Lean Six Sigma: Problem Solving Methodology
A.R.M. Asiqun Noman, PMP, CSSBB, CSM, ITIL
Project Management | Digital Transformation |Process Improvement | RPA and AI | Business Excellence | Trainer & Consultant
Our profitability is decreasing year to year, need to increase revenue and optimize cost to stay in the business. Our customers are dissatisfied with our products or services. Our number of defects are increasing day by day. We can’t complete our projects on time. Our customers are not happy with our existing delivery time. Our recruitment process lead time is so high compare to industry benchmark. We can’t produce our month-end account closing report on-time. Everyday business leaders are facing these types of challenges and their survival depend on how efficiently they can solve these.
Thus, how to solve these and remain profitable. There are many tools, helping organizations to improve productivity and quality to become world class. Among these most proven tools are Lean, and Six Sigma and Lead Six Sigma focus on profitability. The first one has been originated from Japan and second one from USA. Now-a-days, both are practicing together and called Lean Six Sigma. Lean helps organizations to improve efficiencies of operations (Processes), on the other hand Six Sigma works with effectiveness.
How they work? These are mainly a set of tools & techniques, which can be using individually, but we can obtain most effective result when these tools & techniques are used in a systematic way under Six Sigma methodology. Six Sigma methodology has two sub-methodologies, among these DMAIC is using for improvement.
DMAIC has five phases and through these five phases, it provides a sustainable improvement of any problems. The full form of DMAIC is:
- Define – Defining the problem and business opportunity.
- Measure – Asses the current state of the problem and process.
- Analyze – Identify and determine the root cause(s).
- Improve – Eliminating the root cause(s) or reducing the effect of root cause(s).
- Control – Provide a mechanism so the result/improvement sustain.
Thus, we can say even a doctor using the same methodology, when helping a patient to cure.
P.S.: Some day we will discuss how six sigma is a strategy and what are the criteria for successful implementation.
Strategy & Architecture Executive | Author & Lecturer | Led the successful implementation of complex projects with budgets exceeding $500 million
6 年Lean Six Sigma has some good principles, processes & tools that are useful in improving efficiency and alignment to your customers. I would recommend though that prior to using it it's important to get your Vision and Value Proposition right - I find tools like the Business Motivation Model, Customer Value Canvas & Customer Empathy Map are good for this.?