The Lean and Six Sigma methodologies have been around for a long time, however when most people think about or talk about Lean Six Sigma, they are usually referring to its use in manufacturing. Although manufacturing is the forefront for applying these principles, many overlook the benefits of applying them to other industries and services. […]
Why Get Lean Six Sigma Training Online?
Education has made a major shift into online courses and degree programs over the last few years. Completing training and certifications online for Lean and Six Sigma has never been easier and more convenient. One major reason online training programs have caught on is because of their ability to allow students to learn on their […]
When the Company is not Ready for Change, Continuous Improvement Programs Fail
Most of the Six Sigma or Lean programs that have failed can be attributed to the fact that the company was not ready to implement. Both Six Sigma and Lean requires that the right continuous improvement infrastructure is put in place before the program is launched. Any continuous improvement initiative is going to fail if […]
Why Continuous Improvement Programs Fail- Leadership Support
Leadership Support: If there is one factor that can make or break a successful continuous improvement program, it is top level leadership support. In an article titled “Lean Manufacturing’s Next Life” that was published in ChiefExecutive.Net, the CEO of a sixty-year-old family owned company, WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE that has significantly reduced manufacturing lead times […]
8 Lean Process Wastes
In any company there are processes that need improvement. Wasteful activities exist everywhere, from the manufacturing floor, to the HR department. In order to improve business processes, companies must identify activities that are non-value add activities, a key lean concept. By identifying these non-value add activities, companies can improve and provide higher quality value of […]
Continuous Improvement in the ITIL World
Continuous Improvement in the ITIL World ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a framework for Information Technology Service Management or ITSM and IT Operations. The first set of best in class practices and recommendations were put together in the 1980s by the UK Government’s Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency to manage the growth and dependence […]
Continuous Improvement in the CMMI, PMBOK, and ISO World
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) CMMI is a capability model developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) along with a group of government and industry representatives and is defined as a “non-prescriptive collections of best practices that infuse quality into products through the use of better processes throughout the entire product life cycle.” This model […]
Continuous Improvement In The Scor World
Continuous Improvement in the SCOR World Supply Chain Operations Reference Model (or SCOR) is the world’s “most widely accepted framework for evaluating and comparing supply chain activities and their performance.” The model was established and is maintained by the Supply Chain Council which is a global non-profit organization made up of “all organizations interested in […]
Change Management Models: William Bridges’ Three Phase Transition
In order for leaders to better manage their teams for continuous improvement initiatives, it is important for them to implement a change management model. Let us take a look at one of the most commonly applied change models in the industry William Bridges’ Three Phase Transition Model: This is another popular change management model that […]
Change Management Models: ADKAR
In a previous post, we discussed change management and it’s importance for continuous improvement initiatives. The following is one change management model that can help leaders manage their teams. Let us take a look at one of the most commonly applied change models in the industry ADKAR®: The ADKAR® change management framework is based on the […]