Key Points

• Remote process optimization requires a solid investment in digital infrastructure for viability.
• Adapting Lean Six Sigma methodologies isn’t difficult, but it will take considerable effort to maintain your organizational culture.
• Remote process optimization is going to consistently rely upon communication, so make the effort now to establish clear and consistent guidelines.

How do you even begin to start remote process optimization? When we talk about the methodologies and principles behind Lean Six Sigma, it is highly dependent on the notion of being in person to get the work done in the first place. However, that isn’t always the case with many teams. As most of the world has transitioned to hybrid and remote workforces, this brings to mind certain limitations.

As such, if you’re looking to undergo remote process optimization, you have to adjust the approach. This isn’t just something where you can utilize the same strategies to net the usual results. Instead, you’ll have to tailor your approach to better suit your working conditions. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some ideal strategies you can utilize for process optimization among remote teams.

Why Are Companies Pivoting to Remote Teams?

Remote teams aren’t the best fit for every industry. It is exceedingly difficult to do things like manufacturing in a remote space after all. That said, the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the power and efficacy of remote teams. Part of the allure is less overhead, but that is only part of the consideration toward the pivot to remote teams.

Remote teams essentially allow a more diverse workforce. You’ve got more expertise to leverage, and cross-functional teams are one of the most highly potent ways to deliver upon quality in the workplace. This doesn’t work for every market sector, of course, but the ones that are leveraging remote work have seen massive gains over the last few years.

While there are certainly critics of the approach, it doesn’t necessarily have to be one way or another. We’ve seen the efficiency of teams like the ones employed by Apple. The tech giant has remote workers, hybrid teams, and a slew of people working in-person to get things done.

The Strength in Distance

Remote teams allow for some interesting configurations that you might not get in a traditional office layout. When you remove the necessity for proximity, it opens up the playing field for a bevy of experiences, disciplines, and other strong suits. As such, it only stands to reason that businesses are pivoting to remote teams for at least part of their workflow.

Consider something like network infrastructure. You don’t need to keep IT staff in-house to handle most support tickets. These are issues that are readily rectified with just a phone call and a solid ticketing system. More often than not, tickets can be resolved with a few steps without needing physical intervention.

By the time you get to a point of escalation, you can rely on in-person staff. In the interim, however, you can draw from a diverse team of remote workers who can leverage their experiences to deliver the best possible service available to whoever is going through a technical issue.

Remote Process Optimization: Practical Strategies and Applications

Now that we’ve laid some of the groundwork, let’s take a closer look at where you can start with your remote process optimization efforts. Going from an in-person setting to a virtual environment is going to pose some significant challenges. Where teams fail is solely down to the amount of adaptation and adjustment necessary to get the right workflow in place when it comes to Lean Six Sigma in a remote setting.

However, with the right shift in mindset, you’ve got everything you’ve need to get the ball rolling on things. We’ve discussed in the past the importance of maintaining organizational culture in a remote setting, and the same holds here. You want to champion the ethos, philosophy, and toolsets your company has adopted.

Thankfully, adapting these aspects to your remote team is a relatively smooth transition. With the right steps in place, you should be getting back to work in no time flat and embodying a culture of continuous improvement like you have in the past.

Get the Right Digital Infrastructure

One of the biggest issues you’ll run into with remote process optimization comes down to a lack of developed infrastructure. Offices have things like conference rooms where you can hold a standup meeting and get everyone on the same page. Moving to a virtual space poses some interesting hurdles when it comes to your lines of communication.

To this end, I would recommend the likes of a good chat client, like Slack. This gives you an asynchronous way of keeping in touch with your team and allows for breathing room between responses. Additionally, a solid video or audio chat client is a must. Teams comes highly recommended, but free tools like Zoom or Google Meet are just as good in a pinch.

Additionally, you’ll want to look into digital infrastructure that allows for quick sharing of work. You’ll need a cloud client like Dropbox and potentially some collaborate visual whiteboarding tools to help sketch out things like process maps or value stream maps.

Adapting LSS for Remote Work

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that Lean Six Sigma isn’t exactly designed with remote process optimization in mind. That said, it’s a relatively simple switch when it comes to adapting tools like DMAIC to the virtual domain. This is where the developed infrastructure I previously mentioned is going to come in handy.

Having the means to communicate is going to make doing things like DMAIC, process mapping, and Kaizen events a fair simpler task overall. It might not have the same allure as something like an in-person meet and greet with donuts and coffee, but you can get the same level of work done with a minor adjustment period.

The Value in Communication

Having the infrastructure in place is only one thing you’ll have to keep track of. It is far too easy with remote work for deadlines and milestones to slip by because of a lack of communication from your team. This is where you need to establish solid policy regarding things like communication timeframes, proper protocol for meetings, and so forth.

Additionally, you’ll want to embody certain principles like open communication to keep those lines open and consistent.

Utilize Technology for Data Collection and Analysis

You want to use the latest modern technology not just for communication in remote process optimization, but also alongside data analysis tools. You can certainly get your team to crunch numbers on a platform like Google Sheets, Excel, or so forth. That said, you’re doing them a massive disservice by not leveraging more robust tools.

Platforms like Tableau allow for a deep and rich visualization of the data at hand. Additionally, it leverages artificial intelligence to take some of the busy work out of the whole affair. This means your team is getting back on track while still getting a hold of the data-driven results you expect.

Build a Remote Culture Centered on Collaboration and Improvement

Lean Six Sigma, regardless of remote process optimization intent, is built around a culture of improvement. There is always work to be done when it comes to delivering quality. You’ll always have areas where you can improve.

It is far too easy for remote work to allow corporate culture to slip. This comes in part due to a lack of reinforcing principles. That said, if you aren’t treating your remote process optimization efforts as work, your team certainly isn’t. Build and establish a culture, and you’ll see the fruits of your labor soon enough.

Adapt to the Challenges of Remote Work

Remote process optimization falls victim to the same sort of drawbacks in remote work we’ve seen since the pandemic. Working remotely can be isolating, especially when you’re working with teams in wildly different locations.

Additionally, everyone on your team might not have access to the necessary equipment to get things done. This is arguably the most difficult part of adapting Lean Six Sigma for the virtual domain, but it is a wholly necessary one to guarantee future success and the integrity of your organization’s digital security.

If necessary, you’ll want to provide all necessary equipment. IT staff will need to establish firm operational guidelines and keep a strong accounting of all hardware and equipment loaned out to your employees.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

Looking for something else to go with your morning coffee? You might want to read over the role emotional intelligence plays in leadership alongside Lean Six Sigma. Mental health is a growing concern with our workforce, and taking the right precautions can guarantee you’re providing a safe working environment for your employees.

Additionally, you might want to take a look at how you can adapt Six Sigma for service industries. Service industries pose far larger challenges than your typical manufacturing plant when it comes to delivering on the objectives of Six Sigma. With the right adjustments, you can see huge results in a short amount of time.

Conclusion

Remote process optimization is going to be reliant on the work you put in to make the efforts feasible in the first place. It will be a substantial investment at first glance, especially when you consider the digital and hardware requirements to get the work done in the first place. However, with the right steps in place, you’ll have everything you need to keep delivering on your goals.

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