Brainstorming, interviews, mind maps, and Six Thinking Hats

Learning objectives

• Explain the purpose of brainstorming, interviews, mind maps, and six thinking hats in a garment-factory improvement project.
• Apply the described method to a representative shop-floor situation.
• Recognize the common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Concept

Structured creativity methods capture shop-floor knowledge while preventing hierarchy and criticism from narrowing the solution set.

Silent brainstorming equalizes voice; interviews reach tacit knowledge; mind maps show relationships.

Six perspectives — facts, risk, value, creativity, emotion, facilitation — reduce bias in mixed teams.

Garment-factory example

Operators, mechanics, quality, IE, planning, and washing specialists explore shade variation from six perspectives to surface both technical and behavioral causes.

Method

1. Define the question.
2. Invite cross-functional participants.
3. Set a no-judgment rule and time-box rounds.
4. Cluster outputs after generation ends.

Common mistakes

• Allowing senior voices to dominate.
• Confusing complaints with actionable ideas.