Lean Software Tools

When talking to most Lean Six Sigma Consultants they will tell you the 2 lean tools that you start with are 5S and Standard Work. Looking for a simple way to describe the Standard Work process, I ran across this software company and their set of tools. I found them quite interesting and have started "Testing" them out. I wonder has anyone else tried them?

Here is a description and a picture of their template. Tools for standardized work are the most important tools in your Lean toolkit - because they avoid backsliding into old habits

The Standard Work Sheet Excel template is 5 tools in 1:

1. Value Add Analysis (auto-calculates pie chart)
2. Work Balancing (auto-draws work load balancing bar chart in relation to Takt Time)
3. Standard Work Instructions & Analysis
4. Quick Changeover tool for setup reduction.
5. Standard Work Combination Sheet visual time chart.

What makes these templates unique is that they are built on Excel spreadsheet platform.

You have options to:

• Auto-draw a Standard Work Combination Sheet with a single click of a button.
• Create a separate time chart for each operator, or display all operators in a single chart.
• Use either stopwatch or video Time Observation to observe and time your standard work procedures
• Split your Value Add Pie Chart into your own user-defined types of waste
• Plot as many as 4 chart lines - for Takt Time, Target Cycle Time, Cycle Time, and even a 4th user-defined chart line (perhaps for out of cycle work?)
  
  Draw the chart with or without labels
• Include up to 200 lines of work elements on a single chart
  (and spread even larger processes over multiple charts - perhaps with summary data rolling up to each higher level)
• Define your own header data field labels
• Link to or from another worksheet for calculations such as Working Time Available, product mix, or master scheduling...
• Paste a picture of your Spaghetti Diagram on the same page with your Standard Work Combination Table!
• Use this as a Quick Changeover tool for Lean SMED setup reduction

I think it is a pretty unique product. You can download a free trial but I think it will ake a commitment to use these templates so if it is free, you may just never commit.

Technorati : 6sigma, Consultants, IT, Lean, Quality, Six Sigma, software

Why Value stream Mapping

Value stream mapping is a tool that helps you to see and understand the flow of material and information as a product or service makes its way through the value stream. Value stream mapping is typically used in Lean, it differs from the process mapping of Six Sigma.

A value stream map will take into account not only the activity of the product, but the management and information systems that support the basic process. You will gain insight into the decision making flow in addition to the process flow. The basic idea is to first map
your process, then above it map the information flow that enables the process to occur.

Why use Software for Value Stream Mapping? I think the use of software that is written specifically for Value Stream Mapping is important. It forces you to make a decision to drill down into the subject as you are doing it versus later in the process. This particular tool is interesting because of the ability to Excel's powerful scenarios to analyze multiple sets of numbers without needing to redraw an almost identical map over and over again. Take a look at some of the other features.

1. Visually see your entire process flow using the language of Lean to learn to see and eliminate wastes
2. Answer the question How can we make only what we need when we need it
   
3. Form a blueprint for Lean implementation to rally your team to eliminate wastes
4. Instant on-line training for Lean concepts and techniques
   
5. Easily customized written in Excel with all of its familiar formulas and charts
6. Professional deliverables easily stored, emailed, and shared
7. Drill down to swim lane flowcharts and other related documents
8. Import Old comparison data with the click of a button
   
9. Inexpensive to easily share & collaborate
   
   
   

Related Posts:

Simple, Easy to use Lean Six Sigma Software tools

Do you know much value you provide? If not, how can you be more effective?

5 Step Process to Lean Marketing

Mark Graban's leanblog.org | Lean Manufacturing | Lean Healthcare | Toyota Production System | Lean Blog

Mark Graban's leanblog.org | Lean Manufacturing | Lean Healthcare | Toyota Production System | Lean Blog