Lean Six Sigma - Main Principles

As I have been attending a 2 days training to present main principles of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methods, I would like to summarize and share with you the main points I have learned.

Scope of the methods: Improve processes in order to get better quality and fast delivery at minimal cost.

The LSS methods is a set of tool based on statistic analysis. This will enable you to simulate and measure variation on processes to ameliorate them. The first tool we use was the DMAIC. DMAIC stands for:

• Define
• Measure
• Analyse
• Improve
• Control

This tool basically sum up the methods itself. By following the steps one after the other, you will be able to trigger your improvement, measure it and set new targets.

By doing lots of group working at the training, you can directly see that for the same question, people answer may be different. This is also one factor the LSS methods use: the group dynamics. People factor is in any case one of the most important factor when you put in place processes. It is unfortunately very difficult to control and sometimes even unpredictable. By applying LSS methods, you may better know and minimize the impact of the Group Dynamics. As defined in the method: Dynamics + People = Soul. This is the heart of your process.

On the second day we focused on Root Cause Analysis. First tool we used is 5 Ms:

• Man (Persons)
• Machine (PC)
• Materials
• Methods
• Mother Nature (Environment)

By defining the 5 Ms you shall be able to dress the skeleton of your Fish Bone Diagram:

This cause and effect diagram will enable you to model the influencing factors on your process. The 5 Ws tool can help you to complete the previous representation. 5 Ws stands for:

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Which?

This is now time to go back to the root cause by applying the 5 Whys method. Starting from a problem statement (defined from the previous methods), you need to ask 5 times consequently Why this problem happened. By doing that and going to the different direction of the Fish Bone Diagram you have built, you should find at least one root cause for each branch.

The whole LSS method raise the question what do we do to make sure the process goes compliant? Well, having thought of it and after having set your target, you may use one last tool to execute and test your process: Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). Used to design a product or service, it will be useful to execute your process and analyze potential human errors.

To conclude, these 2 days LSS certification were a very good introduction to the method and few tools. I am looking forward to continue the certification and go more in details during Green Belt certification.

Thibaut