Lean Six Sigma

What is Lean Six Sigma?

Lean Six Sigma is a globally recognised and widely applicable system – both for process improvement and for re-designs and new designs for products, processes and/or services.

Lean Six Sigma combines customer requirements, process performance and team strength. The system is a common thread, an error prevention mechanism and a navigation system at the same time and ensures that the essential components of a requirements-oriented approach are considered and one-sided local sub-optimisations are avoided. KEY VALUES uses Lean Six Sigma in consulting projects and also trains certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow, Green, Black and Master Black Belts. Decision-makers also learn about the possibilities of a stringent implementation of Lean Six Sigma in corresponding sponsor workshops.

What does Lean Six Sigma entail?

Lean Six Sigma opens up perspectives and opportunities for targeted problem solving in production and administrative processes and uses a combined approach of Lean Management and Six Sigma. New perspectives and possibilities arise from the systematic processing of improvement initiatives according to the DMAIC methodology:

• The Define phase generates a common understanding of the project, the objectives, the boundaries and key customer requirements
• The Measure phase generates a common understanding of relevant process performance and capabilities
• The Analyse phase generates a common understanding of process problems and inefficiencies and focuses on key causes
• The Improve phase generates a common understanding of relevant solutions for targeted process improvement
• The Control phase generates a common understanding of mechanisms for sustainable implementation

Lean Six Sigma can also secure the path from an idea to a concrete and marketable innovation – by means of Design for Six Sigma, or DfSS for short. A step-by-step approach within the framework of DfSS (DMADV phase model) provides a clear and reproducible thread in the project work and ensures efficient use of resources. The focus here is on re-designs and new designs for products, processes and/or services:

• The Define phase defines opportunities and possibilities that an innovation project offers for the market and the company
• The Measure phase identifies relevant markets and customer groups and shows how central requirements can be determined, specified and quantified
• The Analyse phase derives alternative design concepts, considers relevant innovation impulses and ensures the best design concept through continuous customer interaction
• The Design phase provides navigation and guidance to further develop a design concept into a detailed detailed detailed design for products, processes and services
• Finally, the Verify phase defines how to reliably prepare for a market launch or rollout

What are the advantages of Lean Six Sigma?

• Red thread and navigation for process improvements and design projects (re-designs and new designs for products, processes and/or services)
• Avoidance of local sub-optimisation and creation of a common understanding of customer requirements, process performance and development tasks
• Sustainable change in relevant process performance instead of just short-term effects
• Focusing on cultural levers to win, motivate and engage teams and stakeholders

Brief description of Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training

The Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt is an active co-creator and driver of process change. He supports necessary optimisation projects and brings in his process expertise in order to jointly achieve corresponding project goals in the team. A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt is therefore an important multiplier for Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement thinking in the company. A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt receives a profound insight into the DMAIC methodology and is thus enabled to participate in corresponding improvement projects.

Brief description of Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt as a project manager is a navigator and driver of change in his or her direct business environment. Changes result from the systematic processing of optimisation projects according to Lean Six Sigma and the DMAIC methodology. Supported by the systematic approach, the Green Belt gains new perspectives on problem solving in both the production and administrative environment and sharpens his view for a common understanding of all those involved.

A common understanding of the necessity of optimisation projects, the exact delimitation, relevant customer requirements, corresponding process services and central causes that need to be dealt with in the long term. For this purpose, not only the technical knowledge but also the necessary cultural levers are considered and conveyed in the training in order to be able to win over, motivate and involve those involved in the necessary changes for process optimisation. In addition to the DMAIC methodology, a Green Belt also gains an insight into Design for Six Sigma (DfSS).

Brief description of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is an upgrade format and requires the Green Belt qualification. It is the central navigator and driver of change. He takes on more extensive optimisation projects and leads interdisciplinary teams methodically and systematically to achieve the respective project goals. He also takes on a central role in the supervision and further development of Green Belts and thus represents an important multiplier for Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement thinking in the company.

An in-depth consideration of Lean Six Sigma (DMAIC methodology) provides the Black Belt with a methodical orientation through the optimisation project and ensures that the essential components of a requirements-driven process optimisation are considered and one-sided local sub-optimisations are avoided. For a Black Belt, however, in addition to technical knowledge, cultural levers and organisational drivers and barriers are relevant and important in order to be able to convince and create acceptance at both project and organisational level. In addition to the DMAIC methodology, a Black Belt also receives an in-depth insight into Design for Six Sigma (DfSS).

Brief description of Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt training

The Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt requires appropriate certification and experience as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. A Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt is a methodology expert, communicator and sparring partner for teams, project leaders and management. He is the central driver in the topics of project identification and potential assessment and assumes a central function in multi-project management of optimisation and development projects. In a supervisory and advisory role, a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt ensures that conflicting goals at various levels can be identified and avoided at an early stage. Training to become a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt therefore focuses on an expanded central role as coach, mentor and trainer and also considers Lean Six Sigma in the context of customer-centred agile methods.

In his function, a Master Black Belt thus takes on a kind of “triple jump” and should be able to build competences and impart knowledge. As a coach and mentor, he should also be able to positively reinforce, motivate and give the right impulses to project leaders. A detailed end-to-end understanding of innovation from the early idea to successful implementation with Design for Six Sigma (DfSS) rounds off his portfolio of methods and competencies and ensures that he can also provide targeted added value in this area.

We would be happy to talk to you about Lean Six Sigma training, upcoming dates and projects.

Two of our consultants are considered leading experts in Lean and Six Sigma in Germany and are co-authors of the standard work in the field of Lean and Six Sigma.