Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach
Quality practices in forensic science are often in tension with providing timely results. When the Costa Rican Department of Forensic Sciences ballistics unit achieved accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 in 2018, the unit started experiencing slower turnaround times. With a view to expediting the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X20300218 |
| _version_ | 1818643335248609280 |
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| author | Carolina Rojas Alfaro Gina Bagnarello Madrigal Mauricio Chacón Hernández |
| author_facet | Carolina Rojas Alfaro Gina Bagnarello Madrigal Mauricio Chacón Hernández |
| author_sort | Carolina Rojas Alfaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quality practices in forensic science are often in tension with providing timely results. When the Costa Rican Department of Forensic Sciences ballistics unit achieved accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 in 2018, the unit started experiencing slower turnaround times. With a view to expediting the resolution of forensic examination processes, the unit undertook a Lean Six Sigma project with a five-phase problem-solving methodology. The unit began to use data and process tools to transform its current state. The completion of all phases showed that two main aspects were preventing the laboratory from fulfilling the customers’ expectations: standardization and constraints. This project took 6 months and improvements were seen through the reduction of the number of pending cases with a backlog of more than 3 months by 97% and the turnaround time from 4 months to 1 month. Through this project, leadership identified an effective methodology, creating a positive impact on customers’ expectations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:57:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea7738e47fc34100b8b76f86032faacc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-871X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:57:19Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea7738e47fc34100b8b76f86032faacc2022-12-21T22:11:11ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Synergy2589-871X2020-01-0129094Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approachCarolina Rojas Alfaro0Gina Bagnarello Madrigal1Mauricio Chacón Hernández2Corresponding author.; Department of Forensic Sciences, Organismo de Investigación Judicial, Costa RicaDepartment of Forensic Sciences, Organismo de Investigación Judicial, Costa RicaDepartment of Forensic Sciences, Organismo de Investigación Judicial, Costa RicaQuality practices in forensic science are often in tension with providing timely results. When the Costa Rican Department of Forensic Sciences ballistics unit achieved accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 in 2018, the unit started experiencing slower turnaround times. With a view to expediting the resolution of forensic examination processes, the unit undertook a Lean Six Sigma project with a five-phase problem-solving methodology. The unit began to use data and process tools to transform its current state. The completion of all phases showed that two main aspects were preventing the laboratory from fulfilling the customers’ expectations: standardization and constraints. This project took 6 months and improvements were seen through the reduction of the number of pending cases with a backlog of more than 3 months by 97% and the turnaround time from 4 months to 1 month. Through this project, leadership identified an effective methodology, creating a positive impact on customers’ expectations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X20300218BallisticsTurnaround timeBacklogStandardizationConstraints |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Rojas Alfaro Gina Bagnarello Madrigal Mauricio Chacón Hernández Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach Forensic Science International: Synergy Ballistics Turnaround time Backlog Standardization Constraints |
| title | Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach |
| title_full | Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach |
| title_fullStr | Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach |
| title_short | Improving forensic processes performance: A Lean Six Sigma approach |
| title_sort | improving forensic processes performance a lean six sigma approach |
| topic | Ballistics Turnaround time Backlog Standardization Constraints |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X20300218 |
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