Every project manager has the same fundamental goal: to optimize workflow and reduce superfluous or repeated duties so that projects may be planned and executed as quickly as feasible. On the other hand, project managers have various options for achieving their goals.
If you have read articles on process improvement approaches, you have noticed that project management philosophy is dominated by two schools of thought: the Lean method and the Six Sigma approach. The Lean technique emphasizes the significance of eliminating any waste. Six Sigma is a tried-and-true project management method based on data. The Lean Six Sigma approach is the result of combining these two ideas. Learn about the lean six sigma green belt principles and apply this to perfect your team in future aspects.
What Is Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma certifications set professionals apart in many ways. With the growing demand for certified professionals, multiple governing bodies now offer training and certification. Six sigma green belt certification cost has also been a point of interest in recent times.
The greatest aspect of both Lean and Six Sigma is combined in Lean Six Sigma. It eliminates process waste while simultaneously establishing a foundation for corporate cultural transformation. Using the Lean Six Sigma approach, managers' and employees' mindsets may be altered to focus on development and continuous improvement. Greater organizational efficiency and profitability result from this shift in culture and thinking.
Lean vs Six Sigma
The goal of lean approach is to eliminate as much waste as possible. The word "lean" was invented by one inventor in the 1980s after it was developed in Japan under the leadership of other inventors.
Six sigma is a data-driven process improvement methodology that includes tools and procedures. Motorola engineers created Six Sigma as a productivity measurement standard in the 1980s. is a data-driven process improvement methodology that includes tools and procedures. Motorola engineers created Six Sigma as a productivity measurement standard in the 1980s.
If you wish to use Lean Six Sigma ideas, you must modify your culture. The core of Lean Six Sigma tells us to improve the process from the ground up and bring it to the best standardization practices. There is no single method to achieve this, as Lean Six Sigma is a framework on which you need to build the systems. The first thing is to analyze the current processes and where we are not doing the best. Everyone in the organization must adopt the lean six sigma framework.
It has several advantages, including process improvement, defect and variation reduction, zero waste, standardization, data-driven informed decision making, team cooperation, accountability, and statistical methodologies to regulate product or service production. Apply Six Sigma and Lean principles to the processes to improve, optimize, standardize, repeat, and adapt them.
Key Principles or Goals of Lean Six Sigma
The lean six sigma green belt principles are considered one of the most effective ways to execute a project. The five main principles or goals of Lean Six Sigma are as follows:
- Concentrate on the consumer.
- Create a value stream diagram.
- To promote flow, garbage must be removed.
- Stay connected with your colleagues.
- Create a culture of adaptability and change.
Concentrate on the Customer
Your clients must always come first, no matter your industry. Customers and their requirements should be at the core of any product or service. Before making any adjustments, no matter how reserved the adjustment is, you should always ensure that the quality and requirements given to clients are met. After all, no business could exist without clients.
Create a value stream diagram
It is vital to understand all of the processes involved in a process before deciding to delete or enhance it. A comprehensive process is necessary to establish which phases bring value and which do not. A value stream, a flowchart that depicts and analyses the precise phases in a process, is one approach to achieve this.
Here is an example of a value stream for a community hospital. The value stream lists all of the actions done after a patient reaches the hospital. This simplifies the procedure for everyone involved and improves the patient experience.
You can visually spot the difficulties once you have mapped out all of the operations involved in the value stream.
To promote flow, garbage must be removed
According to lean methodology concepts, there are eight sorts of waste: flaws, overpopulation, underutilized talent, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion, and unnecessary processing.
The Lean Six Sigma ideas promote a culture of waste accountability and ownership. While removing all rubbish at once may be tempting, this should be done in conjunction with a constant review process.
Six Sigma aims to eliminate variance while increasing standardization. The following Six Sigma ideas can help you reduce waste:
- Maintain a record of your processes.
- Best practices should be identified and disseminated.
- Make process checklists so everyone is on the same page and follows the same procedures.
- Make certain that everyone gets the same instruction.
- Templates and forms might be helpful.
- Anything monotonous, boring, or prone to errors should be automated.
Stay connected with your colleagues
It is critical to properly convey the new standards and procedures while executing any change. Every employee should receive training and be encouraged to submit feedback.
Here are some ideas for efficient communication with your team:
- Set up a knowledge base or enhance your current knowledge management system.
- Create process maps to demonstrate to employees the changes made to their workflow.
- Employees and stakeholders should be able to access the process simply based on their individual roles.
- Update the knowledge base for customer service.
Create a culture of adaptability and change
The Lean six sigma green belt principles entail a lot of change. As a result, you must also urge staff to accept change. The fundamental point of Lean Six Sigma is to embrace a culture shift. You should also be able to dispel employees' anxieties and misconceptions about change by providing them with relevant data.
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Why Lean Six Sigma Principles Are Gaining Popularity?
Every company's success depends on its ability to collect and analyze business and customer data. It offers a firm a competitive advantage and allows for more internal innovation and expansion. As a result, six sigma green belt certification costs are in great demand to aid businesses with data analysis.
The four Lean Six Sigma belts are Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. To begin learning, you can utilize any of these belts. KnowledgeHut six sigma green belt certification will be a perfect place to start, if you are looking for a better position in the business hierarchy, most companies prefer candidates who have at least a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
What You Should Do Next
Lean Six Sigma is one of the most financially rewarding job paths accessible today. Six Sigma Green Belt certification course will teach you the fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma and provide you with the skills necessary for an organization's success. You will be able to discover how to assess existing firm performance, uncover process flaws, and devise remedies.
Conclusion
The lean approach focuses on waste reduction, whereas Six Sigma focuses on process reduction. On the other hand, both techniques are crucial for process improvements, resource optimization, and increased customer satisfaction.
Lean Six Sigma levels are gaining traction in various industries, where they play an important role. During six sigma improvement efforts, their roles and tasks are beneficial. So you have to adopt Lean Six Sigma principles in your company.
