They say a carpenter is only as good as their tools, and in the world of Lean Six Sigma, we have a belt full of useful tools. Below are some of the more common templates and tools we use here on campus sorted by the five phases of the Six-Sigma strategy for process improvement--DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control).
Remember to check in with the OE team prior to starting a project so we can help equip you with everything you'll need.
Templates & Tools
Step 1: Define
These tools and templates are used to identify your improvement opportunity and establish the goals of your project.
| Template/Tool | User(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Project Charter Starter (PDF, 93KB) | Facilitators, Managers & Project Participants | A project charter is essentially an agreement between the Continuous Improvement facilitator, management (champion) and project team, through which the project and its deliverables are defined. The facilitator, in consultation with the OE team, should complete one of these at the beginning of every Continuous Improvement project. |
| SIPOC (MS Word, 138KB) | Facilitators | The SIPOC is one of several tools that can be used during the define phase of a Continuous Improvement project for high level process mapping. |
Step 2: Measure
Before getting into how to fix a problem, you must first understand it. These tools and templates will help you map your current process and establish meaningful baseline data against which you will be able to measure data from your future process.
| Template/Tool | User(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
Analyze
In the Analyze phase, you're analyzing data from your current process to identify root causes of your problem and sources of variation and failure.
| Template/Tool | User(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Whys | [need the users] | 5 Whys is a simple technique used to identify the root cause of a problem. Using the technique, you ask a series of "Why" questions to peel back the layers of reasons for a problem and get to the root cause or causes. No document needed here, just start asking "Why?" |
| Fishbone Diagram (MS Excel, 15KB) | [need users] | The fishbone diagram helps you lay out the causes of the problem you may be trying to solve. Each "bone" of the diagram is a cause, and at the head is the problem (or effect). |
Improve
Once you've identified what's causing the problem, you're ready to find the solution. You can use these tools and templates to identify potential solutions, map out and plan your new process, and identify risk factors.
| Template/Tool | User(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A3 (MS Word, 223KB) | Facilitators & Project Participants | The A3 is a problem-solving tool that can help you identify a problem and guide you through to the solution. |
Control
Finally, you're ready to implement your solution. These tools and templates can help you with the implementation and control of your new process.
| Template/Tool | User(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
Other Resources
- Just Do It (MS Word, 44KB): Sometimes, you may have a simple problem with a known solution. In that case, you can use this form to help summarize and track your "Just Do It" project.
- Lean Overview presentation (PDF, 489KB)
- Lean Six Sigma Vocabulary
- Green Belt Training: Check the schedule on the CSUCI Professional Development and Personal Enrichment page for any upcoming Green Belt training sessions.