Tools for Lean Six Sigma
Give me a lever long enough and I can move the world.
Gathering Numeric Data
- Are you gathering data that you can count, like number of people or defects? Yes
- Are you gathering data that you can measure, like money, length, weight, or time? Yes
Graphing Data
- Is your data measured periodically over time (minute, hour, day, project, event)?
Use a line graph - Are you using data to focus the improvement effort?
Use a Pareto Chart or pie chart - Are you trying to prove a cause-effect relationship between two variables (e.g., calories consumed and weight gain?
Use a Scatter Plot - Are you trying to determine the stability of the process?
Use a Control Chart - Are you trying to determine the capability of the process?
Use a Histogram - Are you comparing data year over year or month over month?
Use a Bar Chart
Organizing verbal or written data
- Are you trying to simplify a large number of written ideas?
Use a Affinity Diagram - Are you trying to determine the driving issues among the simplified data?
Use a Relationship Diagram - Are you trying to create links from higher level ideas or activities to more detailed ones?
Use a Tree Diagram - Are you trying to evaluate the relationship between two sets of tangible criteria?
Use a Matrix Diagram - Are you trying to evaluate the possible failure or fault points?
Use a PDPC Chart or EMEA/FMEA--Error Modes and Effects Analysis - Are you trying to create a sequence of activities?
Use an Arrow Diagram
Key Tools for Focusing The Improvement Effort
Tree Diagram
![tree diagram](/images/tool-icons/tree-diagram-sm.png)
![tree diagram](/images/tool-icons/tree-diagram-sm.png)
Line Graph
![line graph](/images/tool-icons/line-graph.png)
![line graph](/images/tool-icons/line-graph.png)
Pareto Chart
![pareto chart](/images/tool-icons/pareto-sm.png)
![pareto chart](/images/tool-icons/pareto-sm.png)
Key Tools for Improving the Process and Problem Solving
Cause Effect Diagram
![fishbone](/images/tool-icons/fishbone-sm.png)
![fishbone](/images/tool-icons/fishbone-sm.png)
Countermeasures
![countermeasures](/images/tool-icons/countermeasures-matrix.png)
![countermeasures](/images/tool-icons/countermeasures-matrix.png)
Action Plan
![action plan](/images/tool-icons/action-plan-sm.png)
![action plan](/images/tool-icons/action-plan-sm.png)
Additional Tools for Improving the Process
Systems Diagram
![systems diagram](/images/tool-icons/systems-diagram.png)
![systems diagram](/images/tool-icons/systems-diagram.png)
Scatter Diagram
![scatter diagram](/images/tool-icons/scatter-sm.png)
![scatter diagram](/images/tool-icons/scatter-sm.png)
Histogram
![histogram](/images/tool-icons/histogram-sm.png)
![histogram](/images/tool-icons/histogram-sm.png)
Key Tools for Sustaining Improvement--Process Management
Flow Chart
![flow chart](/images/tool-icons/flowchart-sm.png)
![flow chart](/images/tool-icons/flowchart-sm.png)
Control Chart
![control chart](/images/tool-icons/control-chart-sm.png)
![control chart](/images/tool-icons/control-chart-sm.png)
Histogram
![histogram](/images/tool-icons/histogram-sm.png)
![histogram](/images/tool-icons/histogram-sm.png)
Tools for Data Collection
Check Sheet
![checksheet](/images/tool-icons/checksheet-sm.png)
![checksheet](/images/tool-icons/checksheet-sm.png)
Data Sheet
![datasheet](/images/tool-icons/datasheet-sm.png)
![datasheet](/images/tool-icons/datasheet-sm.png)
Matrix Diagram
![matrix diagram](/images/tool-icons/matrix-sm.png)
![matrix diagram](/images/tool-icons/matrix-sm.png)
Tools for Teamwork
Affinity Diagram
![affinity diagram](/images/tool-icons/affinity-sm.png)
![affinity diagram](/images/tool-icons/affinity-sm.png)
Relationship Diagram
![relationship diagram](/images/tool-icons/relationship-diagram-sm.png)
![relationship diagram](/images/tool-icons/relationship-diagram-sm.png)
Matrix Diagram
![matrix diagram](/images/tool-icons/matrix-sm.png)
![matrix diagram](/images/tool-icons/matrix-sm.png)
Do you need to: