01 · Purpose
Why and when to use it
Use it at the start of Measure to connect baseline collection to the project goal and avoid collecting data simply because it is available.
Who takes part?
The measurement owner works with people who understand the process and the recorded data. Statistical or measurement-system decisions should involve someone able to check the assumptions and study design.
02 · Application
How to apply it
Start with an agreed measurement purpose, explicit units and trustworthy observations. Identify missing cases and assumptions before calculating.
- List the output requirements established in Define.
- Select one or more measures that represent each requirement.
- Specify the unit, numerator, denominator, timing and exceptions.
- Record the target and whether it is agreed or provisional.
- Identify a source and owner, then test whether the measure is obtainable.
03 · Example
A worked measurement example
Original fictional teaching example. Small datasets illustrate the method; they are not proposed as sufficient study sizes. Supplied parameters are assumptions, not estimates from a real process.
| Requirement | Measure definition | Source and owner |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch reliability | Late orders / eligible orders × 100; handover after promised dispatch date | Order-level timestamps; operations owner |
| Picking accuracy | Incorrect orders / inspected orders × 100; one classification per order | Order audit; quality owner |
04 · Interpretation
What the result tells you
The matrix is ready when two people can collect the same measure using the documented rules. An accessible data source is not evidence that its records match the required definition.
Completion check: A requirement-to-measure table with definitions, targets, sources and owners.
05 · Judgement
Mistakes and limitations
Avoid targets with no agreed basis, missing denominators and measures that reward speed while hiding accuracy losses. Validate the measurement process before trusting the baseline.
07 · Reading
Sources and further reading
The tool list follows the accepted LeanTrainingLab overview and its reference to Six Sigma+Lean Toolset, second edition (Lunau, editor; Springer, 2013). The book chapters were not available for direct review during this build. Explanations, examples and worksheets are original teaching material. Further reading supplies professional background; local conventions are stated explicitly.