Two questions first. 1. Have you recently come across the news of some company drastically improve their performance levels or another claiming to triple their annual turnover, or even have better employee harmony? Wondered how? 2. Are you one of the many hapless business people wishing for a spray of pixie dust to miraculously save […]
Effective change management involves not just imposing a new process on a team but engaging them with a new way of thinking, that makes ongoing process improvement the norm. One of the frameworks used to embed this new philosophy within the psyche of an organization is the PDCA framework often termed (in Six Sigma-speak) Kaizen. […]
Six Sigma widely use DMAIC approach during continuous process improvements as DMAIC is a data-driven quality strategy. DMAIC approach that includes Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control Phase improves the process and ensures best possible results during the continuous process improvements. Define Phase is the initial stage of the Six Sigma project that identifies and […]
Six Sigma Concepts are used to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of business performance. The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes the performance of the process. A process is said to achieve Six Sigma only if it doesn’t produce more than 3.4 defects per million (DPM) opportunities. Six Sigma focuses on process improvement and reduces […]
Let’s look now at details of the 5S’s of the Kaizen continuous improvement approach. Let’s first note that 5S is the name of a way of organizing the workplace. The letter S refers to the first letter of each of 5 words. Each is a Japanese word starting with this S sound. When you use […]
Let’s look more closely now at generating business opportunities and how the continuous improvement approach of Kaizen can help. Kaizen and business opportunities When we look at business opportunities, we can think of new businesses and new opportunities for existing businesses. Kaizen can help you create an atmosphere of continuous improvement to give you a […]
Let’s look now at the specific methods you can use to benefit from the Kaizen approach. These methods can help you improve productivity and quality to give you a competitive edge and improve business results. The Toyota experience of using Kaizen shows how you can improve competitiveness and results using the continuous improvement approach of […]
Let’s look now at an important tool used in continuous improvement efforts. The tool is Root Cause Analysis (RCA). We will cover steps you can take when using this tool to help solve problems and resolve issues. We should note that Root Cause Analysis is a way of finding a fundamental cause for a problem, […]
Let’s have a view now of top Six Sigma Tools and remind ourselves that Six Sigma refers to a method for reducing and eliminating defects. The method is data-driven and disciplined and can apply to manufacture and other industries. Let’s look at Six Sigma tools that can help you implement Six Sigma projects. These Six […]
Let’s look at the importance of Lean principles, and how Lean can impact your business. Before we begin let’s review a definition of Lean. Lean or Lean Manufacturing is a method of systematically eliminating waste in an operation, typically a production or manufacturing system. The waste can be through overburden or unevenness in work loads. […]
Let’s see how Japan became more competitive and what you can do in a similar way. After World War II, American experts helped to rebuild Japanese industry. The first program about Kaizen appeared in the 1950s when the concept began to emerge as a major force in industry. Edwards Deming played a key role as […]
The philosophy of Kaizen has many facets, and the basic idea behind the philosophy involves improvement and change. This improvement ties into the success and competitiveness of an organization. Let’s see how? What’s in a Word Kaizen is a Japanese word that means change for the better. When applied to an organization this change means […]
Asking “why” constantly is not child’s play. In fact, it is a favorite technique used in conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA). This tool is used in identifying the root cause of the problem. What makes it great is that it does not require one to do hypothesis testing, data segmentation, or even use advanced statistical […]
When talking about big business in the context of efficiency, people’s minds often jump to economies of scale. But those are only attainable after all processes have been truly optimized. Unfortunately, the larger the scale, the more managerial manpower a company needs to make sure things run smoothly and margins stay as large as possible. […]
Lean manufacturing processes help businesses eliminate waste within their own manufacturing systems. This waste (also known as muda) is typically a byproduct of variation and instability within production, i.e. the quality of components used to make a car will vary in their abnormality, depending on your supplier. The higher DPM (defect per million) for the […]
Lean Six Sigma is a global phenomenon with the potential to drive your company towards bigger and more tangible business success. Efficiency, profitability, product quality, Lean Six Sigma can improve them all. Success stories are in abundance as businesses all over the world have taken advantage of the many benefits Lean Six Sigma has to […]
Many global companies use the Six Sigma methodology to streamline their manufacturing and production processes with the aim of achieving greater performance quality. But we believe in going one step further: Lean Six Sigma. This collaborative method can optimize your business in a variety of ways, improving everything from sales to company image, just as […]
What is Root Cause Analysis (RCA) ? Root cause analysis, usually referred to as RCA is an approach used to analyze serious problems before trying to solve them, by which the main root cause of a problem is isolated and identified. A root cause is defined as a factor which by removal would prevent the […]
The understanding the process flow diagram (PFD) as the graphic representation of the separate steps or activities of a process which are arranged sequentially and adaptable to any process developed in both industrial and service companies, helps us to see it then as a tool of great utility and versatility. Currently, it represents a powerful […]
When you encounter a problem, it is always advisable to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible. In the business environment, the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a technique that allows people to determine the reasons why a particular problem has occurred. This technique identifies the source of the problem using precise […]
