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R Terms
Random
Random means occurring by chance. There are formal mathematical definitions regarding probability distributions
Rapid Improvement Workshop / RIW
“Rapid improvement workshop” is another name for kaizen event or kaizen blitz. You may also hear it called rapid improvement project, or “RIP”.
Reaction Plan
A reaction plan is the series of steps that you would take in response to a specified abnormal condition.
Regulations
Regulations are rules that are established by an authority.
Reliability
Reliability is the ability of a process, machine, or measurement system to perform as intended over time.
Repeatability
Repeatability is the ability for the same individual or team to get identical results from a process time after time. Essentially, repeatability is the opposite of output variation.
Repetitive Stress Injury / RSI
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a is a repetitive stress injury (RSI) of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel as it passes through the wrist area.
Reproducibility
Reproducibility is the ability of a process to be duplicated by multiple people.
Resources
There is a common misconception that Lean is free. The truth is that making improvements requires a variety of resources.
Respect for People
Spend any time around Lean, or any other continuous improvement methodology, for that matter, and you will undoubtedly hear the term “Respect for People.”
Responsibility
Responsibility is the state of being accountable for something. It may be a team, a process, or an entire company.
Results
Results are the outcomes or consequences of actions.
Rework
Rework is the act of correcting a defect. Rework is obviously waste, and can be avoided by eliminating the root cause of the problem.
Right-Sized Machine
Production processes require assets to run them. You generally have choices. You can use a big machine that costs a lot of money but has tremendous functionality and flexibility.
Risk Management
Risk management is the process of identifying risks, reducing them when possible, and making plans to deal with undesirable outcomes.
Root Cause
The definition of a root cause analysis is simply the act of going through a systematic process to identify the source of a problem.
Rother, Mike
Mike Rother is an author of several books, two of which are associated with the LEI (Lean Enterprise Institute) and received the Shingo Publication Award.
Rule of Thumb
A rule of thumb is simply a general process applied to a broad condition.
Rules
There are countless quotes about rules, most of them negative. The common perception of rules is that they are stifling, limit free thought, and create a rigid, inflexible organization.
Run Charts
A run chart is a tool used to show a change in a value over a period of time.
Status Quo
The status quo is defined as the current or existing state or condition. In plain English, it is how things are today.
The RIPS Cycle
A variation of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (AKA the Deming Cycle), RIPS stands for Review-Implement-Prove-Standardize,