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Sometimes you have to break something down into the smallest possible pieces before you can make it right. Process mapping is one of the first major steps when adopting six sigma, so it’s something business leaders should learn to love. Depicting workflow and processes in a visual format sets the stage for defining, understanding and […]

Overview: What is a whisker? We need to do a quick review of a box plot before discussing a whisker. The box plot, also referred to as a box and whiskers plot, was introduced in 1970 by American statistician, Dr. John Tukey.  A box plot consists of two parts, a box, and a set of […]

What is Null Hypothesis? Statistical information without context or contrast is meaningless. Anyone looking at a data set can find connections and discover patterns, but they’ll probably end up drawing all kinds of wrong conclusions. That’s why statisticians have to examine the data from two different perspectives and always consider how the information they are […]

You just did some statistical analysis, but your results don’t make sense to you. Did you capture all the variables you needed or is there something you missed? Maybe there is a lurking variable.

The three descriptors that can be used to describe the variation or dispersion of your data are the standard deviation, variance and range. The range is the easiest to calculate, but not the most useful in describing the variation of your data.

You have probably heard of the Pareto Principle and used a Pareto Chart. Since it is one of the 7 QC Tools, let’s explore this topic in a little more detail.

The median strip in the road runs down the middle so half the road is on one side and the other half on the other side. Does the statistical median do the same thing? 

If you wanted to improve the gas mileage of your car, what factors would you look at to do that? How would you measure the impact or effect of those factors? Computing the main effect could answer your question.

What is Critical To Quality? Critical to quality refers to the things necessary for a company to have in place in order to meet the needs of the customer. It is the attribute of a process or service that has a direct impact on its real or perceived quality. The Benefits of Critical To Quality […]

What is Lead Time? Lead time is the amount of time that it takes to get a product or service completed for a customer, from the time of ordering until completion of delivery. A lot of factors can figure into the amount of lead time. Some factors include supplier back-up, other orders that need fulfilling, […]

Dr. Mikel Harry is often credited with adapting the martial art concept of belt rankings to Lean Six Sigma (LSS). The hierarchy of belts indicates the level of training, competency, and acquisition of skills. While different organizations may have different names and colors for the levels of expertise in LSS, the following represents the most […]

The rock band, Queen, celebrated Champions with these lyrics; “We are the champions…. my friends….And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end….We are the champions….We are the champions….No time for losers….’Cause we are the champions….Of the world.”  Lean Six Sigma also has its Champions. Let’s learn more about them. Role of the Champion While Lean […]

Buffers are basic protection for businesses, but going too big can be a major source of waste.

Does the term Master Black Belt sound pretty impressive? It should, because it is the highest level of achievement and expertise in Lean Six Sigma. Let’s explore the role of a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and how you can attain that pinnacle of success. Role of the Master Black Belt As you can […]

Will having a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt allow you to break bricks and beat up other people? Probably not, but it will help you remove waste, analyze data and improve processes in your organization. Let’s see what a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt does and how you can become one. Role of the Black […]

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is where your more advanced training and certification begins. If you are already a White or Yellow Belt, you have learned some of the basic concepts of Lean Six Sigma. Green Belt is where your learning really takes off. Role of the Green Belt The hierarchy of Lean Six Sigma […]

You are ready to start your Lean Six Sigma journey but where do you start? White Belt training and certification is the entry point into learning about Lean Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma White Belt training and certification If your organization is deploying a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) initiative, and you can participate in White […]

Organizations have been deploying and implementing Lean Six Sigma for decades. Yet, there are still many questions on how someone can get formally trained and certified in the tools, methodologies and philosophy of Lean Six Sigma. This article will be the first in a series to answer some of the most common questions about Lean […]

After completing your training and certification for White Belt, your next step might be to advance to Yellow Belt training and certification. Let’s see what’s involved with that. Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training and certification As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Yellow Belt (YB), you will gain some basic knowledge and learn some skills […]

D-MAGICS is a sub-methodology within Lean Six Sigma for improving processes. It aims to make the DMAIC tool easier to successfully execute by emphasizing the importance of grasping the existence of the problems and realistically sustaining the corrections.

Getting recommendations from others for your Lean Six Sigma training and certification is a good strategy. But given all the variation in available programs, it is a good idea to have a list of criteria to compare your recommendations. Here is a list to get you started. What is the best Lean Six Sigma training […]

Taking Lean Six Sigma training and getting certified will cost you time and money. Is it worth it? Will you earn more money with the additional credential of a Lean Six Sigma belt? Let’s check it out.

If you are being Lean Six Sigma trained and certified by your employer, the cost should not be a concern for you. But what if you must pay for it by yourself? Cost may then be important. Let’s explore the variation in cost for being LSS trained and certified.

Do you like to take classes in a physical classroom or virtually on a computer? This is a significant decision since Lean Six Sigma training and certification can be achieved either way. Let’s examine the plus and minus of each format.

Would you be happy if your doctor received her MD from an unknown and unaccredited medical school? Probably not. What about your CPA or attorney? Again, probably not. For the same reason, your employer wouldn’t be happy with your Lean Six Sigma certification if it was awarded by an unknown organization with a poor reputation […]

There are two steps to earn a martial arts belt. First, you must be trained in the various techniques and then you must demonstrate your skills and knowledge. The same holds true for Lean Six Sigma training and certification. Let’s learn a little more. What is Lean Six Sigma training and certification? In martial arts, […]

If you have an ordered list and the numbers need to be ranked, having ties can make things difficult. Thankfully, there is a simple solution for addressing this.

In business, it is important to know if your company is reaching its potential as far as how much of your product or service is successfully getting to your customers. One way is to look at your throughput and see if there is room for improvement. 

It is crucial to know that you have the appropriate resources available to meet the needs of a project. It is also important to know when you need to turn a project down or if you can adequately increase your resources in order to approve a new opportunity. Knowing the capacity of your team can help.

Productivity is a measurement of business efficiency that compares the ratio of output with input.

Getting a project nominated for recognition is a massive accomplishment for a Six Sigma-adhering project. Having an understanding of the nomination process is necessary to get it to that point.

Beginning a new process may require approval. This may also be necessary whenever there is a change desired to an existing process. Retaining documentation of this approval is important for everyone involved in the process, including the owner, contractor, and any employees.

FIFO is an acronym for “first in, first out.” It functions to ensure a steady material flow, which is essential in any lean manufacturing process. Find out more about it.

Some processes are more important than others. CBRs are the ones you simply can’t do without.

Knowing the availability of your product or service to meet demand is an absolutely crucial part of doing business.

A vital position in companies with high production rates to ensure products or services meet expected standards.

Value is the goal of Lean Six Sigma and is the reason for its existence. Value is what the customer wants, and it’s what a company needs to provide in order to be successful.

A thought process map (TMAP) is a tool used to help you learn, remember, and teach others. Using a TMAP allows you to organize information in a clear and concise way so that it can be easily understood by others, even if they are not familiar with the subject matter. This is beneficial for both training purposes as well as project management purposes.

Process control is a principle that you can use to help you manage your processes more effectively. The goal of process control is to make sure that what your employees do every day is done using the same set of steps or standards so they can get better at their job. Process control helps organizations […]

When you complete the steps of a process, there is an outcome. There is a name for this outcome which will be discussed below.

A key production statistic derived from comparing the number of defects to number of total units.

Short description: Do you want to succeed? The best way to do so is by using metrics. Using Lean Six Sigma metrics ensures that you get the most important tasks done first and makes you a stronger company in the long run.

A professional and formal report pertaining to the quality of a particular sample of a physical or technical product.

Prioritizing properly is key to a project’s success. There are many tools available in order to accomplish this. A characteristic selection matrix is one of them. 

When there is a need to look beyond continuous improvement methods, there is a concept that takes looking at workflow even further.

When there are too many items on a menu you can get confused by the variety of choices. Getting Lean Six Sigma trained and certified can also be confusing. Let’s discuss some of your options.

In every business, there are times when processes need improvement. In fact, continuous improvement should be a goal for you and your team. One well-known process improvement procedure for those working towards Sigma levels is DMAIC. Below we will be exploring another one.

A project needs to have clear boundaries and parameters that establish its scope. Any tool that can help your team understand and agree as to what is included and what is excluded from your project saves a lot of headaches during project implementation.

Not all data is collected equally. Passive data is information collected without direct input from the participant and can provide substantial insight into key processes.

Understanding normal probability helps us make better decisions. By being able to calculate expected values and percentiles, we can put our past experience into context and gain knowledge that will help us make better decisions in the future.