Process Characteristics for Six Sigma

To improve the processes behind an organization's products and services, a Six Sigma Black Belt must measure them. But first, they must identify those processes. Among the many Six Sigma tools, several are designed specifically to isolate relevant process variables, determine their relationships to each other, prioritize their importance relative to customer or business requirements, and assess their efficiency. Using SIPOC and cause-and-effect matrices, Black Belts can determine which process inputs to target first those with the most significant impact on important outputs.

Using process efficiency formulas, they can determine the ratio of value-added time to total lead time, then enhance this ratio by reducing that troublesome drag on lead time work in process. With metrics established, Black Belts can recommend approaches involving takt time, one-piece flow, and pull to balance the flow of processes, eliminating the inefficiencies of work in process, cutting overhead budgets, and reducing lead time. Looking closer at the steps of a given process, Black Belts are then able to wield a number of analysis tools such as spaghetti and Venn diagrams, process maps, and value stream maps to reveal lurking time traps, constraints, and wasted steps all with a view of improving process characteristics for optimum efficiency.

This course provides strategies to improve the current state of an organization's processes by analyzing the variables of its processes, using metrics to calculate process flow performance, and employing tools to analyze processes. It connects these tools to the overarching goals of eliminating wasted time, highlighting free time, and increasing the proportion of value-added time. 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 key concepts relating to the use of SIPOC diagrams and cause-and-effect matrices for identifying and prioritizing process variables.
• Use the formula for calculating process cycle efficiency (PCE).
• Calculate the desired amount of work in process (WIP) and predict the consequent improvement in PCE.
• Identify the benefits of reducing WIP.
• Match value flow concepts to definitions.
• Calculate takt time and determine the best option for streamlining.