Lean Six Sigma Bursts

In this episode, I share a topic that has come up when teaching Takt Time to my students. Takt time is the available time divided by the customer demand. It measures how fast each unit needs to be produced. Productivity is often a measure of the number of units produced in an hour. I explain how they are inverse numbers of each other, but why Takt Time is preferred. Learn more about BPI Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, I took a segment from my ⁠October webinar within the Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem platform⁠ , and wanted to share it as an episode. I also shared another segment in my last episode around creating classroom interactions (#144) In the webinar, I share some tips and tricks I've developed over my 30 years of teaching courses to adult learners. In this segment, I explain how important...

In this episode, I took a segment from my October webinar within the Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem platform , and wanted to share it as an episode. In the webinar, I share some tips and tricks I've developed over my 30 years of teaching courses to adult learners. This segment is focused on creating more interactions during class to make your classes more engaging and increase retention of the mater...

In this episode, I took a module from the Lean Six Sigma and the Environment course, and cleaned it up with AI to make it easier to listen to (due to background noise). I discuss an overview of Lean and Six Sigma and how companies can make bad decisions when only focused on cost reductions. I also share some examples of how Lean Six Sigma has helped companies To download the 40+ case studies I men...

In this episode, I took a module from the Lean Six Sigma and the Environment course, and cleaned it up with AI to make it easier to listen to (due to background noise). Earlier in the course, I discussed how Lean and Six Sigma could help reduce environmental impacts, sometimes without even trying. However, there are reasons why these impacts are overlooked in improvement methods, which I explain i...

In this episode, I discuss a big opportunity to improve success in your manufacturing facility, reducing equipment downtime. Most people are only focused on the lost labor when equipment isn't running, but what about the lost opportunity to produce valuable products that could be sold to a customer? If you're looking for a good improvement project, collecting data on your downtime and calc...

In this episode, I discuss an important concept in Six Sigma: Y = f(x) or Y is a function of x. Y is your measured output, and X represents the inputs to your process, and the function represents the process and how the X factors relate or impact the Y. Another way to state it is Inputs (X), Processes (Function) and Outputs (Y) or IPO. I explain how this concept can be used when thinking through y...

In this episode, I summarize 6 different types of projects you can use for a Lean Six Sigma certification Improve Quality Reduce Speed and Time Reduce Cost and Consumption of Resources Reduce Risk Improve Capacity and Flow Improve Experience and Satisfaction Ratings I also share examples of each across 4 industries: Manufacturing, Office, Government and Healthcare You can also read about these 6 t...

In this episode, I discuss a specific method for capturing process improvements using surveys, and how you can isolate the improvements so that the difference between survey participants doesn't hide the results. I also referenced a similar survey I conducted (Episode 77), where I shared the survey results at a company after implementing a daily huddle. You can check out episode #77 from June...

In this episode, I share a list of the simulations I use in my training classes to teach Lean and Six Sigma methods and techniques. To see the entire list, go to https://greenbeltcertification.com/lean-six-sigma-training-simulations/ If you'd like to attend the Green Belt with Copilot Part 2 webinar, I had to reschedule to April 13th. I'll go through ANOVA, DOE, Regression and other hypoth...

In this episode, I share the kickoff to last week's webinar called "Green Belt Refresher using Copilot - Part 1" where I do a quick refresher of the DMAIC roadmap taught in Green and Black Belt training programs. A good refresher for those who have previously taken a course, or for those new to DMAIC. To listen to the entire webinar, where I show how Copilot compares with Minitab for...

In this episode, I share the kickoff to last week's webinar called "Green Belt Refresher using Copilot - Part 1" where I discuss the reason for the webinar, and what the current challenges are with teaching Six Sigma with different statistical software packages. To listen to the entire webinar, where I show how Copilot compares with Minitab for graphical analysis, summary statistics,...

Next week on February 11th, I'll be holding a kickoff session for a training and coaching program with people who work at a nonprofit organization (or volunteer with one). The goal of the program is to teach the participant about Lean methods, then help them implement a project in their nonprofit organization so they can improve a process and earn a certification. You can learn more at https:/...

This episode is from an article I wrote a few months ago in response to questions about Six Sigma certification and the impact on your salary and promotions. In summary, a Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification can lead to: Higher average salaries Faster raises and promotions Broader career opportunities like leadership and consulting Improved problem solving skills that deliver real bus...

In the ⁠Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem⁠ , I have posted numerous courses over the past few months, and quite a few of them are free. If you're not aware, the  adoption of Lean in the healthcare industry  has been pretty dramatic over the past 20+ years. I took some of the best healthcare-specific Lean training videos I've used in my Lean Six Sigma courses and compiled them into one online course...

The following is the summary of the December 3rd webinar I presented called " Quality Improvement Tools for Food and Beverage Manufacturing " I just edited the webinar and turned it into a course in Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem . Although it is geared towards the food and beverage (F&B) industry, it is open to those from any industry looking to improve quality, reduce variation and incre...

In this podcast, I share details about a tool that I call "Process Log" but maybe you've heard it called something else. It's an approach to documenting changes, observations and other activities that happen in a work area on a daily basis, so you can reference them in the future. I also recommended checking out the Root Cause Analysis course, where you can learn about the 6 M&#3...

In this podcast, I share a module from the new Lean Six Sigma White Belt course I have recently released for free on the LeanSixSigmaEcosystem.com platform. This module describes a quick history of Lean (or Toyota Production System) and how it evolved from the US to Japan and back to the US. You can sign up for the free course at https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/c/lean-six-sigma-white-belt Le...

In this podcast, I share one of the articles I found from October 1992 about a government efficiency program at the State of Iowa, called Total Quality Government. I read through the article and share my thoughts about how it morphed into their modern improvement program. This article can be found at https://www.leansixsigmaforgood.com/new-tpm-management-techniques-might-mean-better-government-199...

In this podcast, I share a short presentation I gave about the concept of Lean Coffee this week. It is an informal meeting structure where participants brainstorm topics and vote on what gets discussed. An alternative to spending time planning and guessing what people want to talk about or learn. I also explain how it differs but is similar to an unconference. You can learn more about the origin o...

In this podcast, I share the second section of a course I'm creating for ⁠Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem⁠ called "Nonparametric Statistics" Nonparametrics are an alternative way of analyzing data, but instead of using means and standard deviations traditionally taught in Green Belt and Black Belt classes, it uses median and quartiles or percentiles. The calculations are simpler, and there...

In this podcast, I share the first two sections of a course I'm creating for Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem called "Nonparametric Statistics" Nonparametrics are an alternative way of analyzing data, but instead of using means and standard deviations traditionally taught in Green Belt and Black Belt classes, it uses median and quartiles or percentiles. The calculations are simpler, and ther...

In this podcast, I share the summary of a project I worked on almost 20 years, but is still relevant today. A grant was awarded to the Cedar Rapids (IA) community to study anticoagulation management using Lean and Six Sigma. One of the key analysis performed in the project was a Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R) study. We wanted to determine if blood samples taken from a patient on...

In this episode, I share a clip from the book chapter I wrote for "Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba" Volume 1. I explain how I used net promoter score (NPS) to assess the attendee feedback of a fundraising conference I helped organize. By the way, this entire podcast was spoken by my AI voice created by Eleven Labs. Links for this episode: Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons...

In this episode, I share a clip from the book chapter I wrote for "Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba" Volume 1. I explain how I used risk management methods to reduce the chance of problems when planning my first fundraising conference. By the way, this entire podcast was spoken by my AI voice created by Eleven Labs. Links for this episode: Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the G...