CB in Lean Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma Programs
Designing of an engine or perfecting a process, efficiency is key-and one rely on Lean Six Sigma or Design for Six Sigma practice to get there. But if the base of the analysis is hard data-and not on the variation inherent in any manufacturing, engineering, or service process-the result will be only getting halfway there. Oracle's Crystal Ball takes the rest of the way, allowing one to use simulation, modeling, optimization, and forecasting to predict and reduce the effects of variation.
As a suite of Microsoft Excel add-ins, Crystal Ball software works to turn existing engineering and process spreadsheet models into dynamic analytical tools that help in identifying and control the negative effects of variation throughout Six Sigma projects.
Six Sigma applications of Crystal Ball include -
- Design development and optimization
- Tolerance and reliability analyses
- Project selection
- Process simulation (especially important when historical data is lacking)
Key Features
- User-defined specification limits for each forecast
- Views of simulation-based capability metrics
- Split view forecast charts (allowing graphs and tables to be viewed together)
- Wide selection of example models
- Crystal Ball Process Capability Guide (with tutorials)
Key Benefits
- Big picture analysis (accounting for variation in systems and process)
- Identification of key business drivers (through sensitivity analysis)
- Early insights (via modeling and simulation)
- Identification of optimal solutions (accounting for variation and constraints)
- Easily communicated results (via interactive charts, graphs, and reports)
Crystal Ball can be applied across an entire Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, or DFSS project
Define - During project's initial phases, Crystal Ball help in understanding the potential impacts of variables. Before and when project begins, one can use Crystal Ball to -
- Select projects
- Assess value streams
- Estimate costs
- Identify critical-to-quality project characteristics
Measure - Historical data can be used to quantify the performance of processes. Crystal Ball simulation is helpful in situations where data is infrequent, estimated, or costly to gather. Here, Crystal Ball can be used to -
- Establish quality and efficiency baselines for processes
- Measure gaps and risks
Analyze - Using Crystal Ball tools one can discover and validate the underlying causes of waste and variation. Figure out which opportunities to pursue. Using Crystal Ball, one can analyze -
- Tolerance
- Sensitivity
- Root causes
- Linear regression
Improve / Design - By applying Crystal Ball analysis to Excel spreadsheets,one can virtually test the proposed process and design improvements.In the improvement phase, one can use Crystal Ball to
- Analyze reliability
- Simulate processes
- Optimize inventory
- Allocate resources
Control / Verify - areas needs to be identified that need improvement and areas in which improvements have already been made,Crystal Ball helps in doing both. Crystal Ball can be used to validate
- Designs
- Functional control plans
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