The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook
Occasionally I run across a new resource that makes process improvement easy. I recently discovered a “new” (to me, anyway) book from 2002 (“The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook”, written by Pande, Neuman, and Cavanagh) that I want to share with you because it presents Six Sigma tools and methods in a refreshingly useful way.
The for those familiar with how the Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook presents the application of CPI tools, this book will feel familiar. Both of these books provide expert guidance on the use of specific process improvement tools.
However, The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook doesn’t stop there. Theory is provided alongside the step-by-step instructions on using Six Sigma tools. Rather than confusing and distracting the reader, however, these instructions serve to answer common questions that arise for both beginning and experienced Process Improvement Practitioners using a smart “theory – tools – further depth” format for each phase of a DMAIC project.
To highlight how useful this book is:
I recently wrote about data types in my blog. Although I outlined the major types of data you are likely to encounter, I didn’t discuss the difficulty that exists in discerning the difference between discrete and continuous data. The distinction is important as it determines which statistical tools are available for analysis; putting discrete data into an analysis tool designed for continuous data just won’t work.
The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook helps with this. It provides a simple data-type test called “The ‘Half’ Test”. Simply put, you take the unit of measure and ask if “half of it” makes sense. The book provides numerous examples, including:
Unit of Measure > The “Half” Test
“Customers who complain” : “Half a customer” doesn’t make sense. This is a discrete measure.
“Hours lost to rework” : “Half an hour” makes sense. This is a continuous measure.
“Defects per application” : “Half a defect” doesn’t make sense. This is a discrete measure.
Continuous data is preferable to discrete data as it allows use of much more powerful analysis tools. Unfortunately, continuous data is usually more difficult (expensive) to collect; discrete data is usually readily available quickly and easily.
One solution to this problem involves converting discrete data into continuous data, and this is a topic that The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook excels at explaining. Again, numerous examples are provided, including:
Continuous > Discrete
Hold time per incoming call (continuous) : Number of calls on hold past 30 seconds (discrete)
Average temperature per hour (continuous) : Hours with temperature over 85 degrees (discrete)
Minutes to board plane (continuous) : Delayed boarding incidents (discrete)
Using this data conversion technique, you can check your data collection plan to ensure that it captures the best data for your upcoming statistical data analysis. By capturing data that can be converted to continuous form, you open up a much more powerful set of statistical analysis tools.
This is just a small sample of what The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook provides. It is an excellent resource and if you are just building your Lean/Six Sigma library it is worth a look. If you are interested in getting a copy I’ve added it to my Resources page.
What are your thoughts? Do you have a book (or other favorite resource) that you’d like to recommend?