Houston Lean Six Sigma

Molly,
Using Lean concepts considering all work conducted within the lab may allow a better optimization path.  Not knowing your improvement scope, goals, or timeline it is hard to come up with hard and fast advice…  however…  focus on the 8 manufacturing and 7 office wastes… information flow maps…  applying Value Adding & Non-Value Add…[Read more]

David,
I agree with the several posts regarding a Lean Six Sigma approach – creating one-piece flow, work cell organization, removing non-value adding, etc, etc
But…. Last week I was in Snowmass Village, Colorado… and the kids wanted pizza for supper… so I drove down to the local pizza place, walked in and placed an order.  It took a wh…[Read more]

Clive,
Yes, we have had quite a lot of experience using TRIZ which we have applied mainly in Design-For space – but it can and does get applied in MAIC-space in Improve and also Define.  As mentioned in an earlier post, TRIZ requires a certain way of thinking which probably only covers about 1/4 of the population – so it is not for everyone.  We…[Read more]

Robyn,
For what it is worth, I weigh in with Jules.  We have had much success in both classical VSM and what we call ‘focused vsm’ – and yes, decision boxes can be incorporated.  Suggest as reference “The Complete Lean Enterprise…” Beau Keyte, Drew Locher.  However… if I read your note carefully… sounds like the targeted area may have…[Read more]

polca@hughes.net

Outlier,
Your suggestion is much appreciated.  Within the format of our overall training program this concept could work.  I agree that the other options are somewhat limited for classroom or e-training…  Again thanks, Houston

ATI,
Thanks, polca@hughes.net

Brandon,
I appreciate your quick response.  As an fyi, I had searched the forum earlier: the logistically simple sims appear to be airplane-based and too similar to other sims we already use in other parts of our training – I was hoping for some new ideas…

Joseph,
I’d suggest beginning a 5S initiative in the workplace.  Everyone can be involved, you can assess baseline and improvement through an assessment and, depending on what you want to track can measure individual participation.  Two things are needed for success:  Leadership support and buyin; employees understanding that they are em…[Read more]

We saw a very large opportunity and have had enormous success by using Value Stream Mapping to streamline the training & delivery processes by (1) removing non-value added steps; (2) Streamlining the way data is input and flows; (3) minimized handoffs and touchpoints.
 

My company is organized globally by business and functional units.  They use a modified Hoshin Kanri approach to Opportunity Identification.  All opportunities are screened using a prioritization matrix which is heavily weighted to strategic alignment with the business/function strategy and goals.  We typically chose one of four methods to gene…[Read more]

I read Fidel’s discussion path with interest.  I’m part of a quite large Global company who began by introducting Six Sigma and is now expanding it’s efforts to include Lean Concepts.  The previous two posts capture much of our Key Learnings – If we had to do it again, we should have begun (like many of the experts say – good sources of r…[Read more]