Value-added time is an extremely important concept to study if you’re trying to optimize the flow of any process or system of processes, and it has special value in some specific environments. Typically, areas where response time is critical tend to benefit more from a stronger approach to this factor, and healthcare […]
PDSA vs DMAIC: When to Use Each Problem Solving Technique
There are various techniques that can be used to drive process improvement and solve problems in your organization’s workflow. Some are more complex than others, and some require a specific set of circumstances for their use to really make sense. In any case, it’s important for you as a leader to recognize the kinds […]
5 Steps to Effective Poka-Yoke (Mistake-Proofing)
Poka-yoke is a technique that aims to prevent operator mistake, or at least minimize it down to acceptable levels. It’s based on the philosophy that human error cannot be completely avoided no matter what one does, while on the other hand, it’s also impossible to prevent mistakes arising from other reasons, so it doesn’t make […]
5 Unique Challenges Seen in the Transactional Environment
Working in the transactional environment can present many unique problems for an organization to overcome, and a competent leader must learn to recognize them and possess the skills to overcome them. This can sometimes be particularly challenging, for example in cases of leaders who’re more used to working in a manufacturing environment and therefore familiar […]
What is the Difference Between Process Capability and Process Performance?
Process capability and process performance are both useful indicators for determining the current performance of your organization. However, they are quite different in nature and a common problem among leaders is that they end up confusing them a great deal of the time in their analysis, leading to mistakes that can be easily avoided. It’s […]
Improving the Productivity of the AEC Industry Through Six Sigma
The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry has gone through some very significant stages of improvement in the last few decades, but it’s very likely that we’re barely scratching the surface of what’s possible. This is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors, and it makes sense that we keep coming up with […]
Practicing Operational Excellence Within Facilities Management
Operational excellence refers to the idea of satisfying the demands of the customer, while ensuring that the organization fully applies all principles and methodologies related to its field of work and utilizes their potential as best as possible. An organization must also strive for sustainability in its growth in the context of operational excellence, and […]
Can Lean Six Sigma Principles Improve Clinical Research?
Clinical research is a constantly evolving field, and one of the areas that sees the most rapid development and interest from all sides. It makes sense that new methodologies would come up on a regular basis, building on what we’ve learned and improving the current system in certain ways. And among those, adopting lean and […]
3 Best Practices to Reduce Changeover Time
Reducing the changeover time in your main production practices is a great way to ensure that more time is spent contributing to productive tasks, and that a minimal amount of waste is generated in the course of the job. There are many ways to approach this problem, and the solution would ultimately depend strongly on […]
How to Use Lean Six Sigma Principles to Optimize Facility Planning
Planning ahead is critical when you’re designing your company’s facilities, and there are some common mistakes that sadly seem to get repeated far too often even in modern companies. Understanding how Six Sigma can help you in this stage of your company’s setup can be very beneficial, even if you already consider yourself experienced with […]