Lean Six Sigma is a quality improvement methodology that helps organizations improve their processes and reduce waste. A key part of Lean Six Sigma is defining the problem statement. A well-written problem statement will help you focus your improvement efforts and ensure that you are working on the right problem. Here is a template that you can use to create a Lean Six Sigma problem statement:
What is the problem? Describe the problem in specific terms.
What are the symptoms of the problem? List the symptoms of the problem, such as delays, errors, or waste.
What are the root causes of the problem? Identify the root causes of the problem, such as lack of training, poor communication, or inadequate resources.
What are the consequences of the problem? Describe the consequences of the problem, such as lost productivity, customer dissatisfaction, or financial losses.
Characteristics of a Good Lean Six Sigma Problem Statement
A good Lean Six Sigma problem statement is:
- Specific: The problem statement should be specific and not general. For example, instead of saying “we have a problem with our customer service,” you should say “we have a problem with our customer service response time.”
- Measurable: The problem statement should be measurable so that you can track your progress. For example, instead of saying “we have a problem with our inventory,” you should say “we have a problem with our inventory accuracy, which is currently at 90%.”
- Actionable: The problem statement should be actionable so that you can take steps to improve the situation. For example, instead of saying “we have a problem with our employee morale,” you should say “we have a problem with our employee morale, which is currently at 70%.”
- Relevant: The problem statement should be relevant to your business goals. For example, instead of saying “we have a problem with our website,” you should say “we have a problem with our website traffic, which is currently at 1,000 visitors per day.”
- Time-bound: The problem statement should be time-bound so that you can set a deadline for improvement. For example, instead of saying “we have a problem with our customer satisfaction,” you should say “we have a problem with our customer satisfaction, which is currently at 80% and we want to improve it to 90% by the end of the year.”
- Identify the problem: What is the problem that you are trying to solve?
- Describe the symptoms of the problem: What are the symptoms of the problem, such as delays, errors, or waste?
- Identify the root causes of the problem: What are the root causes of the problem, such as lack of training, poor communication, or inadequate resources?
- Describe the consequences of the problem: What are the consequences of the problem, such as lost productivity, customer dissatisfaction, or financial losses?
- Write the problem statement: Using the template provided above, write a problem statement that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Use the problem statement to improve your process: Use the problem statement to guide your process improvement efforts. The problem statement will help you to focus your efforts and ensure that you are working on the right problem.
How to Use a Lean Six Sigma Problem Statement Template
To use a Lean Six Sigma problem statement template, simply follow these steps:
A Lean Six Sigma problem statement template can be a valuable tool for improving your processes and reducing waste. By using a template, you can ensure that your problem statement is clear, concise, and actionable. This will help you to focus your improvement efforts and achieve your goals.
