| The Data Measurement Plan: | | | | - Use full dates (month, date, year) |
| - Data Collection Plans are used in the Measure Phase | | | | - Use explanatory title |
| of Lean Six Sigma projects. | | | | - Consider lowest common denominator on metric |
| For each performance measure (Y), update a data | | | | (Minutes vs. Hours; Inches vs. Feet) |
| collection plan to: | | | | - Test and validate your design (try it out) |
| - Include MSA (Measurement System Analysis) | | | | - Don't change form once you've started, or you'll be |
| measure plan (Gantt chart, MS-Project plan is Optional) | | | | "starting over"! |
| - Add Financial measure plan if separate from | | | | As you set up Check Sheets: |
| performance Y | | | | - Prepare a spreadsheet to compile the data. |
| - Add any Time Study or other data collection plans | | | | - Think about how you'll do the compiling (and who'll do |
| for Value Stream Map | | | | it). |
| - Sample Size Calculation | | | | - Consider what sorting, graphing or other reports you'll |
| - Input, Process and Output Metrics (confirm that the | | | | want to create. |
| right process metrics have been chosen and logical | | | | - Continuous or Discrete data? |
| trade-offs have been made in determining what to | | | | - Adequate level of Discrimination and Accuracy? |
| measure.) | | | | - Adjust check sheet as needed to ensure usable |
| - Is this project driven by Customer specifications? If | | | | data later, but don't make data harder to collect. |
| so, how do you know that the specifications satisfy | | | | Who Will Collect the Data? |
| customer critical requirements? | | | | Considerations: |
| - What was the process for determining the metrics in | | | | - Familiarity with the process |
| the Data Measurement Plan? | | | | - Availability/impact on job |
| - What trade-off's were made is determining the final | | | | Rule of Thumb - If it takes someone more than 15 |
| set of metrics for which to gather data? | | | | minutes per day it isn't likely to be done |
| The extent to which these have been addressed or | | | | - Potential Bias |
| executed form the basis of evaluating whether or not | | | | - Will finding "defects" be considered risky or a |
| to allow the project to proceed with the actual data | | | | "negative"? |
| collection. | | | | - Benefits of Data Collection |
| Key Question: Does the data currently exist? | | | | Will data collection benefit the collector? Be Sure They |
| Existing Data | | | | ... |
| - Taking advantage of archived data or current | | | | - Give input on the check sheet design |
| measures to learn about the Output, Process or Input | | | | - Understand operational definitions (!) |
| - This is preferred when the data is in a form we can | | | | - Understand how data will be tabulated |
| use and the Measurement System is valid (a big | | | | - Helps them see the consequences of changing |
| assumption and concern) | | | | - Have been trained and allowed to practice |
| New Data | | | | - Have knowledge and are unbiased |
| - Capturing and recording observations we have not | | | | Narrow Potential Key Process Input Variables (KPIVs): |
| or don't normally capture | | | | - Have the potential root causes been narrowed? |
| - May involve looking at the same "stuff," but with new | | | | - Was a Cause and Effect (C&E) Matrix used? If |
| Operational Definitions | | | | so, what were the results? |
| - This is preferred when the data it is readily and | | | | - How were the KPOVs (Key Process Output |
| quickly collectable (it has less concerns with | | | | Variables) rated? |
| measurement problems) | | | | - Did people who operate the process, technical |
| Existing vs. New Considerations | | | | experts, and supervisors collaborate to produce the |
| - Is existing or "historical" data adequate? | | | | C&E Analysis? |
| - Meet the Operational Definition? | | | | - Have you characterized the variables (controllable, |
| - Truly representative of the process, group? | | | | uncontrolled [noise], etc)? |
| - Contain enough data to be analyzed? | | | | - Was a Pareto Chart used to select potential Key |
| - Gathered with a capable Measurement System? | | | | Process Input Variables (KPIVs) from the C&E |
| - Cost of gathering new data | | | | Matrix? |
| - Time required to gather new data | | | | - How many KPIVs do you have at the beginning and |
| The trade-offs made here, i.e. should the time and | | | | end of C&E Matrix? |
| effort be taken to gather new data, or only work with | | | | - Are there any potential KPIVs which need immediate |
| what we have, are significant and can have a | | | | Baseline capability and MSA? |
| dramatic impact on the project success | | | | - Are these potential KPIVs monitored in the |
| Check Sheets: | | | | workplace? |
| - The workhorse of data collection | | | | - Which process steps stand out as especially |
| - Enhance ease of collection | | | | significant in the C&E Matrix? |
| - Faster capture | | | | - Is there any process step that the team feel can be |
| - Consistent data from different people | | | | eliminated or combined? |
| - Quicker to compile data | | | | Key Steps: |
| - Capture essential descriptors of data "Stratification | | | | - Fill in the Output measure Y. |
| factors" | | | | - Fill in the key stratification questions you have about |
| - Need to be designed for each job | | | | the process in relationship to the Y. |
| How will Data Be Collected: | | | | - List out all the levels and ways you can look at the |
| 1. Select specific data & factors to be included | | | | data in order to determine specific areas of concern. |
| 2. Determine time period to be covered by the form | | | | - Create specific measurements for each subgroup or |
| (Day, Week, Shift, Quarter, etc.) | | | | stratification factor. |
| 3. Construct form | | | | - Review each of the measurements (include the Y |
| - Be sure to include: (clear labels ; enough room; space | | | | measure) and determine whether or not current data |
| for notes; test the form) | | | | exists. |
| Tips: | | | | - Discuss with the team whether or not these |
| - Include name of collector(s) (first & last) | | | | measurements will help to predict the output Y, if not, |
| - Reason/comment columns should be clear and | | | | think of where to apply the measures so that they will |
| concise | | | | help you to predict Y. |