the right match for a job, signing a new business contract, or taking a risk on something. It’s no surprise that for Six Sigma, reputation is just as vital. Unlike the previous example, there is no official certification of Six Sigma training programs. Thus, the value of Six Sigma certificates depends almost solely on the integrity, the reputation, of the program. To protect you from wasting your time and money on a training course with a poor reputation, here are a few things to look for in a decent accreditor.

Experience

When interviewing for a new position, you are sure to be asked about your past work experiences. What projects you managed, how you tackled difficult situations, and more, will all be assessed by your interviewer. Likewise, when searching for a Six Sigma accreditor, first look at what experiences you will gain. If a training program is only a few weeks long and offers no hands-on experience, chances are, they are a poor accreditor. Additionally, further warning signs of poor training would be a lack of communication with other students, reluctance to critique your work and progress, and no availability to work on certified Six Sigma projects.

Course Work

Whenever applying to a new course or training program, it’s important to see exactly the institute plans to teach you. Whether you’re seeking a Black Belt certification or just beginning as a White Belt, it’s vital to know what your course covers. Likewise, if you have access to the training program’s content, compare it to other programs. This allows you to assess their similarities and differences. This tip is a easy was to see if you’re facing a poor accreditor based on the lack of relevant content. Remember, the goal of a Six Sigma training program should focus on exposing you to the methodology, not just taking your money.

Past Users

When you shop online, it’s commonplace to read reviews of products you might wish to purchase. Likewise, search for reviews of past individuals who have taken the Six Sigma training course(s) you’re interested in. Are past students now senior managers at well-known corporations? Do they run their own consulting firm? Or have they become stagnant in their progress? Furthermore, if you’re interested in gaining a higher Six Sigma certification, sometimes the best method to find the right training program is to just ask your manager. Chances are, your employer has a list of preferred programs that they trust and send their colleagues to.

Your Next Steps

At the end of the day, finding the perfect Six Sigma training course depends on three things. They are your time limitations, your budget, and most importantly, your own preference. Six Sigma certification is an invaluable asset that will progress you within your career faster than most other certifications. Take the time to carefully find the right program for you and always be on the watch for poor accreditors!

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How to Spot a Dodgy Practitioner https://6sigma.com/spot-dodgy-practitioner/ https://6sigma.com/spot-dodgy-practitioner/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:56:21 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20750 Job interviews are typically the first and only chance prospective applicants have to impress you. Whether in person or over a phone or video call, you will ask said applicant a series of questions about his resume, education, experiences, and qualifications. And, although most applicants follow the honor code and submit an honest resume, some will […]

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Job interviews are typically the first and only chance prospective applicants have to impress you. Whether in person or over a phone or video call, you will ask said applicant a series of questions about his resume, education, experiences, and qualifications. And, although most applicants follow the honor code and submit an honest resume, some will still try and include qualifications that do not match their background. For example, a recent college graduate with over “five years of experience working as a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt” should be a major red flag. Unfortunately, Six Sigma practicing corporations are facing this dilemma; dodgy practitioners. To combat this, here are a few tips you can use to see if the new guy really is the Six Sigma professional he claims to be.

What Makes an Honest Practitioner?

First, the positives; what makes an honest practitioner? Certified Six Sigma will first provide evidence of their qualifications. Typically, this includes a certificate from a training program. For Black Belts, a four-week course is almost always mandatory. Additionally, their certification should be accredited from a formal institute or company. However, be aware that many fake accreditors will try and pass off their certifications as authentic! You can read more about this in our recent article, Fake Accreditation.

Second, your applicant should provide concrete examples of working on Six Sigma projects. For Certified Black Belts and above, full-time, project managerial roles are the standard. These professionals devote their time to assisting executives while managing the majority of core operations. Likewise, said employees will have experience training others, as well as mentoring Certified Green Belts along their own Six Sigma journey. Finally, they should be excellent communicators. From discussing business process improvements with management to managing customer relations, Six Sigma employees take pride in their roles and have a dire passion for constant improvement.

What is NOT an Honest Practitioner?

Now, the negatives; what to look for in a dodgy practitioner. Every year, hundreds of individuals claiming to be Six Sigma employees will submit phony resumes to employers, hoping to trick a recruiter into believing their qualifications. Yet, there are a few obvious signs that said applicant is not exactly who he claims to be. First, there should be not difficulty with asking concrete questions about the business methodology. Whether an applicant is beginning as a White Belt or is a Master Black Belt, all Six Sigma professionals have a base understand of the business process and can explain how and where to implement it.

Next, no evidence of Six Sigma projects is an obvious warning sign. Unfortunately, no governing body dictates whether a Six Sigma certification is legitimate or not. Because of this, employers expect examples of working on projects with other Six Sigma professionals as evidence of their qualifications. Finally, a dodgy practitioner will have no enthusiasm. As a Six Sigma professional, you understand the need for discipline, structure, and desire to better your business processes. Without this passion and self-determination, you can never truly be a Six Sigma employee.

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Visual Thinking: How to Use a Gantt Chart https://6sigma.com/20716-2/ https://6sigma.com/20716-2/#respond Tue, 07 Mar 2017 15:24:52 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20716 Pop Quiz: How do you read a Gantt chart? In Six Sigma, the Gantt chart can make your project run a whole lot smoother. For great project planning, scheduling always needs to be considered. This is why you may want to invest in a little extra training for your team. That way, your project will […]

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Pop Quiz: How do you read a Gantt chart? In Six Sigma, the Gantt chart can make your project run a whole lot smoother. For great project planning, scheduling always needs to be considered. This is why you may want to invest in a little extra training for your team. That way, your project will run smoothly and on time, with minimum setbacks. In today’s article, we talk about the Gantt chart and how this scheduling tool can help you with your Six Sigma project.

Visual Thinking: How to Use a Gantt Chart

What is a Gantt Chart?

Before you start using Gantt Charts, you must understand what they are, and how they fit into your Six Sigma toolkits. First of all, a Gantt chart is used for purposes of project management. It’s a popular and effective method of displaying activities, tasks or events against a period of time. Each activity is represented by a bar on the chart. The size and position of which show the start date, duration and end date of the activity. Gantt charts will typically illustrate such things as:

  • The activity in question.
  • When the activity begins and ends.
  • How long it lasts.
  • Where activities overlap.
  • When the project begins and ends.

But why use a Gantt chart? What does it offer? Well, by using one, it can help determine responsibility for tasks, as well as potential problems that may occur. This information can be very useful to have in the early stages of your project, and the Gantt chart makes it easier to absorb by displaying it in a visual manner. It can also help identify critical paths, such as task sequences and minimum delivery times, so don’t dismiss the Gantt chart as just another Six Sigma tool. It could make your project far simpler to deal over time.

How to Use a Gantt Chart

Below are the key steps involved in creating a strong Gantt chart that is bound to be an effective asset to your project:

  1. Identify the Essential Processes. All your activities necessary to project completion need to be included if a Gantt chart is to work. Establish your essential tasks by breaking down the processes to determine importance. Calculate timescales for delivery before ranking them by length. 
  1. Identify the Task Relationships. Your chart should illustrate how project tasks are linked and how they affect one another (sequential tasks), and how they work when independently (parallel tasks). Remember, some tasks rely on other tasks being completed beforehand, so bear this in mind when designing your chart. For example, your need to have finished an article before it can be posted online. 
  1. Input Activity Data into a Template. Software like Gantto, Microsoft Project or Excel, and Matchware can also be used for this purpose. But sometimes, creating your own template is the best option. 
  1. Track the Progress. As your project makes progress, it will start to change, so be sure to keep track of how. Regularly update your chart with new information, to ensure it is up-to-date and completely accurate. The better your data, the more likely your Six Sigma success!

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Leadership Roadmap: How to Provide Meaningful Direction with Metrics https://6sigma.com/leadership-roadmap-provide-meaningful-direction-metrics/ https://6sigma.com/leadership-roadmap-provide-meaningful-direction-metrics/#respond Mon, 06 Mar 2017 19:49:11 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20710 In Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, great leadership is everything. When an executive presence is not available to provide a guiding force directing the team and ensuring goals are consistently met, even the most basic of Six Sigma projects can quickly turn into a nightmare. Not only that, but the pressure will only increase, the […]

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In Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, great leadership is everything. When an executive presence is not available to provide a guiding force directing the team and ensuring goals are consistently met, even the most basic of Six Sigma projects can quickly turn into a nightmare. Not only that, but the pressure will only increase, the more responsibility you need to deal with. If you’re a senior executive overseeing multiple projects, how do you provide direction and meaningful leadership using metrics?

Leadership Roadmap: How to Provide Meaningful Direction with Metrics

What are the Metrics?

Within the  Six Sigma methodology, metrics tend to focus on one or a combination of three vital factors.  Namely: quality, schedule, and cost. These metrics are particularly useful as they often serve as the root drivers behind an organization’s Six Sigma transformation.

  • Critical to Quality. Quality metrics (CTQs) involve measuring process performance and operational performance. One of the oft-used methods for doing this is via Process Capability Indices. This is when a process is broken down to determine if it meets the demands of the customer. 
  • Critical to Schedule. Schedule metrics (CTSs) generally deal with cycle times and scheduling proficiencies and deficiencies. There are four key concepts that link to CTSs: process cycle efficiency, process lead times, process velocity, and overall equipment effectiveness. 
  • Critical to Cost. Cost metrics (CTCs) calculate, render, and compare data that can inform business opportunities. These include such metrics as Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return. They are designed to be equally critical to both schedule and quality, as cost often impacts on almost every other area of a business’s infrastructure.

How to Use Metrics to Deliver Strong Leadership

The first thing you need to know about being a good leader is how to provide meaningful direction to your team. Remember, you are someone they look to for guidance, and example, so be prepared.

One way to do this is by defining objectives in terms of your Six Sigma and/or business strategy. Demonstrate how these goals are to be met, break it down into manageable data chunks, for easy absorption. Be clear, be succinct, and your team will thank you for it. This will also help strengthen Critical to Quality metrics, in turn providing a strong picture of how their work benefits the project.

Monitoring results is another important factor. By acknowledging and recording achievements, your team will acquire a stronger sense of direction for it. By completing each goal, they will feel the project drive towards its ultimate objective. Critical to Schedule metrics will play a role here, as they can help set out effective timelines.

Moreover, drivers and processes are essential to Six Sigma, and you should identify them quickly and effectively to make your objectives actionable. Techniques such as Pareto Charts and Driver Trees can help break processes down to determine their drivers. This level of detail is important for you to be comfortable with, as your team may struggle to have faith in you as a leader, if you offer only vague advice and a basic understanding of the key issues at work. An in-depth understanding of the processes will also enable a thorough understanding of the costs involved. This will help you direct workers in line with budget goals.

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How to Get Your Six Sigma Project Back on Track https://6sigma.com/get-six-sigma-project-back-track/ https://6sigma.com/get-six-sigma-project-back-track/#respond Fri, 03 Mar 2017 15:37:30 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20692 Most Six Sigma projects will follow a linear, structured flow. An executive or senior manager overlooks the progress being made, advises where changes will benefit, and instructs project managers how to maintain the process. However, every project runs the chance of having errors, mistakes, and setbacks. Regardless of your Lean Six Sigma training, your consulting […]

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Most Six Sigma projects will follow a linear, structured flow. An executive or senior manager overlooks the progress being made, advises where changes will benefit, and instructs project managers how to maintain the process. However, every project runs the chance of having errors, mistakes, and setbacks. Regardless of your Lean Six Sigma training, your consulting experience, or your Six Sigma certification, mistakes are bound to happen. Most project mistakes are human error, yet, machines and automated processes will fail at some point. Every part of your business processes has limitations and, when reached, will result in errors.

How to Get Your Six Sigma Project Back on Track

When mishaps occur, it’s easy to become frustrated. However, as a Six Sigma professional, it’s your responsibility to get the project back on track as quickly as possible. To better prepare you for the unavoidable future, here are a few tips you can use when mistakes arise.

Prepare

The best way to resolve production errors is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Six Sigma is a business process improvement method that focuses on reducing waste and removing unnecessary components. For most Six Sigma Projects, this methodology will automatically reduce the chance for errors. Although, mistakes are still not completely avoidable. Before beginning a project, ensure your employees have thorough training and understand the Six Sigma methodology completely. A comprehensive understanding with adequate practice is the best way to prevent errors from occurring.

Damage Control

However, when errors do occur, the first thing you should do is remind yourself and your team that you are human. Mistakes will happen and while perfection is a goal, it’s not necessarily achievable. Likewise, when mistakes happen, assess where and when the error occurred. Using your Six Sigma Toolkits, such as Root Cause Analysis, you can locate and correct the production error and get back on track. Additionally, you can also integrate the Kaizen methodology to maintain a clear workspace, revisit locations of errors, and reorganize your components. While you may lose time when a production error occurs, it’s crucial to take the time needed to locate and correct what exactly went wrong.

Getting Back on Track

Whether you have just finished fixing a production error or are practicing prevention methods, getting back on track with your project should always be the end goal. Getting back and staying on track requires discipline, obedience, and a strong management team to motivate their employees. When management communicates effectively with other employees, it’s easier to maintain a proper business process and Six Sigma project. Additionally, practice is always key. If you want to avoid errors from occurring, practice the Six Sigma methodology in all of your business processes when available.

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How to Start Your Own Six Sigma Consultancy https://6sigma.com/start-six-sigma-consultancy/ https://6sigma.com/start-six-sigma-consultancy/#respond Thu, 02 Mar 2017 15:15:45 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20686 At some point in life, everyone dreams of being their own boss. Running your own company as an entrepreneur reaps numerous benefits, such as flexible hours, better pay, and most of all, control over what you do and when you do it. However, not everyone has the courage to form their own startup consultancy. Many […]

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How to Start Your Own Six Sigma Consultancy
Learn how you can start your own Six Sigma consultancy!

At some point in life, everyone dreams of being their own boss. Running your own company as an entrepreneur reaps numerous benefits, such as flexible hours, better pay, and most of all, control over what you do and when you do it. However, not everyone has the courage to form their own startup consultancy. Many will invest countless hours and hundreds of dollars into a business model that simply does not work. Some may fear that creating their own business is too risky and does not offer stable benefits their families will need. Yet, the remainders will strive and work as hard as possible to get their company off the ground and in the end, succeed. Whether you have years of experience in a professional industry, a technical education background, or are starting completely new, Six Sigma certification will put you on the path to success!

Six Sigma and Consultancy

Six Sigma is a world-renowned business process improvement method that has integrated itself into numerous industries. Additionally, the Six Sigma methodology uses data-driven analysis to reduce production waste, increase process efficiency, and deter manufacturing defects. Like most business methodologies, you can earn a variety of level certifications that qualify you to work on specific tasks. Beginning with White Belt, you can test your knowledge of Six Sigma and gain higher ranking certifications throughout the program. Furthermore, most entrepreneurs that create their own Six Sigma consultancies have Green Belt certification. This is the medium rank and proves that you possess a thorough understanding of the methodology and how to implement it into practice. However, most successful entrepreneurs continue to learn the details of Six Sigma and earn higher certifications throughout their experience.

What You Will Need

Before you begin creating your own firm, there are a few key things you must have. First, above all else, you must have an exponential desire to succeed. Statistically, four out of five consultancies will fail in the first stages of their life cycle. To beat this, you must believe in yourself, possess a strong passion for your work, and practice a sustainable business model. Next, as a Six Sigma consultant, you must ensure your knowledge of the business process methodology. Consultants, either individually or as a team, are expected to have basic to advanced knowledge on most subjects pertaining to Six Sigma. When advertising your services to potential clients, find ways to express your understanding and why they should choose your services over someone else.

Additionally, it is crucial to have a united workforce. Most consultancies begin small, three to five people at most. When working with your team, continuously practice and test their knowledge of Six Sigma and encourage them to expand their skillset. Finally, every consultancy needs a concrete business model with a solid mission statement. What are your services, what are your specialities, and how will you profit from them? Too often, young consultants spread their workforce and knowledge base too thin and cannot maintain a precise company image. Find what services you offer best and perfect them!

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Kaizen 5S for Beginners: Sustain https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-beginners-sustain/ https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-beginners-sustain/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:57:40 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20669 Historically, Six Sigma employees have been using the business philosophy known as Kaizen. Originally from Japan, Kaizen is defined as constantly improving one’s self. Relating to business process, Kaizen is a way to find new ways of improving efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing employee safety. Like most business process improvement methods, Kaizen follows a set […]

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Historically, Six Sigma employees have been using the business philosophy known as Kaizen. Originally from Japan, Kaizen is defined as constantly improving one’s self. Relating to business process, Kaizen is a way to find new ways of improving efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing employee safety. Like most business process improvement methods, Kaizen follows a set of stages known as the 5S’s. These stages including sorting through unnecessary items and process, organizing the workplace, maintain a clean working environment, and upholding a higher standard of production.

Throughout our series, Kaizen 5S for Beginners, we have discussed the in’s and outs of the Kaizen philosophy. This includes what each stage, or ‘S’, within Kaizen represents and how companies can successful implement it into their workplace. In this article, we will analyze the final stage of Kaizen, commonly referred to as ‘Sustain’.

What Is ‘Sustain’?

The original term in Japanese, Shitsuke, translates to English as “do without be told.” This final stage in the Kaizen business philosophy aims at practicing the self-discipline to maintain the progress made so far. Whereas the prior four stages focus on organizing, cleaning, and properly running the workspace, Sustain aspires employees to continue better their business processes in new ways. Kaizen, as a practice, revolves around constant improvement. Whether this includes reducing waste, increasing production efficiency, or decluttering the assembly line, employees use this method to improve their present work environment. Once at Sustain, employees will perform routine audits on business process. They may also train other team members on the Kaizen method, and practice strict self-discipline.

When first practiced in Japan, employees embraced the Kaizen philosophy as a new way to take pride in their work. Working together, employees sought out new ways to improve their productions and manufacturing with limited resources. Today, companies see Kaizen as the ideal goal-oriented process improvement method.

Implementing Sustain

Since its conception, the Kaizen business method has found itself in a variety of new industries. From health care to education, government and logistics, Kaizen brings benefits to numerous industries through its order and structure. Depending on your field, Kaizen will have varying strengths when implemented. Originally designed for manufacturing roles, the method was used to organize congested workspaces and deter product defects. Now, employers combine Kaizen with the data-centered approach of Six Sigma to form the ideal business process improvement method. Using the analysis and logistics of Six Sigma with the order and discipline of Kaizen, employees seek process improvements better than ever.

Furthermore, the most effective way to implement Kaizen into your corporation is with leaders who routinely enforce the method. This includes supervisors and managers who conduct routine assessments of their employees, their workspaces, and their productions. If implementing correctly, your employees will perfect their roles with the consistent practice Kaizen requires.

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Kaizen 5S for Beginners: Straighten https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-for-beginners-straighten/ https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-for-beginners-straighten/#respond Wed, 22 Feb 2017 15:37:04 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20651 Kaizen, originating from Japanese for “Change for better”, is a term used when constantly finding ways to improve functions of your business. Additionally, Kaizen practices ways to organize your workplace and assess the capabilities and standards of your processes. Why Kaizen is so vital to Six Sigma is its approach to improving process management through […]

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Kaizen, originating from Japanese for “Change for better”, is a term used when constantly finding ways to improve functions of your business. Additionally, Kaizen practices ways to organize your workplace and assess the capabilities and standards of your processes. Why Kaizen is so vital to Six Sigma is its approach to improving process management through increasing efficiency and decreasing waste. When implementing the Kaizen model, there are 5 S’s of which you will follow. In the previous article, we discussed the first S, ‘Sort’. This step allows you to organize and remove unnecessary components to your production process. Like Root Cause Analysis, this step allows you to visualize errors within your production, manufacturing, analysis, or other process. Then, you can decide up and remove what parts are and what are not need.

Kaizen, when practiced daily, can create a sense of unity with the workplace. With this method, no one employee is overly worked, nor is one superior in their knowledge of the same system. The Japanese methodology shows how employees can perform their tasks using a scientific method, eliminate waste, and improve process efficiency. Through discipline and practice, you can use the five steps of Kaizen to improve performance, reduce waste, and solidify your company’s foundation.

What Is ‘Straighten’?

The second step to improving your business processes through Kaizen is ‘Straighten’. Straighten is the practice of arranging the components that go into your business processes. For example, if working on an automobile assembly line, this step allows you to place each part required for manufacturing to be precisely labeled and placed in its appropriate place. Not only does this create an easier way for personnel to find the parts they need, but also prevents wasting time by searching for misplaced components. As a result, Straighten allows your workflow to be smoother while also increasing the time efficiency. Another byproduct of this step is an increased in company safety. When employees spend less time looking for parts and items for their process, they are able to stay focused on the task at hand. This lack of distraction ensures fewer accidents occur, especially along a high-frequency production and manufacturing process.

Another byproduct of this step is an increased in company safety. When employees spend less time looking for parts and items for their process, they are able to stay focused on the task at hand. This lack of distraction ensures fewer accidents occur, especially along a high-frequency production and manufacturing process.

 

Implementing Straighten

The key to this step, along with the other 4 S’s of Kaizen, is proper implementation. Since Kaizen follows a strict, disciplined approach, the best way to integrate Straighten into your workplace is by making it a part of your corporate culture. Following a systematic approach, the method can be integrated into almost any business process you have. With the help of project leaders, managers, and supervisors, your company can distill this step into your employees. Like most methodical practices, the more you do it, the easier it becomes! Start small and focus on the quality of your implementation. As your employees accept Straighten, it becomes easier to stay disciplined, checking on systems periodically.

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Kaizen 5S for Beginners: Sort https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-beginners-sort/ https://6sigma.com/kaizen-5s-beginners-sort/#respond Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:13:00 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20649 The word “Kaizen” originates from Japanese, meaning “improvement”. For Six Sigma practices, Kaizen refers to any improvement within a company at a continuous rate. The word first gained traction following World War II in Japan, where factory workers continuously sought ways to eliminate production waste. Little did they know at the time, their constant endeavors […]

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The word “Kaizen” originates from Japanese, meaning “improvement”. For Six Sigma practices, Kaizen refers to any improvement within a company at a continuous rate. The word first gained traction following World War II in Japan, where factory workers continuously sought ways to eliminate production waste. Little did they know at the time, their constant endeavors would soon become vital to the Six Sigma methodology we know today. Whether you work in a manufacturing assembly line, chain management, or logistics, implementing continuous improvement within your role is Kaizen. As Six Sigma continues to expand into new industries, Kaizen follows the lead, as more and more employees discover ways to improve their business processes.

In the modern workplace, we reference the 5S of Kaizen. These 5S’s are a workplace organization method, developed from the five Japanese words: ‘seri’, ‘seiton’, ‘seiso’, ‘seiketsu’, and ‘shitsuke’. When translated, these words become ‘Sort’, ‘Straighten’, ‘Shine’, ‘Standardize’, and ‘Sustain’. In this article, we will discuss the first S, Sort.

What Is ‘Sort’?

Using a broad definition, Sort is making your work processes simpler and easier by eliminating certain obstacles. When you eliminate unexpected errors, you prevent the chance of producing unnecessary or faulty products. At this point, you might be thinking about the basic understanding of Six Sigma. That is, to improve business processes, prevent errors, and eliminate waste. It’s no doubt that the Six Sigma methodology supports itself with the 5S’s of Kaizen. Additionally, you also practice Sort by evaluating the cost of manufacturing certain items and assessing what parts are not needed. This allows you to remove unnecessary factors, costs, and processes, further enhancing your productions.

Implementing Sort

Sort is only effective if you properly implement it into your company. When first practiced in Japan, the Toyota Production System used a simple method for following Kaizen. We define this as PDC, or Plan, Do, Check, and Act. Whenever an error occurs along a production line, all employees must stop their processes and search for the source of problem. This is similar to Root Cause Analysis. For most, implementing Sort is simple. First, designate an area where employees can remove and dispose of unnecessary parts. Typically, this area is referred to as a “Red-Tag” zone. This is required since not all items can be disposed of immediately. Additionally, you should clear your employees’ work zones of unused materials, further increasing the efficiency. Furthermore, keep track your process improvements by hiring a full-time supervisor who checks these processes regularly.

Another way to implement the Kaizen 5S Sort is by using the 5 Why’s. This process allows you to ask why an error occurs and locate where it comes from. By doing this, you organize your business processes, eliminate waste, and increase overall efficiency.

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Is the Spirit of Six Sigma Encrypted Inside Amazon? https://6sigma.com/spirit-six-sigma-encrypted-inside-amazon/ https://6sigma.com/spirit-six-sigma-encrypted-inside-amazon/#respond Sun, 11 Dec 2016 03:40:16 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20412 Many of us have experienced shopping on Amazon, and have had a great experience. It is literally paradise — we can find just about anything we need or want on Amazon. Plus, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, there’s the added convenience of free two-day delivery.

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Many of us have experienced shopping on Amazon, and have had a great experience. It is literally paradise — we can find just about anything we need or want on Amazon. Plus, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, there’s the added convenience of free two-day delivery.

amazon-six-sigma-constant-improvement

If the perks mentioned above aren’t enough, we have the added benefit of receiving tailored recommendations and emails — it’s almost as though they know us personally! When we have an issue with an order — say they send us the wrong item, for our inconvenience they let us keep the item! The representative will even suggest we donate it to charity.

The reason they are so successful is that their approach to sales is “Know your customer very, very well,” and they do. This is a core fundamental concept of Six Sigma!

All of Amazon’s efforts seem to be geared towards customer satisfaction. They seem to be constantly defining any problems that need to be solved. They analyze their data when a mistake was made, by asking the customer to fill out a survey to share their experience.

Amazon is constantly improving and controlling future forecasts based on past experience and current situations, as well as through VOC, the voice of the customer.

It’s in the Cookie

Amazon’s customer tracking is done by a simple cookie. Once that cookie makes its home inside your hard drive, consider yourself part of the family. You will be getting recommendations and emails forever.

Amazon has made it their business to constantly be improving features and developing new ones. Amazon has four software development centers worldwide that are constantly developing new features for their current software. Constant improvement…sound familiar?

Whether Amazon knows it or not, the spirit of Six Sigma is encrypted inside their software and in their mission statement — to know their customers very, very well.

Sign up for one of our Six Sigma training courses available across the United States. Also be sure to check out our fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma.

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Team Work? No Thanks! https://6sigma.com/team-work-no-thanks/ https://6sigma.com/team-work-no-thanks/#respond Fri, 19 Aug 2016 08:31:36 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=20012 We might as well admit it: we hate working in a team.

Years ago when we still worked at corporate, we’d shrink in dismay at being assigned to a team to make certain changes in a policy or in a process. Our first reaction was always, “another traffic congestion in the making.” To us, team […]

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We might as well admit it: we hate working in a team.

Years ago when we still worked at corporate, we’d shrink in dismay at being assigned to a team to make certain changes in a policy or in a process. Our first reaction was always, “another traffic congestion in the making.” To us, team work was synonymous to excessive yak-yak-yak, delays, unnecessary activity and frequent meetings with no meeting of the minds.

We’re sure we’re not the only ones who feel this way. Our dislike for team work was confirmed when we were downsized over two years ago. Instead of looking for another job, we decided to go it solo. Friends and family warned us of the dangers of being a solitary worker.

Team Work

You know something? We proved them wrong. Solitary work was our passport to happiness. Perhaps it’s the nature of our work, we don’t know. But one thing was clear: going back to the workforce only to work in teams was out of the question. It’s been over two years and there are certainly no regrets.

Caveat

What’s right for us may not be right for others. Team work is still a value cherished by companies. Team work is a virtue and it does generate benefits. Team work brings out the best in people; it also serves as a filtering process for great and mediocre ideas. The idea behind team work is to combine the thinking and experiences of others and to fuel motivation and initiative.

There’s strength in numbers, so the saying goes. So for those of you who like working in teams to carry out change, what makes for good team work?

Hail to the Chief!
The one thing that team leaders must be careful about is to NOT let teams waste time and resources. To do that, these measures are essential –

1. Let’s be specific – it’s fine to do a song and dance about goals and objectives but if they’re too general, they run the risk of being unattainable or unrealistic. A bad goal is: let’s cut costs on the factory floor. A good goal is: monitoring of expenses on the factory floor reveals that 23% of raw materials are wasted. Let’s cut that down to 15% in three months.

2. Let’s share the wealth – when team members agree to work on a project, they like to think that their efforts will be recognized and properly compensated for. This is true especially when workers are asked to take on additional work by sitting in a specially-formed committee and are still expected to do their own work with no decrease in productivity levels. While you can’t promise fat bonuses or perks, assure team members that there are rewards waiting for those who contribute to the group effort.

3. Let’s get some division of labor going – the role of team leader is obvious enough. A leader leads, supervises, and accepts responsibility for progress. What about the members? A structure – it doesn’t have to be an org chart – and a definition and assignment of roles are required. Who will take care of monitoring factory workers, who will inspect raw materials, who will look after machine maintenance, who will do the statistical analysis of idle machine-worker times?

4. Let’s get on board the time capsule – the team leader must be firm about performance levels. He or she should state at the outset what minimum level of performance will be acceptable. How team members will interact with each other should also be described. What measuring tools will be employed to gauge success? And what are our target completion dates?

5. Let’s find out what’s going on – keeping everyone in the loop about the project is indispensable. Clear communications at all times is vital. No one should withhold information. Accomplishments must be shared. Also, credit must be given to where it’s due. Make sure everyone understands the meaning of “intellectual honesty.”

Eliminate Deadwood

We said earlier that the purpose of a team is to filter good ideas from bad and to draw upon the experiences of others so that the learning curve for less experienced members is not steep. It can happen that one member will stick out like a sore thumb, be uncooperative, disruptive and be an irritant to other members. Non-performers are found everywhere. The team leader must immediately eliminate members who are draining the team’s resources and taxing the patience of team members.

By eliminating the deadwoods, we are sending a clear message to the group about the values that are cherished and behavior that won’t be tolerated at any cost.

Planning for Six Sigma training?
Check out our upcoming Six Sigma classes! Go to our website 6sigma.com and register for the best gift you can give yourself. Give the gift of organized workflow in every aspect of your life and business!

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Lean Six Sigma Tools For Your Email Inbox https://6sigma.com/lean-six-sigma-tools-email-inbox/ https://6sigma.com/lean-six-sigma-tools-email-inbox/#respond Mon, 15 Aug 2016 04:31:47 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=19991 Lean Six Sigma tools are very much like regular tools, you can use them on anything you want, but their primary function stays the same. For example, you can use a hammer to pound in a nail or a chisel to remove tile. The basic function of the hammer or chisel doesn’t change, but how […]

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Lean Six Sigma tools are very much like regular tools, you can use them on anything you want, but their primary function stays the same. For example, you can use a hammer to pound in a nail or a chisel to remove tile. The basic function of the hammer or chisel doesn’t change, but how you choose to apply its use is up to you.

The same is true of Lean Six Sigma tools. For example, take the 5S tool, which is used to get rid of what’s not needed and establish orderly flow. In business, you would use this tool to get rid of junk, and establish a place for everything and everything in its place.

How about using this particular tool to clean out the inbox of your email?

The 5S Tool

Here are the processes of 5S tool:

  • Sort
  • Straighten
  • Scrub
  • Standardize
  • Sustain

Applied to your email inbox:

Sort: Go through all your emails, throw out what you don’t need. Divide the remaining into categories based on degrees of importance.
Straighten: Are there emails that need a response? Those that need action taken would need to be in a specific folder so that you have a clear picture of what needs to be done.
Scrub: Here is where archiving and creating SAVE AS folders come in handy, to free up some space on your computer.
Standardize: Get a filing system that is easy to follow so that you can find items easily.
Sustain: Pick a day out of the week, or perhaps a time of day, everyday and go through that email and discard what you don’t need and do a quick scan of what you do need.

So as you can see, one Lean Six Sigma tool was created to establish orderly flow; where you establish that flow is up to you and your creativity.

We Are Coming to Your Town!

Check out our upcoming Six Sigma classes! Go to our website 6sigma.com and register for the best gift you can give yourself. Give the gift of organized workflow in every aspect of your life and business!

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Was Six Sigma Ahead of its Time? https://6sigma.com/was-six-sigma-ahead-of-its-time/ https://6sigma.com/was-six-sigma-ahead-of-its-time/#respond Wed, 10 Feb 2016 13:00:11 +0000 https://6sigma.com/?p=18997 What does the future hold for all of us? With all the advances in technology, the possibilities seem endless.

In a documentary titled “The World in 50 Years,” there is a discussion about clothes that will have chips built into them to read the state of your health. Those tiny chips are microscopic software, which […]

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What does the future hold for all of us? With all the advances in technology, the possibilities seem endless.

In a documentary titled “The World in 50 Years,” there is a discussion about clothes that will have chips built into them to read the state of your health. Those tiny chips are microscopic software, which goes through a specific process to read all the different signals your body is putting out. The exciting part is that all of this has already begun to happen today.

six sigma software technology

So where does Six Sigma fit in, you ask? Every single template that is used in today’s software is based on the ideology of Six Sigma, whether it was realized or not.

You see, templates of any kind need to have an order of events, a time frame, and exact steps that have to be followed.

The tools and tactics that Six Sigma incorporates have been used to create software — with the number one tool found in the DEFINE Phase of DMAIC. This is the Critical to Quality Tool (CTQ), which is used to identify the needs of the customer.

Every piece of technology was created with a goal in mind, and the result was the quickest, most efficient piece of technology known for its effectiveness and efficiency.

Six Sigma was way ahead of its time. In a matter of speaking, the concept of Six Sigma creates physical templates for humans that makes teams run like high-speed software!

Whether you’re dealing with a product, service or a sport, if you’re implementing Six Sigma methodology, you’re just asking for success. New to Six Sigma? Learn more information about 6Sigma.com’s Lean Six Sigma training coursework, available as classroom, onsite, or online options.

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