PiP: Principles in Patterns
An important strand of the PiP technical work was the application of formal techniques for process analysis, process modelling and improvement. Process improvement within PiP therefore adopted a toolkit of analytical tools, including Lean Six Sigma. Such was the success of these formal approaches that they have been refined and reconceptualised within an HE context using a Lean Six Sigma methodology: SLEEK. SLEEK provides a methodological approach to process analysis and improvement, and one which HE staff can better understand and use to solve a wide variety of process based issues.
The work of SLEEK and collaboration with the Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM) at the University of Strathclyde has inspired new avenues of research and investigation, findings from which will be disseminated in the academic literature and should inform the activities of other HE institutions.
Progress and success with the SLEEK initiative is also documented in the SLEEK Pilot Status Report (Jan 2013), which details over 40 SLEEK projects at the University of Strathclyde and assesses their impact:
Wider collaboration with DMEM and, in particular, students studying the MSc Lean Six Sigma for Process Excellence, led to additional outputs for PiP including:
Literature reviews and survey results produced by the MSc students on the above noted topics are available below: