How can project managers benefit from Lean Six Sigma?

This could be a very short article. A lean one if you will. Watch this: project managers benefit from Lean Six Sigma because it combines the efficiency of the Lean-methodology with the quality management methods of Six Sigma.

Applying Lean Six Sigma systematically improves the output quality of a process by eliminating waste (Lean) and using statistics and data to identify and remove any part of it that doesn’t contribute to the best end result (Six Sigma). With Lean Six Sigma you can determine which parts of the project are the most valuable resulting in maximum efficiency.

That pretty much sums it up. But we won’t leave it at that. What is it about Lean Six Sigma specifically that makes any project a success? For the answer to this question, we would like to introduce one of the most used tools in Lean Six Sigma: DMAIC. But first, an overview of Lean Six Sigma.

Lean Six Sigma is a powerful management tool that centers on continuous improvement. It consists of Lean (which focuses on gaining speed and efficiency and taking waste out of a process) and Six Sigma (which focuses on effectiveness and the removal of errors). There are several levels of Lean Six Sigma which are called belts. Just like in martial arts, they range from Yellow Belt all the way up to Black Belt.

Lean Six Sigma was developed at major companies like Motorola and Toyota and has since developed into a global method used widely in industrial, manufacturing and public service sectors. Huge improvements to business performance and processes have been attributed to Lean Six Sigma over the decades.

Whilst particularly popular in certain industries, Lean Six Sigma is universally applicable; it has the potential to benefit businesses across all industries and services.

DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. It is a structured and proven method within Lean Six Sigma for the optimization of processes. Every phase in the DMAIC cycle has its own tools and every phase contributes to the end result. DMAIC helps organizations to identify the root causes of errors, take those away, and with that improve the quality of the process as a whole.

The key to DMAIC, and Lean Six Sigma projects in general, is that it is very important to always keep the formula Y=f(x) in mind. That is a mathematical formula that says the result of a process, Y, is the result of multiple variables, the x’s. So if you know the Y, you always know what the result of a certain phase has to be.

The x can be any variable, from order volume to the distance between workstations, to the date. Each one of these can have an impact on Y. The purpose of DMAIC is to use statistics and data to determine which one of the x’s has the most impact. Once this is done, we can use one of the many tools in our toolbox to optimize this variable in a measurable way and improve the quality of the entire process.

Now imagine using a method like DMAIC to go through each element of a process using proven tools. Thanks to the use of data and statistics you are certain that the right issue is being tackled. The structured nature of the method practically guarantees results! That makes DMAIC one of the ways project managers can benefit from Lean Six Sigma.

Do you want to apply the DMAIC approach to your organization? Do you want to systematically improve your projects using a proven method? All it takes is a Green Belt training in which you will learn all the instruments in the DMAIC toolbox.

More information on Lean Six Sigma training and certification from APMG and Lean Six Sigma Academy.