iSixSigma Staff

When there is a need to look beyond continuous improvement methods, there is a concept that takes looking at workflow even further.

Not all data is collected equally. Passive data is information collected without direct input from the participant and can provide substantial insight into key processes.

The histogram tool in Lean Six Sigma is one way to visualize your process data to identify any potential problems in your process. If you’re not already familiar with the histogram tool in Lean Six Sigma, well then it’s time to meet one of the most powerful tools in the data analysis world.

Having employees that want to go above and beyond, endorse your organization, and trust in its leadership is not an impossible feat. It just requires developing a passion for action.

No, that is not a spelling error. A digraph is a bit different than a standard diagram in that it is a diagram that puts an emphasis on direction.

Designing an effective and efficient plan to develop new products or services is a complex challenge that requires thorough planning. Applying the methodology of DFSS allows businesses to see improvement in products or services that normally would have been missed in other design strategies.

If you are embarking on a project for your organization, it is time to put together a charter.

Correction is a critical part of any lean six sigma program. It involves fixing problems once a firm identifies a good or process that does not meet minimum quality standards.

Sometimes there are too many ideas coming at you at once. When this is the case, instead of succumbing to the chaos, grab a stack of Post-it notes and create an affinity diagram.

What would happen if a new competitor suddenly enters the market? Can your company survive if a key supplier fails you? Get answers to the “what ifs” of business with an impact analysis.

Without having a defined way to measure the amount of something, the world would be chaotic. Thankfully, we have units and ways to quantify and measure them.

Errors are common when testing a statistical hypothesis. They can be difficult to avoid and by taking to preventive measures to protect yourself from one kind, you open yourself to the likelihood of another.

Limitations define life. Businesses face this reality every day in many different ways. That’s why leaders need to learn how to manage, overcome and capitalize on these constraints.

Being able to divide a sample into smaller groupings can be a vital tool for understanding what is happening in your processes.

In everything from everyday language to mathematical logic problems, we often need a way to express just how much or how often something occurs or exists, in order for a statement to be clear or make sense.

When sampling, it is important to avoid bias, a lack of precision, and a lack of reproducibility. Having an understanding of population and how they work can help you avoid this.

Diagrams can be extremely helpful as a visual aid to gain understanding of a project. This is a valuable type of diagram that you will likely come back to time and again for your team projects.

Errors are an issue that should be kept to a minimum, especially for those aspiring to a high Sigma level.

Concomitant variables are secondary variables that may affect a process under study but are not the significant parameters that the research is designed to understand or control.

If you have ever taken a test and your results told you that you were in a certain percentile or quartile, you may already have a bit of an understanding of how quartiles and boxplots work. Q3 is an important part of fully understanding boxplots.

The concept of quality assurance began in the manufacturing industry and is now standard for most industries.

Knowing how your company is doing and where it can improve is vital to the health of your organization. Performance metrics help to accomplish this and one such metric is a balanced scorecard.

In business, things aren’t always what they seem. Companies that want to see what’s really going on conduct audits to get actionable details.

Accountability is everything. It builds trust, reputation and responsibility and is the foundation of every good business practice.