Topic
Lean Six Sigma
About: Lean Six Sigma is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1919 publications have been published within this topic receiving 29142 citations.
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01 Jan 2009
2 citations
15 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight few of the most important tools and strategies to improve the quality and patient safety in healthcare and highlight the importance of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Fishbone Vectors.
Abstract: Quality improvements (QI) have been implemented in manufacturing and other industries to decrease the defects and errors. In healthcare, they can be very useful in identifying the errors, ineffectiveness, and inefficiencies in routine practices, and can also be used to address them. There are many tools and strategies to improve the quality and patient safety. The chapter highlights few of the most important ones. Root cause analysis is an analysis tool that can be used in healthcare for methodical investigation and comprehensive review of an event, enabling appropriate identification of opportunities for improvement. Plan–do–study–act is an iterative, four-stage problem-solving model used for improving a process or carrying out change. Fishbone diagram is a graphic tool used to explore and display the possible causes of a certain effect. Lean Six Sigma focuses on eliminating defects. In healthcare, it reduces the defects that can result in medical errors.
2 citations
2 citations
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a case study approach was used to carry out the investigation using the Lean Six Sigma "define measure analyze improve and control" (DMAIC) approach, which resulted in a 60.3% reduction in total non-value added time and an increase in both the value-added time (53.85%) and the amount of uptime (10.74%).
Abstract: The quest to improve customer satisfaction is one of the core aims of businesses in the competitive global market. This paper aims to apply the principles of Lean Six Sigma for continuous improvement in a small enterprise in the service industry in South Africa. A case study approach was used to carry out the investigation using the Lean Six Sigma ‘define measure analyze improve and control’ (DMAIC) approach. Data collection was done in a face-to-face interview and brainstorming session with the business owner and consultants. Observations and a time study were also used to collect additional data. The results showed a lack of knowledge and awareness of Lean Six Sigma among the business owner and the consultants. The commitment to and engagement of management in the project contributed positively to the implementation of the DMAIC approach. The process improvement changes were applied over a period of three months, after which the process performance was reviewed. The case study resulted in a 60.3% reduction in total non-value-added time and an increase in both the value-added time (53.85%) and the amount of uptime (10.74%). Furthermore, downtime was also reduced (47.7%). This study shows that the application of the Lean Six Sigma tool could solve the challenges of productivity and waste in a bookkeeping and tax consulting SME in the Gauteng province with a direct implication for operational efficiency and customers’ satisfaction.
2 citations