LSS METHODOLOGY

Each continous improvement project teaching path is made up of these activities:

DEFINE outlines the project sphere, describing evaluating process and specifying its Clients (from whom on gain knowledge about their requirements and specifics) as well as its suppliers. Project Team is launched in this step, in the same way as the Communication Plan and the Project Planning
MEASURE is focused on the process overview and the Value Stream Mapping definition. This step includes OUTPUT and INPUT indicators selection and assessment (once having validated related measuring system) activities: these allow to estimate the performance gap to the target range
ANALYZE points out, filters and gives performace gap root causes a priority, with a statistical model implementation that relates process INPUTS to their OUTPUTS
IMPROVE finds out and put in practice solutions that is modifies process structure to meet indicators target range by eliminating root causes. After this a new process Value Stream Map should be designed
CONTROL helps solutions to give the maximum result, introducing error-less routines, modifing opertive procedures and designing a Performance Control Plan. This step is performed by the Improving Team combined with the Provess Owner. Progressively, commitment is transferred to the latter
VALIDATE and SUSTAIN optional steps focuse their aim on process performance control to affirm Continous Improvement

Main tools LSS Belts learn to use follow:

DEFINE: Project Charter, Kano Analysis, SIPOC Map, EVA Analysis (Economic Value Added), RACI, Quad Charts, Gantt Charts, Pareto Analysis, Belbin Analysis, …
MEASURE: Value Stream Mapping, Process Cycle Lead Time and Efficiency, Data Collection Plan, Statistical Sampling, Measurement system Analysis and GAge R&R, Control Charts, Normality Test, Process Capability Analysis, …
ANALYZE: Cause and Effect Analysis, FMEA, Hypothesis Test, Confidential Intervals, Simple and Multiple Regression, ANOVA, Queuing Theory, Process Constraint identification and Takt Analysis, …
IMPROVE: Replenishment Pull, Stocking Strategy, Kanban, Process Flow Improvement and Balancing, Analytical Batch Sizing, Maintenance Excellence, DOE (Design Of Experiments), Solution Selection Matrix, Piloting and Simulating, …
CONTROL: Mistake Proofing and Zero Defects, Process Control Plan, Statistical Process Control, Project Transition Model, Team feedback Session to extend and duplicate solutions, …