How To Begin With Lean Six Sigma

By Gary Reed


There are many ways to solve problems and improve processes. Many companies, some very prominent, have used Lean Six Sigma very successfully in their quest to make their companies and organizations leaner and more efficient. It can take time to undergo, but in the long run it is certainly worth putting the time and effort in.

There are 5 steps in the process. When followed, is is easy to see the progression and what the next steps should involve. Involving people from throughout the organization can be beneficial as there will be many different views about how to tackle the issue. The 5 phases in the process are Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and, finally, Control, and they are better known by their acronym, DMAIC.

The beginning step, define, simply means to define what the problem is. This is best accomplished by developing a problem statement that describes what the challenge is. Next, detail what the end goal is through the development of a goal statement. The current process can be mapped so that it is well understood. Finally, identify who will best benefit by solving the problem is, usually a customer, by outlining what they require of the process.

Next comes the measure phase. It can be time a labor intensive, so it is best to start with a plan for how to measure, or collect, the data. Ensure that the data means something and that it is relevant to the end goal. This may require an expansion of the project team to help collect it and input from subject matter experts within the organization. Chart the data as it is collected to help identify if there are deficiencies.

Next, the data collected in the measure process is analyzed in the Analyze phase. The processes in place a scrutinized and the data that has been collected is organized and displayed using a number of tools and charts. The team can get together and come up with ideas for what is causing the problem.

Next comes the Improve step. Meet with the team and come up with what could be potential solutions to the issue and once they have been identified, draw up a map of the process to see how it would look with the new solution in place. Once this is complete, the solution or solutions can be implemented. Data must again be collected to measure if the improvement is working and whether additional improvements could be added. If more solutions are implemented, be sure to collect data to make sure it is moving in the right direction.

Lastly, in the Control phase, controls are put into place to ensure that the new process is being followed and that the improvements continue. It is important to sustain the changes in order to consider the problem solved. The outcomes can be shared throughout the organization, as there may be other departments that can benefit from the efforts. Be sure to celebrate successes at this point!

There are a number of organizations in North Carolina and the surrounding area that have seen excellent improvements since adopting this process. Finding solutions to problems and streamlining the way things are done helps make teams stronger, work more efficient, and makes customers happy.




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