Lean Six Sigma is an altered form of Six Sigma Training, but also a process all its own in many capacities. Knowing the vital differences that come with Lean can prove to add more to your quality improvement projects than you might have thought possible. There are basic fundamentals of Six Sigma that will not be absent in the Lean process, but there are also a few additions to the process that make it what it is.
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: This category includes any employee that is not pulling their weight, thus slowing the process down. It also includes anyone without a specific job function within the process.
-Defects: Any product or process that is not working properly. Before they can be eliminated, however, they will require a fixable solution.
-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: You never want to have to much of something before it is needed. This can get in the way of a well-organized operation.
-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: When you are moving people around and it is not necessary to do so. An example of this would be, when a clinic send a patient that has an appointment to triage. Instead the patient should be going 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: Process Waste refers to any that a company requires to be complete, however it has no impact on the process, product or service that the company offers.
Understanding these waste products will enhance the quality improvement projects that you approach using Lean Six Sigma processes.
Create the most of your business skills with six sigma training. Getting green belt six sigma will benefit yourself in addition to your business. To learn more stop by www.sixsigmaonline.org.
