Structured Problem Solving Using Lean Six Sigma

Explore the SXM framework—safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale—and learn to quantify any problem statement using cycle time, defects, Trier, and labor per unit to drive action.

Identify all stakeholders beyond the team, using a stakeholder analysis template to map impact, roles, and communication for structured problem solving, secure sponsor buy-in, and plan regular updates.

Learn how a structured communication plan keeps stakeholders informed by detailing audience, media, purpose, topics, owner, and frequency, ensuring updates are timely and everyone stays in the loop.

A process is a series of sequential steps from start to end that achieves a specific outcome; process mapping visualizes these steps with symbols to reveal flow and decisions.

Explore how spaghetti diagrams visually map how people and items move through a process to reveal transportation and motion wastes and optimize path efficiency in a distribution center.

Explore a lean six sigma sales lead process mapped with swim lanes, revealing handoffs and the sole value-added step—begin calls and emails—that converts a lead into a contact.

Learn to use Pareto charts to identify the 80/20 defects and prioritize improvements by analyzing defect data, building Pareto charts, and drilling down by category, product, and customer type.

Apply a fishbone diagram, check sheet, and Pareto chart to identify battery dead and lost keys as root causes, and use overlapping histograms and scatter diagrams for continuous data analysis.

Identify and prioritize root causes with data to guide solutioning. Implement quick wins, update process maps, distinguish containment from true improvements, and target top, controllable root causes.

Apply an effort impact matrix to rank brainstormed solutions by impact and implementation effort, identify prime targets and quick wins, and decide on strategic roadmap items.

Use forced ranking after brainstorming to rank five to fifteen solutions on a shared table; the lowest total score reveals the top choice.

Present selected solutions to project sponsor to obtain sign-off and alignment. Use a solutions template to outline issue, root cause, solution, owner, status, and estimated impact including cost savings.