As we start to wind down 2018, we thought we’d take a look back at some of our popular posts at 6sigma.us for the year. From Kaizen events to the ideal Six Sigma project champion, we explored a lot of different topics of interest for the Six Sigma professional. Whether you’re deciding to dip your […]
Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) is gaining in popularity as more businesses are beginning to take heed to what their customers want. We are offering two great courses for DFSS; one is a self-paced online course, and the other is taught by Master Black Belt Peter Peterka. Our self-paced program can be accessed globally and […]
At the heart of every organization is a business model with processes that were created to serve their customers. The success of these processes determine how well the customer is satisfied. These processes can, however, become frustrating and inefficient for the organization and its workers. Many businesses don’t fully understand all of the complex details […]
Within the context of manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) refers to a system of maintenance and improvement of production and quality systems through the use of machines, employees, processes, and equipment which give an organization its value. A three to five-day TPM event is focused on ensuring that your work process equipment is kept in […]
5S is a popular and commonly-used tool in Lean manufacturing and is used for the optimization of workplace conditions. Often, 5S is used as a key building block within many lean continuous improvement efforts. This is because the 5S tool not only offers a solid base on which improvements can be established but also gets […]
A Kaizen Burst event, which is also called a Rapid Process Improvement (RPI), is a three to five day event. Unlike a process mapping event, whose focus is on planning a list of improvements, a burst event is all about quick implementation and rapid results in a short period by focusing on achieving dramatic improvements […]
Besides being one of the most powerful tools in the lean toolbox, Standard Work is one of the least understood and seldom used. Through documenting current best practices and evaluating the process flow, Standardized Work provides a baseline for continuous improvement or Kaizen. “Where there is no standard, there can be no Kaizen” – Taiichi […]
One of the core skills in Lean Six Sigma practice is knowing how to identify areas where an organization creates value so that essential processes can be easily streamlined. This holds true whether the process is used to process transactions or to manufacture products. Value Stream Mapping helps an organization to view value flowing from […]
As we’re always inspired by the Six Sigma principles here, we thought we would apply a few of them to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. We have changed a couple of words, such as instead of customer, we used family and friends. These Six Sigma principles are very important for having the very best possible Thanksgiving […]
In Six Sigma, the problem statement is written in the Define portion of the DMAIC template. Basically. it should “Define” the problem at hand — it should clarify, give facts, and be written so that all parties involved will be convinced that a solution is necessary and will support finding that solution. One of most […]
Exactly what is Six Sigma? Well, the short answer is, Six Sigma is a set of methodologies or a management system that uses specific tools to improve the manufacturing processes. These tools that Six Sigma uses will allow you to compile data, thus finding where the process is falling short and causing the defect. The […]
For parents to teach their children to clean up after themselves is at best a grueling, undesirable task. Yet as Six Sigma teaches in the 5S Tool, “Everything in its place and a place for everything.” This Lean Six Sigma template of the 5S is an excellent tool for teaching small children or children of […]
https://www.6sigma.us/six-sigma-articles/make-the-most-of-process-map/It is imperative that we are open to change in life as well as business. Since the only constant is change, we must be flexible in our mindset. That being said, when we do get stuck in the way we handle our business processes, and change is imminent, we can refer to some great Six […]
When you stop and think of the actual simplicity of Six Sigma, it’s akin to changing a spark plug in a car. It is a simple fix that can produce great results. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it is simple. Working as a team, understanding the Voice of Customer (VOC), which means listening to […]
There are many elements at play for success when implementing Six Sigma at your business or company. The first element we will focus on is management involvement and support. This doesn’t mean sitting behind the desk and setting new protocols without having been working in the front lines! No, this means management rolling their sleeves […]
The 5s methodology is an incredible tool that helps remove what is no longer needed from a workspace. It will help organize your workspace for optimum efficiency. Having what you need at your fingertips allows for better workflow and consistency, and decreased production costs. Check out this infographic below for an easy to understand breakdown […]
As a business owner, you don’t have the luxury to get complacent, even if you feel things are running smoothly. Change is very subtle, and by the time you notice a drop in profits, the cause has spread and is nearing terminal stages. Fortunately, there’s Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen to the rescue! Lean: This […]
Whether you are wanting to achieve a goal, change a habit or improve your existing conditions, let Six Sigma’s very own DMAIC template save you money, time and most of all, make you successful at achieving your goals. The main reason most goal journals don’t work is because the hard data isn’t part of their […]
Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that helps achieve incredible changes by using small continuous improvements until the desired results are achieved. Kaizen is an honorary addition to Six Sigma, but not actually Six Sigma. However, Kaizen’s basic principles are very much that of Six Sigma, so they actually belong with the Six Sigma methodologies. Kaizen […]
Enjoyment of your work is another way to celebrate Labor Day all year round. The reason we celebrate Labor Day is to pay tribute to the laborers of all industries. It is their hard work that has made the American economy strong and prosper into the current state it is today. We at 6Sigma.us honor […]
