In: Operations Management
List and describe at least five analytical tools used within Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement.
Ans- Five analytical tools used within six sigma and continuous improvement are:
1- Fishbone diagram 2- Histogram 3- Regression Analysis 4-Run Chart/ Time Series 5- DMAIC ( Define - Measure - Analyze- Improve - Control) Roadmap
✓ Fishbone diagram: It is also known as " Cause effect diagram ". It is structured tool for brainstorming. In this approach, the session is conducted around categories of causes such as Methods, People, Machines, Equipment, Materials, Environment, and Management. To start the process, the team should state the problem. This statement is then followed by brainstorming for root causes to the issue around the chosen categories.
✓ Histogram: The histogram is a data- containing graph which addresses the shape, frequency, dispersion, and other factors of a measurement. Histogram can be to gain understand as to how a process responce relates to customer expectations e.g. existing specifications or targeted objectives such as online delivery. This tool can also help address the question of whether the process in use can can actually provide a desirable response so that customer requirements can consistently be met.
✓ Regression Analysis: It can be useful to determine that a process input has a relationship to the output of the process. This knowledge can help identify an input to the process where control is necessary to achieve desired process- output response.
✓ Run time/ time series: Run chart is basically a graph displaying time series information, where data are sequenced from first to last. This tool show trends and shifts. However, care needs to exercised since sometimes a trend may appear to be occuring but this is apparent process shift may simply be the result of common - cause variability i.e. changes in a response because of not unusual noise variations from the process.
DMAIC Roadmap: As noted earlier, the above tools are just five of the many tools in the Lean Six Sigma tool kit. These five Six Sigma tools are integrated with other Lean Six Sigma techniques when formulating DMAIC Roadmap. This roadmap's execution is to create robust processes that let the businesses attain standards that are high and in control.