Dana McGovern

Secondary metrics consider the overall health of the business. They help ensure that other areas do not slip when pursuing improvement of the primary metric.

Standard operating sheets help keep operations running smoothly. They outline the process steps, timing, and other elements of a given operation and allow employee engagement in the process.

Soft savings are benefits gained from Lean Six Sigma projects that cannot easily be assigned a dollar value. These include things like greater trust, reduced frustration, and increased job satisfaction.  

The primary metric is a numeric output used to understand your process. It makes the process objective, setting the stage for successful improvements that align with the organization’s strategic goals.

Hard savings are benefits that have a direct impact on the organization’s bottom line. They not only improve business operations, but also reinforce the value of Six Sigma methodology.

Defects are products or services that fail to meet customer requirements. By understanding defects created, we can work to reduce or eliminate them and ensure customer satisfaction.