SixSig Reference Feature: Putting Dinner on the Table with Lean Six Sigma


Posted by: meikah | 31 August 2010 | 8:23 pm

Every time I read about Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma being applied to everyday life, I’d get excited. It is because I want people to know that although the concept sounds ominous, it is actually not difficult to use or even learn it.

Aqua Porter, VP of Lean Six Sigma Strategy at Xerox, shares some insights on Real Business at Xerox.

When I read Dr. Carol Marchetti’s blog post  back in June about the ways Xerox is using Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve business processes, I started thinking, if Lean Six Sigma can help the business world, what could it do for my home life?

Continue reading…

Filed under: Lean Six Sigma, Xerox Corporation

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Developing a Lean Six Sigma Training Curriculum


Posted by: meikah | 31 August 2010 | 7:49 pm

Developing any training module needs careful study. A lot of things have to be considered so that all modules or components will help you achieve your goal.

Over at iSixSigma, Gerard Pappa, shares three challenges to overcome when developing a Lean Six Sigma Training Curriculum:

  1. Agree on objectives.
  2. Prepare the material for presentation.
  3. Ensure the effectiveness of the curriculum.

Read on…

Sounds like the really basic considerations that you need when developing any training material right? But these basic things are often overlooked.

Filed under: Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Training

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Six Sigma in Europe


Posted by: meikah | 20 August 2010 | 12:22 am

According to an article on the Business Review Europe Online, most successful adopters of Six Sigma are found in Europe.

Among the successful companies are Hertel and GE Healthcare.

According to Ben Doornbusch, Global Business Improvement Manager of Hertel, “The biggest improvement was in the steering of people at our sites. We discovered that there had previously been a lot of loss, with our workforce not being as productive as it could be.”

Mahen Hoolash, Six Sigma Quality Leader, GE Healthcare, says, “Six Sigma taught us that there is a noticeable difference between 99 percent good quality and 99.99966.”

Read more…

Filed under: GE, Healthcare, Hertel, Six Sigma

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Innovation of the Week: A Touchscreen iPod Shuffle Could Be a Cool Innovation


Posted by: meikah | 19 August 2010 | 9:46 pm
sixsig innovation of the week

This week’s edition of innovation update features the story about a new generation iPod shuffle.

PCWorld reports:

Is Apple granting touch treatment to the lowliest of iPods, the iPod Shuffle? Maybe, if the rumors are to be believed; and, unlikely as it may seem, a touchscreen iPod Shuffle is actually a good idea.

Rumors of a possible 1.7-inch iPod Shuffle with a touchscreen comes from iLounge, which published a bunch of unsubstantiated details on upcoming Apple devices. My colleague, Ian Paul, already wrote at length about the likelihood of these rumors. But I wanted to take a moment to just want to focus on the iPod, because let’s be honest, with all hoopla over iPads and iPhones, the music player’s just not getting any love.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Apple, Innovation, Innovation Update, Six Sigma, Software/Technology

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SixSig Reference Feature: Six Sigma Control in Software Development – Software Test Professionals – Testing, Quality Assurance, and People


Posted by: meikah | 16 August 2010 | 12:08 am

AnyTechnology shares a good discussion on how Six Sigma figures in software development, especially using the DMAIC tool.

Controls in Software Code
We can help ourselves by performing a set of behaviors designed to reduce or eliminate the anticipated relapse:

* Code reviews
* Code inspections
* Code walkthroughs
* Configuration Reviews
* Static analyzers
* Dynamic analyzers
* White-box testing
* Black-box testing
* Coding standards
* Practicing safe coding

Continue reading…

Filed under: DMAIC, Six Sigma, Software/Technology

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Six Sigma Companies News: Cummins India net profit up 58%


Posted by: meikah | 15 August 2010 | 10:04 pm

news on Six Sigma companies

Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.

IndianExpress.com reports:

The net sales of Cummins India Limited for the quarter, ended June 30, 2010, were Rs 910 crores, an increase of 45% compared to the same period last year…

… Anant J Talaulicar, chairman and managing director, Cummins India Limited, said, “We had taken full advantage of the slowdown by accelerating our Six Sigma based focus on waste reduction, process improvements and value engineering. Thus, we further strengthened our balance sheet...”

Continue reading…

Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Cummins, Six Sigma, Six Sigma Organizations

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Quality Quiz from PQ Systems e-Line


Posted by: meikah | 10 August 2010 | 8:01 pm

PQ Systems Quality E-Line

PQ Systems through it’s Quality eline newsletter brings us another quality quiz by Professor Leary.

For this month’s quiz, and a chance to win a copy of the newly-released collection of Quality Quiz Classics. Submit your response by August 27 to be entered in the drawing.

Here’s the quiz:

Russ T. Buckett, Quinn Quip’s boss at Quince’s Quality Quiche in Quincy, has been somewhat impressed—and surprised—by Quinn’s apparent expertise in sampling techniques. Last month, of course, he took a simple random sample of 42 people from Quincy, in order to estimate their average age. Fascinated, Russ asks Quinn if he will also find the average income of Quincy residents—in order to initiate appropriate marketing, he says, though Quinn knows that he’s just curious about salaries.

Continue…

Winners of last month’s quiz and a copy of the Quality Quiz Classics DVD:

Jeannette Finch (Albon Manufacturing)
John Fraim (Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc)
Michael Hagan (Gift of Life Michigan)
Martin Mutter (Wacker Chemical)
Michael Tappy (Kimberly-Clark Corp.)

Congratulations!

Filed under: PQ Systems eLine, Quality Quiz, Six Sigma

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Innovation of the Week: U.S. DOE’s Energy Innovation Hub Will Develop Fuel From Sunlight


Posted by: meikah | 29 July 2010 | 7:44 pm
sixsig innovation of the week

This week’s edition of innovation update features the story about generating fuel from sunlight.

Spearheading this project is the Energy Innovation Hub of the U.S. Department of Energy. Fast Company features:

Want to generate innovation? Build a hub to make it happen. The U.S. Department of Energy is embarking on an ambitious plan to speed up energy innovation with a $122 million cash injection for an Energy Innovation Hub  in California. Dubbed the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, the research center will do exactly as its name suggests–develop a solar energy fuel conversion system through artificial photosynthesis and bring it to commercialization.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Innovation, Innovation Update, Sustainable Business

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Six Sigma Companies News: Risk Management Lessons from Toyota


Posted by: meikah | 27 July 2010 | 1:08 am

news on Six Sigma companies

Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.

Forbes.com reports:

Don’t wait until it’s too late to create a necessary plan.

Toyota is well-known for its lean business process, continuous innovation, manufacturing prowess and strong supplier ties. That’s exactly why the news about the accelerator problems for millions of vehicles came as a shock to so many people. The impact will be long-term, far-reaching and very expensive.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma Organizations, Toyota

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The SixSig Roundup


Posted by: meikah | 27 July 2010 | 12:43 am

SixSig Roundup

It’s time again for some link-loving and see what other blogs are saying about Six Sigma, Lean, Lean Six Sigma and other quality improvement processes.

Forrest Breyfogle  of Going Beyond Lean Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard says that for lessons on recovery, U.S. can look to the north on their healthy policies and performance measurements. The post is particularly referring to Canada and how the country is doing amidst the crisis.

Over at Call IT Anything, Dale Sanders advises to don’t be strangled by process-improvement Black Belts. “Try though we may fix the problems of healthcare IT with rigorous process– most recently ITIL– we’re only putting lipstick on a pig…”

The Best Mobile Phone blog shares some tips and technology for Six Sigma mobile workforces. “Some organizations that have tried to use Six Sigma in field sales have used information technology solutions too soon. There is a wrong perception that Six Sigma will interfere with the productivity of the sales staff or take up time that they would rather spend with customers.”

Food Standard blog asks, can a fast food chain benefit from Lean Six Sigma? The post has good points about food, waste and Lean Six Sigma.

Lean Six Sigma for Law Enforcement blog talks about MBWA, or Management by Walking Around. It’s an interesting management style and the blog itself is a revelation. Check it out!

Filed under: Economy, Food, IT, Law/Legal Service, Lean Six Sigma, Mobile Workforce, Six Sigma

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