If there was a fire and you had to grab four of the most important Six Sigma tools, which ones would you choose? Now this might sound silly because these tools aren’t actually something that you lift and carry, but the point of this question is to make you think.
Since change is inevitable and we have established that everything changes or must change in order to stay current, we have come up with the most important Six Sigma tools to drive change for the better.
Cause and Effect Diagram: An important reason to drive change is to fix a problem, so this tool will help in brainstorming various causes of problems or issues you might be having. This diagram is some times called the Fishbone diagram because it does resemble a fish skeleton. With this tool, state the problem or issue you want to fix in detail and write down possible causes of why, when and how often it happens. This Cause and Effect diagram can be used in conjunction with brainstorming for prioritizing best possible solutions.
5 Whys: A great tool for fixing a recurring problem or issue. This creative tool combines simplicity along with the innate genius we are given. We simply ask a question about a specific issue that keeps recurring. Ask ‘why’ until a satisfactory reason is achieved.
Value Stream Process Map: This map gives you a visual of the entire process that is involved in creating your product or service. This is great way to find a glitch or waste in the entire process. The VSM must include the process map, the timeline, and the process flow.
Plato Chart: A great tool for seeing which part of the business process influences the most output. The Plato chart is a vertical bar graph and very easy to use.
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