Golden Rule #5 for Quality Professionals: Be Good at the Basics

Six Sigma is a powerful tool. But it is not for every company. Most companies can achieve incredible results by practicing the basics. I always tell companies to not try six sigma until you master the basics.

What are the basics? Well, for example, let's talk about continuous improvement. There is the six sigma approach which is fairly complex and there is the good, old fashioned PDCA cycle.

Here is my basic "How To" for continuous improvement. Teach your workforce this simple process and you will increase your bottom line (over the long term).

1. Assemble a cross functional team: Gather as many eyes/ears as possible. Each member should be close to the opportunity for improvement.
2. Develop a charter for the team: What is the opportunity for improvement? How is it affecting the business? What is the goal of the team? How will management support the team?
3. Map out the process: Use process flow symbols to put the process steps on paper.
4. The team brainstorms for possible causes: The brainstorming must be done correctly. There should be a facilitator and scribe.
5. Complete a fishbone diagram
6. Vote on the ideas using the nominal technique
7. Take the top ideas and develop a plan of action: From this point on, you are using the Plan/Do/Check/Act (PDCA) cycle. Develop a PLAN. DO the plan. CHECK the results. Using what you learned, decide on the next ACTion to take.
8. Start over with PLAN.