Basics of Lean and Six Sigma for the Laboratory

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Author: Michael Yu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)
Reviewer: Louie Farnacio, MBA, MSQA, CLS, MT(ASCP)DLM, CQA(ASQ)CSSBB

This course describes the basic principles of Lean and Six Sigma, providing an overview and introduction to these useful quality improvement methods, including various tools and procedures that are part of the Lean and Six Sigma systems.

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Explain the basics principles of Lean and Six Sigma.
  • Discuss the most commonly used Lean and Six Sigma tools.
  • Identify and select opportunities for process and quality improvement using methods described in this course.
  • Apply Six Sigma and Lean concepts to a project to improve outcomes.

Course Outline

  • Lean and Six Sigma Overview
      • What are Lean and Six Sigma?
      • History of Lean and Six Sigma
      • Lean and Six Sigma Timeline
      • What is the focus of both Lean and Six Sigma?
  • Lean
      • Principles of Lean
      • Five Steps to Lean Thinking
      • Waste in the Laboratory
      • Recommended Lean Processes: Waste Walk
      • Recommended Lean Processes: 5S
      • Additional Lean Processes and Concepts
      • Batch Size Reduction
      • Laboratory Work Cell
      • Which of the statements below would be considered Lean thinking?
  • Six Sigma
    • Introduction to Six Sigma
      • Six Sigma: Measuring Quality
      • Process Sigma and Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO)
      • DPMO and Process Sigma (Sigma Level): Scenario
      • Six Sigma Level of Quality in Health Care
      • Stages of Project Team Development
      • Six Sigma Team
      • Which of these individuals is most likely to work on Six Sigma projects on a full time basis?
    • DMAIC
      • DMAIC Process
      • Project Selection
      • DMAIC: Define Phase
      • Project Charter
      • "Define Phase" Tools: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
      • Example of FMEA
      • "Define Phase" Tools: Quality Function Deployment
      • "Define Phase" Tools: Voice of the Customer (VOC)
      • "Define Phase" Tools: Supplier, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers (SIPOC) Diagram
      • DMAIC: Measure Phase
      • Process Map
      • Data Collection Plan: Baseline Measurement
      • DMAIC: Analyze Phase
      • Cause and Effect Diagram and DOE
      • Pareto Chart
      • Process Analysis
      • DMAIC: Improve Phase
      • DMAIC: Control Phase
      • Which of the following actions should be taken during the "Define" phase of the DMAIC process?
  • Conclusion
      • Conclusion
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Intermediate
 
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical technicians, and pathologists. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
 
Author information: Michael Yu, MBA, MLS(ASCP) is the area lab manager at Kaiser Permanente, Panorama City Hospital, California. He holds a BS degree in clinical lab science from George Washington University and an MBA in healthcare administration from Loma Linda University.  He completed his MLT training at the Naval School of Health Sciences in San Diego. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, he was the phlebotomy and chemistry supervisor at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. At that time, he was also a lecturer at the UCLA School of Medicine, Center for Prehospital Care.  Michael completed his Six Sigma Greenbelt training from UCSD and is certified by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) as a Six Sigma Greenbelt (SSGB).
 
Reviewer information: Louie Farnacio, MBA, MSQA, CLS, MT(ASCP)DLM, CQA(ASQ)CSSBB is the Regional Operations Director at SCPMG Regional Reference Laboratories.
 
Course description: This course describes the basic principles of Lean and Six Sigma, providing an overview and introduction to these useful quality improvement methods, including various tools and procedures that are part of the Lean and Six Sigma systems.

This course is part of:
Pareto chart
Employee engage highlight
FMEA example
110520 Lean cover image-06