Process map is an illustration of the entire process. It is usually drawn by the team facilitator on a large whiteboard or a long stretched out roll of ‘butcher’ paper. The process map gives the team visualization of how the process works. The process map is a simple, but very powerful tool that really is not meant to be a decision-by-decision flowchart; instead, it is more of a block diagram that shows the various steps of the whole process.
5S derives its name from five Japanese terms beginning with the letter ‘S’. A conscientiously-applied program of 5S creates a workplace suited for visual control and Lean production. Collectively, the five S’s (detailed below) outline how to create a workplace that is visibly organized, free of clutter, neatly arranged, and sparkling clean. The 5S system is often a starting place for implementing Lean operations.
A Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a risk management tool that identifies potential failures within a system or process and classifies them by likelihood of occurrence and potential …
The modern business environment requires that companies have the ability to react quickly to unexpected changes. It’s a situation that has led some corporate leaders to include possible worst-case scenarios …
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a risk management tool that is often used in quality and reliability engineering to identify high risk items based on the consequences of failure. FMEA can be a process FMEA (where the risks are process failures) or a design FMEA (where the risks are product or system-related failures).
Who Is a Project Sponsor? A project needs sufficient resources, planning, support, and collaboration to succeed. This is where a project sponsor comes in. They are a part of the …
John Vandenbemden, named the 2022 Quality Professional of the Year by Quality Magazine, is an auditor, consultant and quality expert. He’s also a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Over four …
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) focuses on reducing the amount of downtime for equipment, one of the biggest sources of revenue loss in all industries. TPM calls for integrating maintenance as …
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a methodology designed to integrate equipment maintenance as a part of the standard operating procedures of the manufacturing process. The goal of a TPM program is to reduce or eliminate losses resulting from unplanned downtime.
In business, a cost-cutting death spiral is something that unfortunately occurs with regularity. It’s a “one bad decision follows another” scenario that starts with executives looking for ways to keep …
