How do you design experiments in lean manufacturing to incorporate customer feedback?

1 Define the problem

Before you design any experiment, you need to have a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve or the opportunity you are trying to seize. You need to identify the customer needs, expectations, and pain points that are relevant to your product or process. You also need to define the metrics and criteria that will measure the success of your experiment. A useful tool for defining the problem is the problem statement, which summarizes the current situation, the desired situation, and the gap between them.

3 Design the experiment

After you have generated hypotheses, you need to design the experiment that will test them. You need to decide on the type, scope, and duration of the experiment, as well as the data collection and analysis methods. You also need to consider the ethical, legal, and operational implications of the experiment. Some of the common types of experiments in lean manufacturing are A/B testing, split testing, multivariate testing, and factorial design. You can use tools such as the experimental design matrix or the plan-do-check-act cycle to plan and execute your experiment.

5 Communicate and implement results

The final step of designing experiments in lean manufacturing is to communicate and implement the results of your experiment. You need to share your findings, conclusions, and recommendations with your stakeholders, such as customers, managers, and team members. You also need to implement the changes or improvements that your experiment suggested, and monitor their impact and performance. You can use tools such as reports, presentations, dashboards, or feedback loops to communicate and implement your results.