What is Lean Six Sigma?

WHAT IS LEAN SIX SIGMA?

A guide to the process improvement methodology that transforms organizations

Executive Education

WHAT IS LEAN SIX SIGMA? Lean Six Sigma is a combination of two powerful process improvement methodologies: Lean and Six Sigma.

Six Sigma

Lean Focuses on decreasing nonvalue-added activities and process waste

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Lean Six Sigma

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Focuses on reducing process variation and identifying and solving the root cause of problems

A process improvement methodology that people at all levels of education can very successfully use to solve problems and improve processes

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING IT? Lean Six Sigma brings standardization and process improvement to an organization. Anyone can learn it and participate on teams for improvement.

Project length from start to completion decreases

Institutional costs of quality decrease

Process times decrease

Inventory costs decrease

Lean Six Sigma increases revenue and reduces costs, while freeing up resources that can be utilized toward any endeavor your organization wishes to pursue, including: A new product or service

Expanding your workforce

Other improvement projects

HOW DOES IT WORK? The strength of Lean Six Sigma is in the discipline and guidance of the DMAIC roadmap, that details important steps often missed when solving problems. Once an organization learns the DMAIC roadmap and tools, it allows for standardization of process improvement events, meaning everyone who undertakes process improvements will do it the same way.

Define

Fully understand and document the problem through business case data.

Measure

Identify the critical process variables, and collect and analyze baseline data. This is where we begin to understand the problem and build theories about the root cause.

Analyze

Confirmation of theories and root cause of the problem.

Improve

Identification and implementation of targeted solutions only after confirmation that solutions will not bring risk to the process or related processes.

Control

Documentation of the plan to sustain changes ensuring the same problem will not reoccur.

U NIVERSITY OF U TAH D AV I D E C C L E S S C H O O L O F BUSIN ESS

EXECUTI VE EDUCATI ON

WHO BENEFITS FROM USING IT? All organizations and individuals involved in Lean Six Sigma benefit through involvement in a program that allows for problem solving that results in real and sustainable improvements.

Whlie Lean Six Sigma has its roots in the manufacturing industry, organizations within non-manufacturing industries are becoming increasingly aware that the correct application of the methodology brings tremendous benefits. Here are just some of the industries in which Lean Six Sigma can be implemented: Biotechnology/ Pharmaceuticals

Education

Energy/Chemicals

Finance

Government

Healthcare

Hospitality

Legal Services

Military

Retail

Technology

Transportation

WHAT ARE THE ROLES IN LEAN SIX SIGMA? Green Belt

Yellow Belt

White Belt Understands the structure and goals of Lean Six Sigma, and reports process issues to Green and Black Belts

Black Belt Has advanced Lean Six Sigma, leadership and change management expertise, and understands statistical tools required in more technical projects, Acts as project team leader and mentor

Understands each phase of the roadmap and main transactional tools, and participates on project teams

Trained at a higher level and understands more about tools in the roadmap, and can lead project teams and or be members of teams led by Black Belts

Master Black Belt

Champion

Must meet requirements of successfully mentoring a number of projects to completion, and acts as instructor, mentor, and leader to all other Belts

Sponsors process improvement projects and teams, helps select projects, and develops a Lean Six Sigma culture within the organization

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME CERTIFIED? To become Lean Six Sigma certified, you must complete training programs with required competency on assignments and successfully complete a process improvement project in a defined time frame.

The University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers four Lean Six Sigma certification programs throughout the year. Please visit ExecEd.Utah.edu for more details and to register now:

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt for Manufacturing Industries Lean Six Sigma Green Belt for Non-Manufacturing Industries Lean Six Sigma Green Belt for Non-Manufacturing Industries (Online) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

8 01 -5 8 7 -7 2 7 3 | EXEC ED@UTA H . EDU | EX ECED.UTAH.EDU

Executive Education

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS EXECUTIVE EDUCATION 1645 E. Campus Center Drive C. Roland Christensen Center, CRCC 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84112

801-587-7273 ExecEd@Utah.edu ExecEd.Utah.edu