Six Sigma training has to be goal-based to improve performance.
Training should help the organization deal with problems such as the elimination of strategies that do not produce the expected results, improvement initiatives with no long-term gains and metrics that are meaningless.
Six Sigma Training methods
In this age of high-tech methods, various options are available for effective training. Popular ones are classroom training and Six Sigma online training. A combination of the two also can achieve good results, if applied using relevant and meaningful scope to achieve realistic goals.
The training of the candidates includes sessions on guidelines to provide the best Six Sigma and Lean tools, usage of theory testing and other training based on the needs of the particular industry.
Classroom Method
The most common methodology for training in all sorts of industries is the classroom method. The choice of the methodology should be based on the type of participants of the training.
Classroom training in a formal atmosphere brings about group dynamics which is great for productive learning. Interaction with the trainers and colleagues helps understand all matters with great clarity.
Another advantage is that it helps develop a sense of association among co-workers on the matter of change and new developments.
Six Sigma Online Training
Six Sigma online training, or e-learning, is a very good methodology that is being adopted by a number of companies. The only important aspect of this type of training is the disciplined application of time by the employees to undertake training within a specific schedule.
Six Sigma online training can be given to employees at a place and time suitable for them. They can engage in training even after their regular working hours. Online training is generally simulation-based, and key concepts are clarified for those undertaking the training.
The standards to be applied for undertaking the different types of training is dependent upon the employee connection with the training needs, continuity required in the training and the need for instructor and student interaction - direct or indirect.
Values
The analysis of the suitability and benefits of the two methodologies has to be understood before designing the appropriate methodology for training.
The benefits and cost-effectiveness of the methodologies, as well as appropriate design, is what management has to consider and plan accordingly.
Results
When business skills have to be developed, the need for classroom training is more effective. Training for Lean Six Sigma should be designed as a business course.
The course material for the training can be derived from consultants or providers.
Costs
The cost of the training will vary for each methodology. The importance of the objectives to be achieved from the initiatives has to be weighed.
The corporate strategies and the effect on the profitability and competitiveness it provides for the company's market strategies have to be considered.
Along with these matters, consideration is also necessary on the certification needs of those who have undertaken training.
By Tony Jacowski
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/lean-six-sigma-training-options-583149.html
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Lean Six Sigma Methodologies
Lean 6 Sigma helps because it allows companies to reduce operational costs by identifying and eliminating steps or procedures that add little or no value to a business process. Companies can easily improve quality and efficiency just by combining the basic concepts of 6 Sigma with the principles of Lean 6 Sigma.
Understanding Lean Six Sigma
In industry circles, Lean 6 Sigma is termed in many different ways such as Lean Service, Lean Manufacturing, and Lean Enterprise depending on the type of methodology being utilized. Lean Six Sigma principles can be implemented along with other 6 Sigma concepts in any type of company, be it a manufacturing company or a service provider. When Lean 6 Sigma concepts and methodologies are implemented, it helps organizations to speed up their business processes without affecting the quality of the outcome.
As business processes are optimized, it becomes much easier for companies to reduce operational costs related to the maintenance of additional inventory of both raw materials and finished goods. Optimized business processes then enable companies to clear customer orders within the specified time and budget. Just as with standard 6 Sigma, Lean 6 Sigma also stresses providing the requisite training to employees so that they become familiar with the tools and techniques that will be utilized during the implementations. Lean sigma also encourages key mentors and senior management personnel to understand the basics so that the implementations can be executed without affecting the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Benefits Of Lean Six Sigma
Lean 6 Sigma involves the use of advanced tools and techniques that help companies to reduce operational costs, reduce production cycle times, expand existing capacity, and improve overall productivity. It makes use of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) for identifying improvement opportunities that exist in a business process. However, VSM has limited use and other advanced analysis tools are required for resolving complicated implementation issues.
When combined with standard 6 Sigma concepts, Lean 6 Sigma helps in identifying and resolving quality issues that are vital for attracting and retaining customers. Offering quality products or services in turn helps in developing customer loyalty that is vital for the success of any business, large or small. However, for realizing the full potential of the implementations, it is important to execute Lean Six Sigma projects under the guidance of 6 Sigma Black Belts and 6 Sigma Champions.
In the past, increased competition forced companies to deploy quality improvement techniques such as Six Sigma. With customers demanding more quality, companies had no other option but to deploy even more effective quality improvement techniques such as Lean 6 Sigma. Quality improvements are an ongoing process and we never know what new techniques will be developed in the future that may replace both Six Sigma and Lean 6 Sigma.
By Tony Jacowski
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/lean-six-sigma-methodologies-114350.html
Understanding Lean Six Sigma
In industry circles, Lean 6 Sigma is termed in many different ways such as Lean Service, Lean Manufacturing, and Lean Enterprise depending on the type of methodology being utilized. Lean Six Sigma principles can be implemented along with other 6 Sigma concepts in any type of company, be it a manufacturing company or a service provider. When Lean 6 Sigma concepts and methodologies are implemented, it helps organizations to speed up their business processes without affecting the quality of the outcome.
As business processes are optimized, it becomes much easier for companies to reduce operational costs related to the maintenance of additional inventory of both raw materials and finished goods. Optimized business processes then enable companies to clear customer orders within the specified time and budget. Just as with standard 6 Sigma, Lean 6 Sigma also stresses providing the requisite training to employees so that they become familiar with the tools and techniques that will be utilized during the implementations. Lean sigma also encourages key mentors and senior management personnel to understand the basics so that the implementations can be executed without affecting the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Benefits Of Lean Six Sigma
Lean 6 Sigma involves the use of advanced tools and techniques that help companies to reduce operational costs, reduce production cycle times, expand existing capacity, and improve overall productivity. It makes use of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) for identifying improvement opportunities that exist in a business process. However, VSM has limited use and other advanced analysis tools are required for resolving complicated implementation issues.
When combined with standard 6 Sigma concepts, Lean 6 Sigma helps in identifying and resolving quality issues that are vital for attracting and retaining customers. Offering quality products or services in turn helps in developing customer loyalty that is vital for the success of any business, large or small. However, for realizing the full potential of the implementations, it is important to execute Lean Six Sigma projects under the guidance of 6 Sigma Black Belts and 6 Sigma Champions.
In the past, increased competition forced companies to deploy quality improvement techniques such as Six Sigma. With customers demanding more quality, companies had no other option but to deploy even more effective quality improvement techniques such as Lean 6 Sigma. Quality improvements are an ongoing process and we never know what new techniques will be developed in the future that may replace both Six Sigma and Lean 6 Sigma.
By Tony Jacowski
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/lean-six-sigma-methodologies-114350.html
8:43 AM | Filed Under Lean six sigma knowledge | 35 Comments
The Goal of Lean Sigma
Since Lean Six Sigma starts with customers, its goal is clear—to eliminate anything that doesn’t meet their needs. In Lean Six Sigma terms, things that don’t meet customer needs are called defects. So if you promise a 3-day turnaround time and it takes you 3.5 days, that’s a defect. If you’re entering a purchase order and enter the wrong product code, that’s a defect. If you’re producing lamps and the wiring is frayed, that’s a defect.
One of the challenges you’ll face as you begin to use Lean Six Sigma is defining and measuring defects. For example, suppose you find out your customers want courteous service. How would you determine whether or not they got it? The thing to keep in mind is what aspects of your product or service are most important to your customers. Then find ways to determine whether or not you’ve met those needs. If you don’t, your process is probably producing defects.
What’s also important in Lean Six Sigma is checking on the consistency in your products, services, and processes. How likely is it that customers will consistently get something they’re happy with? If you deliver what they want one day, but not the next day, they may take their business elsewhere.
One of the critic steps for the process is :defining “customers”
Six Sigma takes a broad view of what a “customer” is. It includes the people outside your company who purchase your services and products AND the people inside your company who use the output of your work.
Even if you have little contact with external customers—people outside your company—keep in mind that they are the ultimately judges of your company’s products or services. They’re the ones who determine whether your company will be profitable.
So even if you’re assigned to improve processes just in your own work area, ask the question “Would doing this just be nice for us, or would it ultimately help our paying customers?”
By Tom Smith
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/the-goal-of-lean-sigma-535522.html
One of the challenges you’ll face as you begin to use Lean Six Sigma is defining and measuring defects. For example, suppose you find out your customers want courteous service. How would you determine whether or not they got it? The thing to keep in mind is what aspects of your product or service are most important to your customers. Then find ways to determine whether or not you’ve met those needs. If you don’t, your process is probably producing defects.
What’s also important in Lean Six Sigma is checking on the consistency in your products, services, and processes. How likely is it that customers will consistently get something they’re happy with? If you deliver what they want one day, but not the next day, they may take their business elsewhere.
One of the critic steps for the process is :defining “customers”
Six Sigma takes a broad view of what a “customer” is. It includes the people outside your company who purchase your services and products AND the people inside your company who use the output of your work.
Even if you have little contact with external customers—people outside your company—keep in mind that they are the ultimately judges of your company’s products or services. They’re the ones who determine whether your company will be profitable.
So even if you’re assigned to improve processes just in your own work area, ask the question “Would doing this just be nice for us, or would it ultimately help our paying customers?”
By Tom Smith
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/the-goal-of-lean-sigma-535522.html
8:40 AM | Filed Under Lean six sigma basic | 8 Comments
How Lean Six Sigma Training Inspires Quality And Efficiency
There are certain basic things such as data authenticity, effective logistics, reduction in cycle times and so on that makes the Lean Six Sigma training initiative bring new efficiency and quality to companies.
Data Authenticity
The data that goes into Lean Six Sigma improvement projects should be highly authentic.
Efforts have to be made to collect genuine data and bring about effective improvements in processes and products.
Production Systems
Lean emphasizes the sequential production system, rather than using the shop scheduling technique. The sequential technique is very effective in manufacturing only those amounts that are required by the next process - and only when they are required.
Additionally, it effectively helps reduce waste to a large extent, as well as eliminating the sources causing waste. It is about developing a system of understanding the priorities on the shop floor.
This technique is useful not only for big organizations, but shows good results for small and medium-sized businesses as well.
Managing Performance
A Lean project requires a team effort at all stages. A team that works closely without any misunderstandings can combine their efforts to achieve the desired results on schedule.
The project manager has to work towards motivating the team to put in their efforts towards achieving the goals and objectives of the organization.
Effective Logistics
The Lean Six Sigma system helps develop an effective logistics system that aims at reducing inventory carrying costs and waste.
This helps the continuous flow of raw materials to finished goods from one process to another.
Cycle-Time Reduction
Lean Six Sigma training enables reduction in cycle times that are a major cause of excess non-value added costs. The efforts are all about eliminating the causes of the excessive cycle times.
Short-term solutions to such problems will only give rise to the similar problems in future.
Linear Production System
Lean Six Sigma training helps develop a production model such that the production happens as and when the demand exists for the product. Often, in the traditional form of production system, goods are produced in larger amount so that they may be given immediately on demand.
However, this always produces the probability of products being wasted, if the product demand goes down due to various reasons, such as seasonal nature of product demand, non-compliance to quality standards, defective batch production and so on.
With a linear production system, such problems can be overcome with the least amount of waste.
Timely Decisions
Lean Six Sigma makes it possible for manufacturing firms to make timely decisions regarding all factors such as product demand, new recruitment, downsizing and so on.
Timely decisions allow for grasping an opportunity at the right time, which helps increase profitability.
These features of Lean Six Sigma help bring in efficiency and quality to all companies, small and large alike. The project advantage will be sustained over a long period of time.
Power By Tony Jacowski
Data Authenticity
The data that goes into Lean Six Sigma improvement projects should be highly authentic.
Efforts have to be made to collect genuine data and bring about effective improvements in processes and products.
Production Systems
Lean emphasizes the sequential production system, rather than using the shop scheduling technique. The sequential technique is very effective in manufacturing only those amounts that are required by the next process - and only when they are required.
Additionally, it effectively helps reduce waste to a large extent, as well as eliminating the sources causing waste. It is about developing a system of understanding the priorities on the shop floor.
This technique is useful not only for big organizations, but shows good results for small and medium-sized businesses as well.
Managing Performance
A Lean project requires a team effort at all stages. A team that works closely without any misunderstandings can combine their efforts to achieve the desired results on schedule.
The project manager has to work towards motivating the team to put in their efforts towards achieving the goals and objectives of the organization.
Effective Logistics
The Lean Six Sigma system helps develop an effective logistics system that aims at reducing inventory carrying costs and waste.
This helps the continuous flow of raw materials to finished goods from one process to another.
Cycle-Time Reduction
Lean Six Sigma training enables reduction in cycle times that are a major cause of excess non-value added costs. The efforts are all about eliminating the causes of the excessive cycle times.
Short-term solutions to such problems will only give rise to the similar problems in future.
Linear Production System
Lean Six Sigma training helps develop a production model such that the production happens as and when the demand exists for the product. Often, in the traditional form of production system, goods are produced in larger amount so that they may be given immediately on demand.
However, this always produces the probability of products being wasted, if the product demand goes down due to various reasons, such as seasonal nature of product demand, non-compliance to quality standards, defective batch production and so on.
With a linear production system, such problems can be overcome with the least amount of waste.
Timely Decisions
Lean Six Sigma makes it possible for manufacturing firms to make timely decisions regarding all factors such as product demand, new recruitment, downsizing and so on.
Timely decisions allow for grasping an opportunity at the right time, which helps increase profitability.
These features of Lean Six Sigma help bring in efficiency and quality to all companies, small and large alike. The project advantage will be sustained over a long period of time.
Power By Tony Jacowski
8:00 AM | Filed Under Lean six sigma training | 5 Comments
What is Lean Six Sigma?
Detailed Roadmap to Process Improvement
Lean Six Sigma utilizes DMAIC, a highly structured and standardized approach to process improvement. This approach paves the way for corporations in today’s competitive business environment to meet and exceed ever-increasing customer expectations.
DMAIC is an acronym for five interconnected phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. The use of these five phases ensures that Lean Six Sigma projects are clearly defined and implemented, and that results are standardized into daily operations
Proven tool that people can use to improve their jobs
Numerous qualitative and quantitative tools have been developed, which have proven to be effective within virtually any business environment. These tools compose the underlying structure of Lean Six Sigma and have been adopted into the daily working practices of many leading companies. Among the more common of the tools are the following:
Breakthrough contributor to the financial bottom line
The Lean Six Sigma improvement process is based on financially prioritizing projects. This prioritization is based on the projects impact to net savings and customer satisfaction.
A financial analyst provides business team support to establish the forecasted value of the project; and will also work with the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt to validate the financial success of the project upon completion.
An excellent starting point for any lean six sigma is 5S. 5S is valuable for organization and cleaning which in turn creates an environment that is helpful to the other areas of lean six sigma.
5S overview
Sort: Eliminate whatever is not needed.
Straighten: Organize whatever remains.
Shine: Clean the work area.
Standardize: Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance.
Sustain: Make 5S a way of life.
Other areas of of lean six sigma include:
Cause & Effect Diagrams
Value Stream Maps
Design of Experiments
Control Charts
Power by Tim Grimsley
Lean Six Sigma utilizes DMAIC, a highly structured and standardized approach to process improvement. This approach paves the way for corporations in today’s competitive business environment to meet and exceed ever-increasing customer expectations.
DMAIC is an acronym for five interconnected phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. The use of these five phases ensures that Lean Six Sigma projects are clearly defined and implemented, and that results are standardized into daily operations
Proven tool that people can use to improve their jobs
Numerous qualitative and quantitative tools have been developed, which have proven to be effective within virtually any business environment. These tools compose the underlying structure of Lean Six Sigma and have been adopted into the daily working practices of many leading companies. Among the more common of the tools are the following:
Breakthrough contributor to the financial bottom line
The Lean Six Sigma improvement process is based on financially prioritizing projects. This prioritization is based on the projects impact to net savings and customer satisfaction.
A financial analyst provides business team support to establish the forecasted value of the project; and will also work with the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt to validate the financial success of the project upon completion.
An excellent starting point for any lean six sigma is 5S. 5S is valuable for organization and cleaning which in turn creates an environment that is helpful to the other areas of lean six sigma.
5S overview
Sort: Eliminate whatever is not needed.
Straighten: Organize whatever remains.
Shine: Clean the work area.
Standardize: Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance.
Sustain: Make 5S a way of life.
Other areas of of lean six sigma include:
Cause & Effect Diagrams
Value Stream Maps
Design of Experiments
Control Charts
Power by Tim Grimsley
4:38 AM | Filed Under Lean six sigma basic | 4 Comments
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