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Now that you have brainstormed and gathered a list of random ideas, how do you make sense of them? KJ is a tool for helping you establish the themes and relationships between your ideas. 

Virtually every business decision is a matter of investment and success is based on how companies deploy resources like employee time, capital and brand image. The authority to make independent decisions is also a type of resource that can and should be invested by delegating it to team members. Overview: What is empowerment? Employee empowerment […]

STOP THE PRESSES! Jidoka will immediately stop equipment upon discovering an abnormality in the process. Let’s explore this a little deeper.

Instant pudding may make a great snack, but it’s a terrible approach to managing quality and productivity in business. Unlike the average domestic kitchen, there are very few things that you can simply whip together in the business world. Overview: What is instant pudding? In the context of business and process management, the term “instant […]

The landscape of how business is done is ever-evolving. The way that businesses interact with customers and how those customers purchase goods and services is unrecognizable from how things were done just a couple of decades ago. A big component of these changes is the rise of information communication technology. Any time you make a […]

Is your Lean Six Sigma training accomplishing what you want it to do? How do you know? Those questions can be answered by using the Kirkpatrick Model of Evaluation. Let’s see how.

Key business requirements are everything. They are the measure by which your product, process or company lives or dies, so ignorance is not an option.

Are all your organization’s problems and issues of equal importance? Probably not. How should you handle those that are the most critical and important? Let’s find out. A Key Business Issue (KBI) refers to a critical problem or challenge that your organization faces, which can significantly impact your performance, growth, or competitiveness. KBIs are specific […]

How does your organization track and monitor organizational performance? Do you have key metrics that you frequently look at to make decisions? Using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is a common method for tracking your most important metrics. Let’s see how. A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company […]

Does your organization just focus on today’s operational and tactical issues, or is there a process for developing a strategic plan for the future? Hoshin Kanri is a method for ensuring an organization’s strategic goals drive progress and action at every level within that organization. 

The pursuit of knowledge is not relegated solely to the individual. Businesses regularly gather staff and other stakeholders with the intent of working together to gain knowledge that can assist in the goals of the organization. When an organization puts together a knowledge-based community, it shows that it is not only invested in the advancement […]

Marketing is crucial for most organizations in their efforts to acquire new customers and maintain their relationships with their existing ones. There are many factors involved in developing proper marketing strategies. One of them is the collection and proper analysis of interactional data. Interactional data is not used to its full potential by many organizations […]

Having a clear comprehension of all the costs you incur when creating a product is integral to running a successful business. This includes both your direct and indirect costs. When making a product or providing a service, it may be obvious what your direct costs are since you are paying for parts, labor, and so […]

Sometimes we need the input of others in order to make a process easier. We also often could use someone who can bring a group together when working toward a goal. When this is done, that person is someone who facilitates. In a meeting, it can be easy for a group to lose direction. Having […]

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are the practical realization of US Government policy regarding the manufacturing of motor vehicles within the nation’s borders. These regulations involve every significant area of automobile performance, so they cover everything from airbag deployment assemblies to structural integrity of the entire frame. Overview: What are Federal Motor Vehicle […]

Since lean six sigma management requires firms to measure, track, and analyze data about their products, processes, and customers, effective data management is integral to limiting waste and meeting the goal of continuous improvement. Overview of ELT The ELT process is a three-stage data pipeline that consists of the following stages: 1. Extract The first […]

Financial metrics are the language of business. Every manager or analyst needs to understand how to evaluate a company’s performance using ratio analysis in order to make objective, fact-based decisions and to communicate those insights to other decision-makers.

Utilization of project management tools helps ensure the success of a project. One such tool is the Gantt chart. At the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Gantt created a chart for recording the progress of workers when assigned to a task. His work revolutionized the field of project management, and his innovations are still […]

It is generally easier to understand what your data is telling you if you can visualize it rather than view it in rows and columns of numbers. A frequency plot is a great tool for doing that. A frequency plot is a graphical representation of the distribution of continuous data based on how often a […]

The concept of “erroneous” in Six Sigma emphasizes the importance of accuracy and reliability in data collection and analysis. Erroneous data can lead to incorrect conclusions, poor decision-making, and negative business outcomes. To address erroneous data, organizations can implement best practices such as defining what constitutes erroneous data, implementing robust data validation processes, using statistical […]

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.

Keeping one step ahead of the competition whilst consistently meeting customer requirements makes a lot of business sense. Using gap analysis, we have a methodology that helps to understand and achieve full business potential whilst driving continuous improvement.

In 1979, Philip B. Crosby wrote what came to be seen as a landmark in quality management theory. The book, “Quality With” focuses on a managerial style that focuses on delivering quality in business, often in ways that are of little to no cost. One of the 14 steps listed on the way to quality […]

Manually changing parts in and out of a machine can be time-consuming and present a safety issue. Hanedashi solves that problem by automatically doing almost everything that the operator would do in a manual operation.

It is necessary to have data organized in a systematic and uniform manner. This keeps information tidy and easy to interpret. One part of keeping data together in this way is by using an established form/format system. Can you imagine doing a major business deal and just being handed a blank sheet of paper to […]

In business, there are times when you may be transferring sensitive data. Working with software that provides encryption services can help keep your data secure. Many now associate encryption with modern technology, but the practice likely dates as far back as 1900 B.C. During this time, one scribe used unorthodox hieroglyphic characters instead of the […]

When you hear the word efficient, you probably think of the words waste, productivity, inputs, and outputs. An efficient process will allow you to provide your customers more and better products for less effort. 

The empirical rule is a simple way to understand the distribution of your data values if they come from a normal distribution. 

When something goes wrong in your organization, it is important to know what the cause of the issue is in order to prevent it from happening again. Luckily, there are several failure analysis tools available, one of which is the Fenwick-vanKoesveld Test.This test is relatively simple and serves to find the true reason for a […]

Frequently committed errors (FCE) are anomalies in a particular process that have a negative impact on the outcome. Essentially, anything that falls outside of the established, value-added activities within each process is an error. Identifying, recognizing and addressing frequently committed errors is essential to good business management. Overview: What are frequently committed errors? Every process […]

Overview: What is FMEA? When it comes to risk assessment in Lean Six Sigma, one of the most useful tools you can use is FMEA. FMEA stands for Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. It’s a tool used to identify and prioritize potential failures of a product or process through a systematic approach that involves identifying […]

With most major corporations, in order to get their products into your hands inexpensively, the work does not all happen in one place. More often than not, various aspects involved in the manufacturing process occur across more than one country. This would be very difficult to achieve if not for the advancement of globalization.Globalization plays […]

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a business management system that integrates all aspects of a company’s operations, including finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain management, and customer relationship management. ERP software allows businesses to automate and streamline their processes, creating a unified and efficient system that improves productivity and reduces errors. It provides a centralized […]

If you are working with supplies that come from a myriad of international sources, it is important to know that you are getting materials that you can trust and that there are safeguards in place. The Global Commerce Initiative is meant to address this concern among businesses as well as consumers. The Global Commerce Initiative […]

Exit criteria exists to keep your development and process improvement teams honest about your true current state. This article discusses exit criteria and its place within any tollgate system. It covers the benefits of using them as well as the risks of ignoring them.

Motivation is a critical factor that drives human behavior, and it plays a vital role in the success of individuals and businesses. The Gwilliam Motivational Model is a psychological theory that explains the factors that motivate individuals to perform at their best. Overview: What is the Gwilliam Motivational Model The Gwilliam Motivational Model is a […]

How much can you learn about your process sitting in your office? According to Genchi Gembutsu, you can’t learn much. In Japanese, genchi means “actual place,” and gembutsu means “actual thing.” In the Toyota Production System (TPS), this concept is interpreted as “to go and see.” Let’s explore this a little further. 

Wouldn’t it be great if your production process ran smoother? Maybe Heijunka is the solution. Let’s find out more about it.

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, organizations strive to enhance their operations, deliver superior quality, and meet customer expectations. To achieve these objectives, many organizations turn to DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control), a structured problem-solving methodology widely employed in Six Sigma. DMAIC provides organizations with a systematic approach to identifying process inefficiencies, reducing […]

If you understand multiple linear regression, you already know a lot about the General Linear Model (GLM). Let’s learn some more about how and when to use the GLM. 

Efficiency and effectiveness are vital elements of any successful organization, but in the realm of Lean Six Sigma, there is another crucial concept that holds the key to achieving optimal results: efficacy. Efficacy goes beyond simply measuring efficiency or effectiveness; it encompasses the ability of a process or methodology to consistently deliver the desired outcomes […]

Since there is variation in all processes, how can you tell whether the variation is due to random expected variation, or something unexpected? The control chart is a tool for making that distinction. Let’s learn how that is done. 

It is more important than ever for businesses to look at the needs and desires of their customers as indicators for how to operate. Since a business does not exist without customers, having an understanding of what they are looking for in the companies they support is imperative for success. More and more companies are […]

You finally found the perfect spot to anchor your boat and catch all the best fish. But, the tide is strong and your boat starts to drift away from where you need it to be. The same can happen to your process. 

Having repeatability and reproducibility rates that are 10% or lower is ideal for applying gauges in capability data retrieval. If your R & R rates are above this level, there is a powerful tool for managing these prohibitively large rates. Working with the Douglass Index allows auditors to crunch data that may fall outside the […]

DMEDI stands for: Define, Measure, Explore, Develop, and Implement. This differs from the basic Six Sigma methodology of DMAIC which stands for: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. Both methodologies are designed to improve your processes and products. Whereas, DMAIC is designed for incremental improvements of existing processes, DMEDI focuses on more robust improvements for […]

During the design or prototype stage of product development, there is a system of checks in place that can help make sure the product is successful in moving into the next stages. The products that are released into the mass market have gone through many stages of development so that they can be trusted by […]

Directives are an important tool for organizations that seek to align employees with their goals, increase efficiency, and promote a culture of continuous improvement. Understanding Directives: Benefits, Best Practices, and Common Questions Directives are a critical tool for organizations seeking to improve their performance and achieve their goals. By providing clear guidance and expectations, directives […]

Making changes to your organization is foolish without having the proper data to tell you the impact that the changes may have. A tool called a “detectable effect size” can help in making that determination. It is nice to believe that certain changes that are proposed will have an impact on our business, but with […]

When there is a need for changes that will improve end products or components, it is necessary to have proper documentation so that there is a paper trail and to ensure the correct modifications occur. An engineer change order is an important part of making sure that necessary changes to products are handled in a […]