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#/Number Terms
5 Whys
The 5 Whys problem-solving tool helps you with root cause analysis. It gets you to the heart of a problem.
1/3, 2/3 Planning Rule
The 1/3, 2/3 planning rule is a rule of thumb about how much time leaders should take for planning before a deadline.
10-Foot, 3-Second Rule
The "10-Foot, 3-Second Rule" is a rule of thumb that helps you decide if your visual management is adequate.
10 Year Old Mindset
Thinking like a 10-year-old, with their very curious manner, helps your continuous improvement efforts.
100 Mile Rule
The 100 Mile Rule is a rule of thumb for when it is OK to disturb a person working on a continuous improvement project.
100 Percent Inspection
This term includes a video that explains what a 100% inspection is, what it reveals about your quality, and the types of errors it can catch.
11 C's of Lean Leadership
There are a set of characteristics that strong leaders in continuous improvement oriented companies need. We've boiled them down to a set of 11 that all start with "C".
3 Reals
The 3 Reals is a term describing going to the real place to observe the real thing and get the real facts and data. It is intended to prevent conference room discussions about provable information.
3P / Production Preparation Process
The Production Preparation Process is a high-level, sophisticated process for deconstructing and then reconstructing a process or product.
4 P's of Marketing
The 4 P's of Marketing are Product, Price, Promotion, and Place (or Placement). They are the factors that will determine the success of the product.
5 Principles of Lean
Lean, as a continuous improvement philosophy, is guided by a handful of principles.
5 P's of Effective Meetings
The “5Ps of Effective Meetings” is a simple memory device to help you, not surprisingly, run more effective meetings.
5S
5S is a tool used to organize and manage workspaces, making them more effective and efficient. It is a core Lean tool.
6 Big Losses of OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
There are 6 big ways your equipment will become less efficient.
6 M's (Cause and Effect Diagram Categories)
The cause and effect diagram is a powerful problem-solving tool. The 6 M's are a common breakdown of categories used in manufacturing.
7 Basic Tools of Quality
The 7 Basic Tools of Quality are a common set of problem-solving or quality improvement tools.
9-Square Prioritization Tool
The 9 Square is a simple tool to decide what to work on first based on the impact and difficutlty of a project.
5W1H
5W1H is shorthand for “Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.” It is used both in problem solving and in project planning
4-10 Workweek
The standard work schedule week is five 8-hour days, totaling 40 hours. Some companies, though, opt for a 4-10 workweek with an additional day off each week.
6 P's
The 6 P’s is a mnemonic tool similar to the 6 M’s. Both are used to categorize causes on an Ishikawa (cause & effect) diagram.
6 Serving Men of Creativity
This term is the title of a Rudyard Kipling poem that is closely associated with the term 5W1H.
6S
6S is a mnemonic device used to recall the steps to improve workplace organization and effectiveness. It is essentially 5S with safety specifically added.
7 Wastes
The 7 wastes is one of the most important continuous improvement terms you will hear. Most of the Lean tools, at their core, focus on reducing waste to improve flow.
8 Wastes / 8th Waste
The 8 wastes are a variation on the seven wastes that were first proposed by Taiichi Ohno, the father of modern Lean.
8D Analysis
8D Analysis is a problem-solving methodology. It takes a step by step approach to identifying the root cause of a problem and permanently eliminating it.
8D Problem Solving
The 8D problem solving methodology is similar to the DMAIC approach utilized by Six Sigma. Of note, 8D is a shortened form of the original name, “8 Disciplines”.
14 Points, Deming
In his book, Out of the Crisis, W. Edwards Deming lists his 14 points for management. The overall aim of the book is to transform the style of American leadership.
70-20-10 Learning Model
The 70-20-10 Learning Model is a framework that suggests a balanced approach to professional development.
80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule states that 80 percent of the effects of something come from 20 percent of the causes.
6 Sigma / 6σ
See: Six Sigma
8 Disciplines / 8D
See: 8D Problem Solving