Lean Six Sigma for Project Managers
LEAN SIX SIGMA FOR PROJECT MANAGERS
All EPC Company are on threshold of becoming a projectized
company in all fields. We as PM and HODs or Executives need
to rise up to meet challenging demands of driving various stakeholders, making
processes lean, get work done in RACE mode i.e. Rapid + Absolute+ Class Quality
and economical work . We need to curb defects , In today's competitive global
market, all companies are looking to make improvements that drive bottom line
results. Many of these organizations are turning to process improvement
methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma
Can
a PM turn to lean and Six Sigma for help? Absolutely. Combining lean and/or Six
Sigma thinking and tools with traditional project management techniques can be
a powerful combination. Let's call this ideally equipped project manager the
"lean PM." With training we can rebuild our PM; We can
make all of us better than we were. Better… stronger…
faster."
Solution:
Lean is a discipline in which
the goal is to eliminate waste and increase process efficiency through a focus
on improvements in speed and cost. It uses tools such as kaizen
events, value stream mapping, work load balancing and 7 waste analysis. We use
these tools extensively in Armed forces as lean is a culture there to prevent
loss of lives. We cannot afford to over look any waste or delays as lossess are
ultimate.
Six Sigma, on the other hand, is a discipline in which the goal is to
eliminate variation and reduce defects through a focus on improvements in
quality . It provides a structured data-driven methodology with tools and
techniques. A PM can measure the baseline performance of their processes
and determine the root causes of variations so they can improve their processes
to meet and exceed the desired performance levels
LEAN +
SIX SIGMA
Lean Six Sigma is a
hybrid that brings both of these disciplines together. It takes a pragmatic
view of process improvement with a focus on what is needed and important to the
customer. It combines the time-focused strategy inherent in Lean with the
analytical tools of Six Sigma, which allows for a flexible solution set to
address the broadest set of problems.
LEAN + SIX SIGMA + PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
The idea of combining Lean Six sigma and Project management came to me after working
in both fields extensively . It is a challenging thought to be undertaken, The
idea of fusion of lean Six sigma DAMIC or DFSS with Five processes of
Project management is interesting and hence this training
class. It will be a revising and more learning for me also how we
can use LSS in our daily lives of Project culture at sites.
When ever we conduct any training like last time :We will discuss
how Lean Six Sigma can help in Project management , we may also
call it Lean Project management or Integrated Project management
. Though Six Sigma complements existing project management
concepts but it differs in lots of ways. Both Six Sigma and typical project
management methodology attempt to reduce defects, failures, control costs and
risks, and manage schedules. Combining both processes and way of working can be
refereed as Marriage made in heaven and if practices on earth then
it is a perfect set up. Both sets of practices bring value and are best applied
in conjunction with one another. You may call lean Six sigma combining with
Project management tools as ultimate efficient deadly machine or Final frontier
of a PROJECT MANAGER learning to get results against waste/ delays / rework/ over run cost .