Problem Solving (Lean Six Sigma)

Problem-solving workflow inspired by the original "Lean Six Sigma" process.

Sessions
10
Steps
22
Last edited
Mar 6, 2021
Created by
Nova

About this process

Problem-solving workflow inspired by the original Lean Six Sigma process and using the PDCA cycle as the main mindset to encourage organizations to undertake continual improvements of all aspects of organizational life.

Sessions at a glance
#SessionSteps
01PDCA Cycle402Initial Problem Perception403Flowchart004Goals205Potential Causes and Sub-Causes406Countermeasures wall007Pilot (or Test) Wall008Implementation: 4W209Post-implementation310Follow-up3

The process in detail

10 sessions · 22 steps
01

PDCA Cycle

4 steps
  1. 1

    Plan.

  2. 2

    Do.

  3. 3

    Check.

  4. 4

    Act.

Read the full text
1. Plan.

Implementation plan and success criteria: Read the information provided by the team lead about the problem and start developing an implementation plan. Make sure you have success criteria that are as measurable and realistic as possible. You'll use your criteria later during the "Check" stage.

Write a note
2. Do.

Carry out a small-scale study or experiment. Try testing different ways of getting the results you want and that will affect the root cause of the problem. Explain all the different tests or case studies and their implications here.

Write a note
3. Check.

Review the test and analyze the results. Did you get unexpected results? Were you successful? If not, you may consider starting over. If the "case study" or "test" did not work, you and your team can go over this session again to find a different plan. If you were successful, and the "test" is working, take the time to share what you learned from the test. Evaluate and use what you have learned to plan new improvements and to consider future changes and improvements so whenever you are ready you can start the cycle again.

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4. Act.

Implement your solution and take action, keeping in mind what you and your team have learned during this session. The idea of using PDCA is to keep it as an open loop, any successful implementation will be always an unfinished project as things can always improve. Remember to keep looking for ways to make it better and adapt to our always-changing world. What should you include here? Confirm the countermeasures, keep track of the challenges you face during the implementation phase, and things you or your team weren't prepared for. Tip: Everyone implementing the solution should be keeping track of the implementation measures, challenges, and countermeasures.

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02

Initial Problem Perception

4 steps
  1. 1

    How would you define the problem or challenge?

  2. 2

    How would the user or customer define the problem or challenge?

  3. 3

    Defining the problem.

  4. 4

    Go and see the problem together.

Read the full text
1. How would you define the problem or challenge?
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2. How would the user or customer define the problem or challenge?

Is this problem affecting them? How? Who else if affected by this problem?

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3. Defining the problem.

To get a clear picture of exactly what the problem is and then break it. How would you categorize this problem? How big or small? Is this a complex problem?

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4. Go and see the problem together.

Go and see! Evaluate the current situation and chat with your team. Describe what you see when you observe the abnormality.

03

Flowchart

04

Goals

2 steps
  1. 1

    What do you hope to accomplish?

  2. 2

    Success metrics.

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1. What do you hope to accomplish?
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2. Success metrics.

How wold you measure success? Sales, reduce down time by 20%, reduce complaints by 20%...

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05

Potential Causes and Sub-Causes

4 steps
  1. 1

    Problem statement

  2. 2

    Brainstorming

  3. 3

    Create categories

  4. 4

    Causes: The bones

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1. Problem statement

The team lead provides a problem statement. The problem statement should be placed on the right-hand side of the diagram. (Like inside the fish head) What is the problem? How and when is it happening?

Work on the whiteboardFish bone diagram
2. Brainstorming

Spend 5 to 10 minutes brainstorming with your team. Think about all of the things that are creating the problem.

3. Create categories

You are probably noticing that a few things had something in common and could be inside the same category. Start evaluating all the main categories that each cause will fall into. Try to create at least 3 categories and a maximum of 10. Place each category at the end of each bone. Example: Physical product: people, methods, materials, machines, the environment, sales.

4. Causes: The bones

Now you and your team have all the categories, you can start placing each cause inside each category. Each category will become the “bones” of the fish. Each bone will help you understand the root cause of the problem. To evaluate each category or cause even further you can use the 5 Whys. the 5 ways is a systematic way to understand the problem deeply by asking 5 times why.

Fish bone diagram
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
  • Start typing...
  • CATEGORY:
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
  • This is a sticky note!
  • This is a sticky note!
  • PROBLEM STATEMENT Start typing here... DESIRED IMPROVEMENT Start typing here...
  • This is a sticky note!
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
  • Start typing...
  • CATEGORY:
  • CATEGORY:
  • Start typing...
06

Countermeasures wall

Read the full text
Board
  • COUNTERMEASURES
  • EFFECTIVENESS: H-M-L
  • FEASIBILITY: H-M-L
  • IMPACT: H-M-L
07

Pilot (or Test) Wall

08

Implementation: 4W

2 steps
  1. 1

    Create a list with all the action items.

  2. 2

    Define who, what, where and when.

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1. Create a list with all the action items.

Action items are usually major tasks but you can also include work sessions.

2. Define who, what, where and when.

Use our 4W card and specify who will be doing what, where, and when that will be done. Create a visual map with general actions. If someone has more than one action, you can add those actions below their name. Alternative: Add all your team members here and add their main task and responsibility and add tasks using our task functionally below their name.

New Board
  • ACTION ITEMS
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Action name + Short description
  • Do you need additional 4W cards? Copy and paste this one.
  • 4W ACTION PLAN Define who, what, where and when.
  • Name
  • Mike Bobem
  • Name
  • Name
  • Name
  • Name
  • Location
  • Action or task description.
  • Office
  • Location
  • Location
  • Location
  • Location
  • Create a marketing strategy with Sarah. This marketing strategy needs to include a price strategy, promotion strategy and advertising strategy for the next 6 months.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • May 22 at 3PM Duration: 25 days
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Primary research: customer interviews and insight evaluation
  • 1 week proposal and ideation
  • Marketing plan
  • Name
  • Name
  • Name
  • Name
  • Name
  • Location
  • Location
  • Location
  • Location
  • Location
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Action or task description.
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
  • Day, time and duration
09

Post-implementation

3 steps
  1. 1

    Countermeasures.

  2. 2

    Was the goals met?

  3. 3

    Notes and observations.

Read the full text
1. Countermeasures.

Explain how the countermeasures was tracked.

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2. Was the goals met?
Write a note
3. Notes and observations.

Continue to observe the problem for a few weeks following the assure the problem will not reoccur. Compare data.

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10

Follow-up

3 steps
  1. 1

    Would the problem return?

  2. 2

    What's next?

  3. 3

    Positive and negative experiences.

Read the full text
1. Would the problem return?
Write a note
2. What's next?

Standardization: How would you prevent the problem from recurring? Develop processes and contol systems. Checkpoints: Things put in to place to assure the countermeasure stays in place and is followed.

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3. Positive and negative experiences.

What were some positive and negative experiences you encountered?

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Use this process
Capabilities
Fully editableAdapts as work changesAdd more sessions anytimeAI can be assigned
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Created byNova·Official process
Last edited Mar 6, 2021·10 sessions · 22 steps