Using the Tools in Your Performance Excellence Toolbox: Part 10 Cross Functional Tools
This is the tenth in a series of posts on using performance excellence tools. It covers how most of the tools already discussed can be used in different functions and stages of performance improvement.
Novices and purest can make a mistake when selecting and applying tools. They think that a tool is specific to a discipline approach such as Six Sigma, Lean, PMBOK, etc. or a stage of that discipline and can only be used in that discipline or stage. Or worse that every tool identified for a stage must be used. Neither is correct. The best tools to use in any stage are the tools that meet the requirements — that get the job done. This includes tools not normally associated with performance improvement.
These tools can be used the same way whether you are doing the first three stages of Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma DMAIC or Design for Six Sigma DMADV. In all of these you need to Define, Measure, and Analyze.
The table below lays out the tools and what stages they are generally used in. The dark shaded cells indicate that the tool is a primary one for that stage. The light shaded cells indicate that it should be referenced in the stage. This is especially true for the Charter, Gantt Chart, and CTQ.
Process Improvement for Non-Profits 