Improve Phase

Goal or purpose:

• To test and implement potential solutions.
• To verify the solutions are effective.
• To document the cost benefit.

• To ensure the solution is robust.

Deliverables:

• Documented results of improvement work.
• A new process map.
• Revised or new operating tolerances.
• Results for an optimization routine.
• A revised failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
• A finalized cost benefit analysis.
• A new measurement system assessment.

• A new capability analysis, including calculation of the sigma level.

Relevant tools:

• Process mapping, design of experiments, simulation, optimization, cost benefit analysis, FMEA, stakeholder analysis, decision making tools, and change management tools.

Questions to be answered:

• How did you generate your potential solutions?
• What criteria did you use to evaluate the potential solutions? How do the criteria relate to the key performance measures?
• What potential problems did you identify? How were they addressed?
• Which solutions did you pilot test? How did you test them? If you tested several changes, did you use a designed experiment?
• What was the impact of the data you collected during the pilot tests on the root causes and key performance indicators or measures?
• What steps can be taken to manage the cultural impact of the full-scale implementation? Who will be affected by the changes and how? What is being done to facilitate this change?

• How will full-scale implementation of the chosen solution affect customers?

Improve Phase 1. A description of the process after the improvement was implemented. 2. A new primary Metric Trend Chart