So Much Data, So Little Time: Revisiting DMAIC Methodology
As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, the measure phase can be full of potential data. How does the DMAIC methodology help us skim through it, spot the significant data, and focus the team? Recently a student called and described their own struggle to identify what data to...
Setting Up Your Project Team For Success
Teamwork plays a vital role in the success of any organization. Specifically, being able to work as a team contributes to the success of Lean Six Sigma projects and continuous improvement efforts. Team performance is about reaching the potential of each individual as...
Getting the Miles out of Design of Experiments
One of our Master Black Belt candidates recently submitted her Design of Experiments for her Applied Statistics assignment. It was such a great story that I wanted to share it with you. What is Design of Experiments (DOE)? Design of Experiments is a useful tool in...
Lean vs Agile
Lean vs Agile When teaching our Lean Professional class, I am often asked, “How is Lean different from Agile?” Lean and Agile are both operational excellence methodologies, and they both have the common goal of efficiently delivering the client’s most important...
Improvement Opportunities for Lean Six Sigma
2020 has arrived! It is time to start initiating strategic plans and operational goals for the new year and beyond. You might be wondering whether Lean Six Sigma might be beneficial. Can it really work on the challenges you are facing? The answer is most likely, yes!...
Achieving Your Lean Six Sigma Program Benefits Goals – The Rule of Thirds
With the new year approaching, I am meeting with many clients to discuss their Lean Six Sigma Programs for next year and one question that many are asking is, “How do we determine how many Lean Six Sigma projects to do in order to achieve our project benefit goals?” ...
Lean for Service
Last week, I was on the plane heading out to facilitate for one of our Financial Service clients. The gentlemen sitting next to me asked about my trip. When I said I was going to teach Lean to a financial service team, he replied, “Lean for a Bank?” My response was...
Operational Excellence vs. Continuous Improvement
The word improvement in operations means different things to different people, some define it as lower operating cost or reduced inventory while others describe it in terms of increased efficiency or better quality. The process of achieving improvement in an...
