Lean Six Sigma Allows for Efficient Project Management
Lean Six Sigma Allows for Efficient Project Management
The 2017 Global Project Management Survey Pulse found that 12% of worldwide organizations were underperforming. The list included organizations from various industries, from the government to financial companies to information technology. The survey examined project management. It showed that approximately 60% of projects were completed on time and within budget. A common feature of all projects was identified — a lack of established and realistic milestones and goals to gauge progress. The first goal of every project manager’s job is to increase productivity. To achieve this, lean Six Sigma allows for efficient project management; they must know the extensive range of tools, techniques, and methods that could influence the best practices for delivering their projects.
Although PMI has reported positive growth in project delivery with the most modern technologies and methods, an opportunity could fill by implementing Lean Sigma into business procedures.
Across the framework, the goal is to implement an established process geared towards successful outcomes and to understand better how integration is possible.
What is the definition of project management?
PMI, The PMI defines project management as the application of skills, knowledge, techniques, and tools to accomplish the project’s demands. Each project must have a plan that describes how things will kick off the ground and how they will be built and the way they’ll be completed from beginning to end.
What is Lean Sigma?
Lean Sigma is a method that relies on a team effort to increase efficiency by eliminating unnecessary waste and reducing variations.
It improves customer satisfaction and results by reducing variation, waste, and cycle times while increasing the standardization of work and flow.
When using Lean Six Sigma, the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze and Develop, and Control) methodology is used extensively to manage projects.
DMAIC Improvement Procedure Lean Six Sigma Allows for Efficient Project Management
The DMAIC model is used to improve an existing process through problem-solving processes constantly. The methodology is aimed at improving the quality of the products or services.
Five phases in DMAIC
1.) Define In this stage, project teams plan a high-level procedure map to define customers’ requirements.
Tools utilized:
- Project charter
- Tree diagram
- Value stream map
- Relationship map
- Stakeholder analysis
- Voice of Customer
2) Assess – This phase is about the plan for data collection. In this stage, you design and create data showing how the process works to help deliver the variance.
Tools are used to:
- Project charter
- Data collection plan
- Operational definitions
- Check sheet
3) Analyze. Then, teams can determine the financial advantages of solving the problem.
Tools employed:
- Value stream map
- Fishbone diagram
- Value-added flow analysis
- Gantt charts
- Pareto charts
- Root Cause Analysis
- 5 Whys
4.) Make Improvements – This phase is focused on the team’s imagination and efforts to find an answer to the process issue.
Tools used:
- Value stream map
- Brainstorming sessions
- Benchmarking
- Weighted criteria matrix
- Impact/Effort matrix
- Pilot checklist
- Plan for implementation
5.) Control phase allows the team to present the new method they’ve created and be passed on to those responsible for the operation.
Tools utilized:
- Control plan (or a control chart)
- Plan for monitoring and responding
- Innovation transfer opportunities
- Gallery walks
- Documentation
Incorporating Lean Sigma into Operations
The Lean Six Sigma methodology: DMAIC provides a structured approach and a disciplined process for solving business-related issues. It identifies the root causes of defects in the business process, allowing for consistent high-quality throughout the project’s lifecycle. Lean Six Sigma typically works in cross-functional teams. But, the method doesn’t address the management of the project directly.
Lean Sigma methodologies can be used throughout the project management process. Project managers use standard methods to plan, manage, monitor, and conclude projects to schedule development risk analysis, scope definition status reporting, and cost budgeting.
These techniques let managers make sound and informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle and move smoothly between phases. Tools for managing projects and Lean Sigma can be utilized within the project lifecycle to plan, perform, and monitor a process improvement project. Additionally, the methods and methodologies can be blended to increase the effectiveness of the process.
Benefits of using Lean for Projects
- Decision Making– Every Tromenz Learning method has data-driven evidence for every defect/error. This method is significantly more precise than other techniques.
- Time Savings- It is a Lean Tromenz Learning expert’s advice at the start of any project that will clearly define the scope and deliverables along with effective utilization of resources.
- Cost Savings- Since the primary goal of Lean Tromenz Learning is to eliminate defects and errors, cost savings directly result from the process’s implementation.
- Boost in Productivity- Since every team member is bound to follow the Lean Tromenz Learning methodologies, productivity increases and creates many resources for other modules.
Conclusion
The lean Sigma method can be integrated with the project management processes to understand the overall process better. For those who rely solely on Project Management, Lean Six Sigma with Tromenz Learning enhances the capacity to make informed decisions by using research-based data and factors that are essential to the quality of service and for the users.
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