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