The following is a list of Lean and Six Sigma projects to consider, based on your industry or department.
Finance and Accounting
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Reduce the cycle time to close the books
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Improve the variation in forecast accuracy for sales or budgets
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Reduce the time to generate recurring (weekly or monthly) reports
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Reduce inventory levels while avoiding delivery risks
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Improve processing timing or accuracy of payments to vendors/suppliers
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Reduction of Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
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Reduce payroll process cycle time or accuracy
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Improve payment/collection processes
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Reduce electronic financial transaction and processing costs
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Reduce the cycle time of reconciliation
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Reduce the procure to pay cycle
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Standardize the accrual and deferral processes
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Reduce time to process invoices
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Reduce purchase order creation cycle time
Human Resources
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Reduce the turn around time to hire an employee
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Evaluate and improve gender pay equality
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Reduce the time to process an insurance claim
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Improve employee onboarding and orientation processes
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Reduce expenditures for recruiting firms
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Improve hit-rate for successful hiring
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Reduce Attrition
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Improve timeliness and the value of employee performance reviews
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Reduce absenteeism
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Improve new hire training efficiency
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Improve employee satisfaction from survey results
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Identify and correct retention issues
Sales
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Improve cross-sell opportunities
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Increase % of sales from new customers
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Increase % of bids/proposals won
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Reduce the time required to enter sales orders
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Reduce errors and rework associated with sales orders
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Reduce customer creditworthiness cycle time
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Reduce the number of “bad deals” that are processed
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Improve the cycle time of the entire sales order to cash process
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Increase repeat orders/customers
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Increase customer experience ratings and survey results
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Improve service sales
Shipping, Receiving and Warehouse
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Improve on-time delivery of products to customers
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Reduce the number of finished goods inventory without impacting deliveries
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Reduce processing time from items received until available for the production team
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Reduce time to retrieve parts when requested or triggered
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Setup pull system with factory
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Improve on-time delivery of goods to our facility from vendors
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Improve documentation accuracy
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Reduce time to unload trucks and shipments
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Improve inventory control/rotation
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Improve and minimize inspection processes
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Reduce floor space requirements for warehouse
Information Technology
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Reduce network/server/application/website downtime
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Improve the process of logging in to the network from remote locations
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Improve system reliability/uptime
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Increase the speed of webpage loading/processing
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Standardise computer loads for configuration and support productivity improvement
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Reduce the number of software licenses based on usage
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Improve project request turnaround
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Improve quote accuracy for projects
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Reduce time to respond to help desk requests
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Reduce hardware inventory
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Reduce the number of security alerts/alarms/false alarms/violations
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Reduce the risk of access to the system from non-authorised employees
Product/Service Design
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Reduce the time required to design a product or service
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Reduce errors in design or find them earlier in development
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Reduce estimated production cycle times
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Improve predictions of capability and risk of new products and services
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Reduce testing and inspection time
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Reduce software bugs in programming code
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Reduce the risk of errors and defects in new products and services
Call Centre
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Increase/decrease (depending on your business needs) average talk time
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Reduce abandoned calls
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Reduce time to answer and handle phone calls
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Increase employee knowledge to reduce response time
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Reduce the number of times customer are put on hold
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Reduce calls that are dropped
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Reduce time to respond to issues and queries
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Increase customer satisfaction scores
Healthcare
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Decrease occurrence or risk of adverse events
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Decrease near-miss incidents
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Decrease patient falls or risk level
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Reduce variation in surgical completion times
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Increase patient compliance with taking medication
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Reduce time in the Emergency Department until the first contact with a nurse
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Reduce medication errors
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Reduce the number of patient dosage changes
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Reduce overtime staffing hours
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Improve alignment of patient demand with staffing schedule
Manufacturing
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Improve test yields
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Reduce testing time based on sampling and defects
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Reduce batch sizes
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Standardize instructions for performing tasks
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Reduce overtime %
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Increase worker quality performance
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Reduce time to complete key tasks
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Increase capacity at process bottlenecks
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Reduce setup time during equipment changeover
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Improve communication between shifts
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Reduce lead time from work order start to finish
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Reduce the risk of supplier late deliveries or quality issues
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Reduce time to respond to problems
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Reduce variation in manufacturing processes
Sports
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Evaluate and analyse the best marketing approaches
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Reduce fan complaints
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Increase average sales per attendee
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Reduce concession stand line times
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Reduce time for fans to enter the venue
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Reduce time to park vehicles in the parking lot
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Reduce traffic delays leaving the venue
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Reduce waiting time for restrooms
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Reduce the risk of litigation with fans, staff and players
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Improve player performance (accuracy/consistency) on skills tests (4-yard dash, vertical jump, agility drill, throwing accuracy, etc)
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Reduce weight (more exercise or less calorie intake)
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Improve the scouting or recruiting process based on historical data and outcomes
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Reduce waste (motion, waiting, transportation, overprocessing, etc) during practice time
Grocery/Supermarket
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Improve customer satisfaction scores or flow of the customer journey through the store
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Reduce checkout waiting times for customers
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Reduce the number of stock-outs on shelves
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Reduce waiting time for prepared food
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Reduce time for customers searching for items (better signage, floor markings, etc)
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Reduce time for customers to make buying decisions (better labels, colour coding, etc)
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Reduce the number of lost shopping baskets
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Increase the number of customers bringing their own bags or reusable containers
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Increase sales of local/regional baked goods
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Reduce stock theft and losses (shrink)
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Reduce wasted food from prepared foods
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Reduce duplication of time refilling excess stock
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Reduce time to manage/handle loose stock (items out of place)
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Improve space utilization to maximize customer options
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Lean Roster for Team Management
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Improve organization and safety of the back dock
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Reduce handling and flow of products into store and onto the shelf
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Optimize the use and management of equipment and assets
Non Profits
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Reduce time to train volunteers
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Reduce time to receive donations
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Reduce time to reply to donors
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Reduce the risk of issues at a fundraising event
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Reduce time to check-in attendees at a fundraising event
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Increase volunteer experience and satisfaction
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Reduce setup time for volunteer events
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Analyze opportunity to increase staffing to increase sales
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Optimize email marketing content to maximize donations
Environment
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Reduce electricity costs or carbon emissions
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Reduce tonnage to the landfill
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Increase recycling rates
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Increase the amount of compost
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Reduce natural gas consumption
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Reduce water consumption
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Reduce the amount of wasted food at events and meetings
Education
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Reduce time to set up volunteer events
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Improving student test scores
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Improving teacher effectiveness or student feedback scores
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Improve graduation rates
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Reduce college dropout rates
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Reduce time to register students for classes
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Reduce inefficiencies and extra workload for teachers
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Reducing financial budgets
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Reducing time to hire teachers and staff
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Reduce paperwork for student housing applications
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