Improvement Methods and Implementation Issues in Six Sigma

Six Sigma offers many techniques and strategies to improve an organization's processes. As a Six Sigma team moves into the Improve phase, they begin to generate a list of solutions to address the causes of problems in the process. After plans have been developed, the implementation of the improved process needs to be tested and verified to ensure the optimal choices were made. Finally, risks to the new process need to be examined and minimized. This course looks at improvement methods and implementation issues in Six Sigma.

It examines Lean methods used to reduce waste, such as cycle-time reduction, the Japanese principles of kaizen and kaizen blitz, and the application of Goldratt's Theory of Constraints. Also, it looks at tools and techniques for implementing and evaluating the new process. Finally, the course examines risk analysis and mitigation through the use of SWOT analysis, feasibility studies, and PEST analysis. This course is aligned with the ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam and is designed to assist learners as part of their exam preparation. It builds on foundational knowledge that is taught in SkillSoft's ASQ-aligned Green Belt curriculum.

• Identify best practices and methods associated with Lean tools.
• Identify characteristics of cycle-time reduction tools and the steps in SMED.
• Recognize how to apply Theory of Constraints concepts to help analyze process throughput and alleviate bottlenecks.
• Recognize examples of activities typically performed during each day of a kaizen blitz.
• Determine whether best practices are followed for a pilot test, given a scenario.
• Sequence the steps in conducting a simulation.
• Identify areas for improvement in a demonstration.
• Use a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a business.
• Recognize the techniques associated with each stage of conducting a feasibility study.
• Recognize examples of the issues that apply to each area of a PEST analysis.