PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
Ryan Endres, PMP
28Oct2009
WHAT ARE SOME PROCESSES AT THE
FPRC?
Certification
Putting things on the server
Eligibility
Development of databases
Inventory to hand off digital item to grader
SIX SIGMA
Six Sigma originated as a set of practices
designed to improve manufacturing processes
and eliminate defects, but its application was
subsequently extended to other types of business
processes as well.
"Six Sigma is the most important initiative GE has ever
undertaken." - Jack Welch CEO General Electric
SIX SIGMA HISTORY
Created by Motorola in the mid 1980’s
By the late 1990’s two-thirds of all Fortune 500
companies were using it.
Local companies:
1. GE
2. Covance
3. Cuna
4. Alliant Energy
Belts: Yellow, Blue and Black
SIX SIGMA PROCESS
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
D
M
A
I
C
DEFINE
Define the process you want to improve (this
includes a charter which is similar to one, one
would create for a standard project)
Decrease Time
Decrease errors
MEASURE
This is where you draw out a flow chart of
your process and then pick what you want to
measure (time, number of errors...) and how
you want to plot these items out. Then walk
the process and make your measurements
(gather data).
CURRENT WORKFLOW
ANALYZE
Here we look at the data and the flow chart again to determine the root causes for delays, errors or whatever you were measuring and come up with a value for if it happens how does it effect the process (i.e.: it may delay the process by 3 days). Then create a pareto diagram to determine which root causes you will focus on. Why focus on something that will only have a small return.
ANALYZE OUR WORKFLOW
Work the Stats: Pareto Diagram, Frequency Plots,
Histogram, time series plots, Run charts, Scatter diagram…
IMPROVE
This is where you review the root causes and
then brainstorm possible solutions. Don't
forget to include those wild and crazy ideas to
fix the problems! Then flow chart the new
process.
BRAINSTORMING … CIRCLE IT UP!
STEPS TO IMPROVE
•Online photographer training help
• Translate our photography procedures
•Online help videos
•Include links to online help in queries
•Workflow tracker
CONTROL
We measure the new process and identify
opportunities for further improvement in the
process.
SIX SIGMA IN ACTION!
OIL CHANGE IN A FIGHTER PLANE
HOW LONG FOR AN OIL CHANGE?
~19hrs and walked 17,000 feet to complete
the task
under 4 hrs and ~3000 feet
traveled.
SIX SIGMA IN ACTION
STANDARDIZED TESTING EXAMPLE
15 day Guarantee!
New guy … 7 day Guarantee!
Use Six Sigma … 3 day Guarantee!
Bring in Six Sigma!
DON’T LET YOU PROJECT DI
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
Define
Measure
Analyze
Improve
Control
TRY IT OUT….
QUESTIONS
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