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D Terms
Daily Improvement
Daily improvement is the strategy of making constant, incremental improvements each and every day in order see impressive long-term gains.
Daily Management
Daily improvement is the strategy of making constant, incremental improvements each and every day in order see impressive long-term gains.
Daniel T. Jones
See: Jones, Daniel T.
Dashboard
Businesses have an incredible amount of information flowing into them.
Data
Data (the plural form of datum) is essentially information that is not yet in context, or without any applied meaning.
Data Aversion Disease
Some people are so convinced of things that no amount of data can influence their opinion.
Data Collection
The data collection methods that you use lay the foundation for the eventual success of your continuous improvement projects.
Days Sales of Inventory (DSI)
Days sales of inventory (DSI) is an accounting measure that gives an idea of how much inventory is on hand in a company.
Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
Days sales outstanding is a measure of how effective an organization is at getting paid. DSO indicates how many days of sales are still left uncollected.
Deadlines
Deadlines are, simply put, the date something is due. Deadlines may be externally dictated, such as the Internal Revenue Service’s April 15th deadline.
Decision
A decision is a choice between two competing or alternative options. We make countless decisions each and every day—what to wear, what to eat, the route to take to work.
Decision Making
Decision making is the process used to select from two or more competing options.
Decision Point
There are two basic definitions for decision point. The first is on a macro level. It is the latest point in time when a decision must be made within a plan.
Decision Trees
A decision tree is a tool that helps calculate the expected values of the choices that are available to you.
Dedicated Equipment
Dedicated pieces of equipment are machines and tools that are specified for specific tasks or workstations.
Defects
Defects are the undesirable results of an error in a process. In most cases, this shows up as a product or service not conforming to a specification.
Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO)
See: DPMO
Define (DMAIC Step)
The define step of DMAIC is where the problem statement is created, the project is scoped, and the team is formed. The define step lays the foundation for the success of the project.
Delegation
Delegation is the act of appointing another person or group, usually a subordinate, to perform a specific task or role.
Delivery
Delivery is one of the legs of the QDC (quality, cost, delivery) acronym. It is a very simple concept—to get paid, you have to get your product to your customer.
Delphi Method
The Delphi method of predicting outcomes has been around for a long while but is not widely used in continuous improvement.
Demand Windows
Demand windows are periods of time when customer demand is relatively stable. For slow growth or mature products, the window can be extremely long.
Demand, Customer
Customer demand is the pull from a customer. Don’t confuse customers saying they want to purchase something with actually buying something.
Deming Cycle
The Deming Cycle, also known as the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a standardized problem solving approach. It is widely taught as part of most companies’ Lean training.
Deming's 14 Points
W. Edwards Deming has his famous 14 Points for continuous improvement.
Deming's 14 Points
See: 14 Points, Deming
Deming, W. Edwards
W. Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 - December 20, 1993) was an early thought leader on modern continuous improvement.
Design for Manufacturing / DFM Extended Term
Learn more about Design for Manufacturing / DFM
Design of Experiments
A Design of Experiment (DOE) is the process of determine the interaction of KPIVs (Key Process Input Variables) on the output of a process.
DFM
See: Design for Manufacturing
Diminishing Returns
Diminishing returns happen when resource (time, effort, money, space) yields less output than it did at an earlier time.
Dirt Allergies
Unlike medical allergies, the Lean affliction of Dirt Allergies has no physical component to it. It is simply a condition in which people are extremely reluctant to get hands or clothing dirty.
Dirty, Dumb, or Dangerous
One of the basic tenets of continuous improvement is respect for people. A way to do this is to look for and eliminate the tasks that are dirty, dumb, or dangerous.
Discipline
Discipline is the process of changing a behavior to make it conform to a rule or standard.
Discrete Data
Discrete data is data that is countable, quantitative data. It is numerical in data, stemming from a physical count or measurement, and has a limited number of possible values.
Disputes
Disputes are disagreements or differences of opinion and can get heated. Disputes at work are frequently about the way a process should be performed.
DMAIC (Six Sigma Problem Solving)
DMAIC is an acronym for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. It provides a systematic way to approach a problem.
DMAIC Cycle
The DMAIC cycle takes the DMAIC process one step further. It links the end of one project, the Control step, to the beginning of the next one (the Define step).
Documentation
Document your process flow to get the most out of your Lean efforts. Recording your processes helps provide consistency in your output and spurs productivity improvements.
Downstream
Lean makes extensive use of the term flow.
DPMO
DPMO is the abbreviation for defects per million opportunities.
Drawers
When using drawers to store equipment, one expression stands out: Out of sight, out of mind.
Drift (Process)
Most processes change over time. A car will age, and as it undergoes normal wear and tear, gas mileage will worsen. It won’t be an overnight change, but it will trend downward.
Drum-Buffer-Rope
Drum-Buffer-Rope is a production theory derived by Dr. Eli Goldratt in his book, The Goal.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a type of cognitive bias (creation of one's own reality) in which people with limited skills or ability or knowledge tend to overestimate their actual performance level.