Introduction to Lean Six Sigma Flashcards
What is Lean Six Sigma?
The methodology we use to improve efficiency and quality.
What is DMAIC?
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
Why do we need the method?
Without a method you rush to conclusions and only touch the tip of the iceberg of your problems, so you can’t solve them.
How do we measure quality?
Quality is measured by the degree of variation.
What do you need to be effective?
- Reduce variation
- Reduce defects
(six sigma)
What do you need to be efficient?
- Reduce waste
- Lean value added steps
(Lean)
What are the five key principles of Lean?
- Define value add and non value add.
- Map the value stream.
- Establish process flow.
- Shift from push to pull systems.
- Strive for perfection / zero defects.
What is Six Sigma?
- An organisational philosophy/BPI (Business Process Improvement) approach
- A methodology
- A standard deviation (6σ)
What are the goals of Six Sigma?
- Reduce Variation related to the variation within process output (Y) caused by the input or process variables (x’s).
- Reduce variation towards customer target and specification(s).
- Reduce variation by eliminating waste
Why is it important to understand customer satisfaction?
Quality starts with understanding customer needs and ends
when those needs are satisfied.
What are the Quality Dimensions?
- Conformance to Specifications (Crosby)
- Value
- Fitness for Use (Juran)
- Support
- Psychological Impressions
What is Conformance to Specifications?
▪ Providing a specification that is desired by customers (eg. Expiration date, content amount)
▪ Conformance to specifications means to meet any requirements defined for the product, not
only regulatory.
What is Fitness for Use?
Effectiveness of a design, manufacturing method, and support process employed in delivering a good system or service that fits a customer’s defined purpose, under anticipated or specified operational conditions.
What are Psychological Impressions?
Going beyond the core value, to create a psychological benefit.
How is the process monitored?
DMAIC
What is Define?
Define the opportunity from both business and customer perspectives.
What is Measure?
Understand the process and its performance.
What is Analyze?
Search for the key factors (critical X’s) that have the biggest impact on process performance and determine the root causes.
What is Improve?
Develop improvement solutions for the critical X’s.
What is Control?
Implement the solution and control plan.
What are the critical enablers?
- Project Selection
- Project Sponsorship
- Tollgate Reviews
What are the different methodologies?
PDCA, 7-Step, TOPS-8D, DMAIC
What is the relationship between the different methodologies?
All methods basically do the same thing, although with different focus:
- PDCA has only a single phase (Plan) to cover many activities
- TOPS-8D includes a specific phase of ‘Contain the Symptom’ particularly relevant when dealing with suppliers
- DMAIC has a stronger data focus, and is not very clear on the actual implementation of the improvement
How to select a project?
- Use pilot projects
- Aim at low hanging fruit. (easiest one to solve)
- Feasible projects
- Business results with limited investments.
- Data available.
- High probability of success.
