Process Improvement doesn’t have to be confusing
Check out our resources below to learn more about Process Improvement.
Join one of our workshops to take your journey to the next level.
What is Process Improvement (PI)?
A PROCESS is all the actions, steps, and decisions taken to achieve a particular end.
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT is increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of all of those actions, steps, and decisions taken to achieve a particular end.
EFFICIENCY is using as few resources as possible achieve a goal or objective.
EFFECTIVENESS is how close the process comes to delivering the desired value.
What are the different types of Process Improvement?
Continuous Improvement (CI) is often used as a blanket term covering all aspects of Process Improvement including Change Management.
Process Improvement (PI) references methodologies focused on improving processes. While these could be numerous, usually it refers to Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. At Beautiful Opportunities we use this term because it most universally recognized.
Lean is a PI methodology focused on eliminating waste to increase value. These tools simplify our processes.
Six Sigma is PI methodology focused on reducing variation and increasing the consistency of a process. These tools perfect our processes.
Recently Agile has sometimes created confusion about what is Lean. Agile is a method of managing software development work that was designed with Lean methodologies in mind, intending to reduce bottlenecks and increase the speed at which work is completed. Lean tools help Agile practitioners improve their process or program just as it would in any industry on any process. However, while Agile uses Lean tools, Agile is not the same as Lean.
Note: Each organization may define these terms for themselves, making it important to ask questions.
How do I get started in Process Improvement (PI)?
Getting started in Process Improvement is easy, in fact you’ve probably already started without even knowing it!
Every day on this Earth people work to make their lives better. Whether it is organizing a drawer, moving an object, eliminating something that doesn’t add value, or changing the sequence we do something. All of these are examples of small improvements we make to our processes.
There are three actions you can take to get started:
Recognize you’re already using it! As mentioned above, start recognizing the actions are taking to make work better.
Learn the lingo. Open a book or watch a video and learn some of the tools. How many of the tools have names for activities you already do?
Join others. Take one of our courses or join our PI community on Facebook. Start connecting so you can apply the tools with support.
What are some of the challenges with getting started in Process Improvement?
Our industry seems to have intentionally made Process Improvement as confusing as possible.
Change is hard. Leading change is risky and uncomfortable.
Many organizations focus on actions completed rather than meeting the intent of the tools: to improve the value to our customers and make the work easier for our staff. Ultimately the goal is sustainable improvement.
Check out the video to see many of the ways we’ve frustrated people interested in joining the industry and why some people you encounter may not be supportive when you share your journey.
Do I need to get certified? What does the job market look like?
The traditional and only standardized certifications are the Six Sigma Belts.
White Belt - Introduction to Six Sigma
Green Belt - Six Sigma and statistical foundations using DMAIC
Black Belt - More advanced statistical tools
Master Black Belt - More advanced tools, portfolio and change management
The best way to determine if you need to invest in a costly certification is to look at what the jobs you are targeting request.
With the popularity of Process Improvement in Service, Healthcare, and Software Development the traditional belts are less relevant. Traditional Green Belt has a tendency over teach some concepts (Minitab and advanced statistical analysis) and under teach the soft skills (Change Management) that ensure your success in applying the tools.
It is also common for organizations and consultancies to offer Green Belt (GB) training that does not satisfy the requirements for certification to industry standard. Training should be two weeks or approximately 80 hours of content and activities.
All of our training and workshops focus on practical application, if the course satisfies the certification requirements we offer that belt certification with demonstration of the applied knowledge.
The gold standard for Six Sigma certification is ASQ.
There is not an industry standard certification for Lean.