Thursday, May 17, 2012

Why Should I Learn Six Sigma Processes?

January 28, 2010 by  
Filed under Business

Lean Six Sigma is an altered form of the Six Sigma process. Although it has the basic fundamentals of Six Sigma, Lean has a few differences that set it apart from basic Six Sigma Training. Knowing the difference can prove to add more to your quality improvement projects then you would have ever thought possible.

Lean Six Sigma focuses on eight elements of waste, or work that doesn\’t add value to an organization or company. It has been found that many places that eliminate these wasteful areas can actually improve quality with just that elimination alone. The following is a list of the wastes according to the Lean process, along with examples of what each one alludes to:

-Wasted Human Talent: Anyone that is without a specific job function or who\’s work may be slowing the process down.

-Defects: This can be products or processes that are not right. These obviously need solutions to fix them before they can be eliminated.

-Inventory: This refers to an over sized \”To Do\” list of work. You never want to have to much product waiting to be worked on. A doctors office, for example, does not want to have to many patients in the waiting room at one time.

-Overproduction: Having to much of something before it is needed may be harmful to the organization and efficiency of the operation you are working in.

-Wasted time: Waiting on product to arrive, idle time that could be better spent on various processes or activities. Having five employees standing around waiting to unload a truck that hasn\’t arrived is a good example.

-Motion: Simply put, too much unnecessary movement by people. For example, a clinic that sends patients to triage when they have booked appointments is wasted movement because they can go straight to the exam room.

-Transportation: If the company is using a means of transportation for a person or product that is not needed, then that would fall under the wasteful category.

-Process Waste: Anything that needs to be done within the company, but does not add any value to the process, product or service. For example, a manager may be required to fill out paperwork each night, but it has nothing to do with improving the product or customer service.

Understanding these waste products will enhance the quality improvement projects that you approach using Lean Six Sigma processes.

Create the most of your working skills with six sigma. Getting six sigma certification online will benefit yourself in addition to your working. To learn more check out www.sixsigmaonline.org.

Related Blogs

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!