Management Information System – Understanding Information Systems
Introduction In today’s information and communication age, there is a constant reference to information systems and management of information systems. In the digital age data, storage and retrieval are done through various systems and interfaces. Information System An information system, therefore, can be defined as set of coordinated network of components which act together towards […]
Selecting 3PL Service Partner
When an Organization chooses to outsource its inventory management services, the project success hinges on choosing the right partner because the stakes in a warehouse management projects are very high. Besides the impact on the other functions like manufacturing or markets, the third party service provider is the custodian of your inventory which meaning your […]
Importance of Measurement Systems Analysis
Measurement Systems analysis is an integral part of the Six Sigma project. No matter what project is being conducted under the Six Sigma methodology, this part of the process can never be omitted out and the successful results still be obtained. Below is an explanation about what makes Measurement Systems Analysis such an integral part […]
The Economic Effect of the American Deep Freeze
In the beginning of 2019, America has been hit by a weather phenomenon known as the Polar Vortex. This phenomenon has brought chilly winds and freezing temperatures to the United States. In many parts of the country like Chicago, the temperatures have hit historic lows and were close to -50 degrees! The daily life of […]
Non Random Patterns – Part 1
Cyclical Pattern: A cyclical pattern is defined as a predictive situation in which data points increase and decrease the process mean in a manner which is repetitive. While this may sound like a mouthful, we are all intuitively aware of what a cycle means. In the case of control charts, cyclical patterns signify special cause […]
A process driven by primary metric alone is not fool proof. Operations managers always know that they face trade-offs. With everything that is desired, there is a chance that something that is not desired will come in too. Hence to prevent these secondary metrics are required. Here is how to use secondary metrics to ensure that the Six Sigma Project is seamlessly executed.
While a primary metric measures what needs to be fixed, the secondary metric measures what must not be broken. This concept can be better explained with the help off an example. For instance the number of cars produced per hour is the primary metric in the factory, workers may start working haphazardly on each car to maximise the primary metric. This will obviously be detrimental to the business. On the other hand, if a secondary metric that measures the number of defects is introduced then the workers cannot get away with haphazard production.
Holistic Picture: The secondary metrics help the management gain a more holistic view into the state of operations. The primary metric just conveys information about one of the Y’s (outputs) of the process. Information about the other outputs is obtained by the management through secondary metrics.
Problem Shifting: Most importantly, secondary metrics ensure that workers are not able to shift problems in the name of six sigma projects. If huge amount of resources are spent on making the assembly line more productive, but at the end we have a faster but more defects producing assembly line, we may be worse off than we started. While trade-offs are a part of the picture, something needs to be lost to make the process more efficient, it must be monitored explicity. This is what the secondary metrics help us to do.
The process could be full of secondary metrics. The goal is to tell the management a complete story with as few numbers as possible. If a large amount of secondary metrics are chosen, it may become difficult for the management to keep track of them. Here is how to choose the best secondary metrics for the smooth functioning of the process.
Other Critical to Quality Measures: The most important critical to quality measure usually becomes the Primary Metric. The other critical to quality measures are good candidates for secondary metrics. This is because since they are critical, their value needs to be controlled. Hence the top few metrics which determine the quality of output should be made secondary metrics.
Assume Future Problems: Another method of finding out secondary metrics is to figure out what can possibly go wrong with the Six Sigma project. Anything which has a plausible chance of negating the positive effects created by the Six Sigma project is a secondary metric and needs the attention of the management.
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