RB Royal Lean Six Sigma Initiative

Reduced lead time. Increased value to customers. Reduced costs. Improved quality. These are just some benefits RB Royal can pass along to customers as a result of our latest initiative. We have embarked on a Lean Six Sigma Initiative primarily to take advantage of combining both Lean and Six Sigma philosophies in a holistic approach to improvement.

Lean focuses on speed/flow in which an activity can be accomplished thereby eliminating waste or non-value added activities from the value stream. Six Sigma on the other hand focuses on the reduction of variation in order to make a robust product or process.

Five phases of improvement in the Lean Six Sigma model:

1. Define

2. Measure

3. Analyze

4. Improve

5. Control

This is better known as DMAIC process. Each phase of the model is necessary to maximize results and accomplish the goals of the improvement efforts.

Benefits of Lean Six Sigma

The new approach will complement and improve on what RB Royal has been able to accomplish over the past five years with our lean initiatives. With an impact of $1,000,000, RB Royal has directly improved its bottom line, is able to increase capacity and can avoid unnecessary costs. This reduces our lead time to get product to our customers, increases value offered, reduces total costs and improves supplier quality issues.

This is just one way RB Royal is working toward continual improvement. By improving our organization, we are able to provide a greater overall value to our customers.

Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) will be assisting RB Royal with implementing Lean Six Sigma across our organization, which is being kicked off in May of 2008. They will be providing training and certification for our Lean Six Sigma Green Belts along with leadership training for our management staff.