In this video from Innovation Tutorials, learn how to know your customers better and design products and services for them through the Kano Model. Noriaki Kano, currently Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University and Board Director at Komatsu, Ltd. developed his model in 1984. He recognized that customers have conscious requirements and unconscious wants when buying [...]
One of the eight wastes in Lean is Motion: Unnecessary movements by people. Two of the pioneers in studying motion and how to make it more efficient were the husband and wife team Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Through Dave Biesinger's short YouTube video, get an overview of their work on improving efficiency by filming [...]
SMED stands for Single Minute Exchange of Dies, and is primarily used for reducing changeover time from one product to another in manufacturing. However, its use is not limited to manufacturing. It can be used in reducing the changeover time in operating rooms and restaurants. In the video linked at the end of this article, [...]
RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. The RACI Chart’s purpose is to make sure every task gets performed by the person responsible, and there is an accountable decision maker for that task who will be called out if the task does not get done. Then there are those who must be consulted and [...]
A SIPOC diagram is the first step on the way to a process map. As you know, SIPOC stands for: Supplier, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. Much has been written about making a SIPOC, and there are many YouTube video examples. However, some of them do not use realistic examples. And in some cases, they give [...]
What is 5S? 5S is a systematic process for creating an orderly environment that is easily maintained, whether it is in the workplace or in your personal life. Hiroyuki Hirano is responsible for developing 5S as part of his system for production. In his book, 5 Pillars of the Visual Workplace, Hirano says: “A company [...]
Six Sigma methodology has transformed many industries, helping them achieve new heights. The methodology can help a business continuously strive for excellence in all its endeavors and processes. It does so by providing the tools to identify bottlenecks and the ways to remove those for maximal efficiency. The methodology improves quality and minimizes the variability [...]
Process mapping is a technique which is used in the Six Sigma methodology. The tool allows the user to visualize the steps that are involved in any given process or activity. In simple terms, Six Sigma process mapping is a flowchart that illustrates all the inputs, steps, and outputs in a process. It is important [...]
At the outset, it might seem that the Six Sigma, Lean, and Agile methodologies are all quite different from each other. True, they are all powerful techniques to increase process efficiency in industries. However, they are actually connected in ways you might not have realized. While the core idea of the Lean philosophy is to [...]
Brainstorming is a popular way for generating ideas. Organizations and groups use the technique to produce creative alternatives. When conducted properly, participants particularly enjoy the activity and actively contribute. The process moves rapidly and is ideal for gathering a large number of ideas in a short time. In recent years, however, many experts have criticized [...]
