ASQ Phoenix-Greenbelt "Define" Tollgate Tools Part 1-December 13, 2023, 3:00-5:15 PM (MT)
In Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC is an acronym that represents the five phases of a process improvement methodology: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. Let's focus on the "Define" phase.
The Define phase is the first step in the DMAIC process and serves as the foundation for the entire improvement project. Its primary objective is to clearly define the problem or opportunity that the project aims to address. This phase involves establishing the project scope, goals, and objectives, and it is critical for setting the direction of the entire improvement effort.
Key activities in the Define phase may include:
Project Charter: Creating a project charter is one of the initial steps. This document outlines the project's purpose, scope, goals, team members, and the expected timeline. It provides a formal authorization for the improvement project. (The Project Charter portion of DEFINE was covered in our previous training and is available to anyone who wish to watch the recorded session. Please contact a Phoenix ASQ Chapter representative to discuss the course and its availability.)
Stakeholder Analysis: Identifying and understanding the key stakeholders involved in or affected by the process is crucial. This includes both internal and external stakeholders.
Voice of the Customer (VOC): Capturing and understanding the needs and expectations of the customers is essential. This may involve direct communication with customers, surveys, or other methods to gather relevant information.
Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) Analysis: Determining the critical characteristics or features that are most important to the customer helps in prioritizing improvement efforts.
High-Level Process Mapping: Developing an initial understanding of the process under investigation by creating high-level process maps. This provides a visual representation of the workflow.
Problem Statement: Clearly articulating the problem or opportunity the project aims to address. This statement should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
We will also be discussing the Project Selection Process, Problem Solving Approach (Method), and additional key tools to explore, such as SIPOC, Affinity Diagram, Pareto Diagram and Analysis. An introduction to Quality Function Deployment (QFD) will also ensure that you will be able to determine the best product and/or process within your project and verify that you meet your established requirements.
By the end of the Define phase, the project team should have a comprehensive understanding of the project's scope, goals, and the expectations of key stakeholders. This clarity sets the stage for the subsequent phases of DMAIC, ensuring that the improvement efforts are focused on addressing the identified issues and delivering value to the customer.
This training will be presented by Kevin Lehigh and will be in a Zoom meeting format.
Kevin has 23+ years of consulting experience as a Sr. Consultant. He has focused on developing/implementing strategy management and operations-related projects in the aerospace, commercial and healthcare sectors.
Kevin is a Lean expert and Master Black Belt and has held these titles for multiple Fortune 500 companies.
He holds a BS degree in Engineering Physics for CSO, an MBA from Keller Business Schools of Management, and an MBA from Stanford University in Systems Engineering.
Once you have a paid registration for the training, you will receive your Zoom meeting invite. In addition, we will be sending out some pre-reading material for the training on Nominal Group Technique which will support your project team through the DMAIC process.
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