Tim Solso: Six Sigma CEO of the Year

For the Six Sigma naysayers out there, learn from Tim Solso, the new Six Sigma CEO of the Year awardee in this year’s Global Six Sigma Awards, organized by WCBF, and what he has to say about Six Sigma.
Tim Solso is Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. It’s not a secret that Cummins is among the big companies who are enjoying the benefits and savings of Six Sigma.

Tim Solso says:

“Six Sigma is one of the best things we have ever done. Last year we saved $340 million and since its inception in September 1999, we’ve saved or avoided spending a total of $1.4 billion” Solso reported at the May 2007 Cummins Inc. Annual Meeting.

2006 was the best year in Cummins’ history, with record revenues of $11.4 billion, record profits and record cash flow.

Source: Auto Spectator, a featured link by Six Sigma Zone

Related stories:
A Vote of Confidence for Six Sigma
Six Sigma Marketing at Cummins

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

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A BPO Bags Six Sigma Awards

Firstsource bags two Six Sigma awards

Mumbai-based BPO Firstsource Solutions has bagged top Six Sigma honours from the International Quality and Productivity Centre for this year.

Firstsource has won two awards, one for “Best Defect Elimination in Services & Transaction” and the other for “Best Design for Six Sigma” in the IQ Six Sigma Excellence Awards in Singapore last week.

Source: Economic Times as featured link of Six Sigma Zone

Filed under: Six Sigma Organizations, Awards, Call Center/BPO, FirstSource

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Six Sigma Round-up

Here’s another round of Six Sigma news in the blogosphere.

First at iSixSigma blogs, Michael Marx features Graham Richard, Mayor of Fortwayne City, Indiana. If you recall, I’ve written about Fortwayne before, calling it Six Sigma City. I’m glad they’ve continued their Six Sigma journey, and I hope other cities will learn from them. Mayor Richard published a book titled, Performance is the Best Politics: How to create high-performance government using Lean Six Sigma. Check out Michael’s take on it. You may also check out Fortwayne’s Six Sigma initiatives here.

Next, over at Six Sigma Blog, Priya Jestin asks a good question, “Black Belts: Your Own Or Hired?” and went on to discuss the pros and cons of having in-house Black Belts to handle Six Sigma projects or getting a consultant to do it. While it’s true that there are good and bad sides to either way, I believe there is more value in the long term to get a consultant to train your people initially. After which, your trained Black Belts will continue the projects that have been started.

At ISSSP, its feature is on IBM Consulting Services: “Aligning quality efforts to drive Baldrige quality performance.” The article highlights George Byrne and Bob Norris’s, principal consultants at IBM Business Consulting Services paper on Using Six Sigma As an Engine to Drive Baldrige Quality Performance. It’s good information on strategically applying Six Sigma principles to raise Baldrige performance. After all, some recognition for a job well done is always a good motivation to aim higher.

Filed under: Six Sigma Organizations, Awards, Training, Six Sigma References, Public Sector

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Six Sigma at Johnson & Johnson (Philippines)

Last Monday, Jan. 15, in The Philippine Star Business Section, I saw a whole page release of Johnson & Johnson (J&J)as recipient of the 2006 Philippine Quality Award (PQA).

The whole J&J organization has long been committed to quality. In fact, they started implementing Six Sigma back in 1997. Since then, they have been living with process excellence and have enjoyed big savings.

According to Rath & Strong Management Consultants of which J&J is a client, J&J has achieved the following:

• 1997 Launch — Six Sigma methodology, deployment training, and support
• 40 coached projects resulting in $250MM savings year 1; 60 coached projects resulting in $350MM savings year 2
• 100,000 employees — virtually all businesses, functions, processes worldwide
• Establishment of process-based dashboards and metrics
• Full leadership team engaged in Six Sigma development and dashboard development and use
• Improved reporting disciplines throughout entire business
• Dramatic results in taking substantial costs out of the business and driving top-line growth

Back to J&J (Phils.), the company’s quality journey started in the 1980s with a purely product-focused quality mindset through the Quality Improvement Program. In the early 1990s, the program further evolved towards TQM through J&J’s own Signature of Quality.

J&J’s quality journey keeps evolving through these years by committing to Process Excellence, which all employees must undergo. According to the press release in The Philippines Start, a select few pursue advance training in Six Sigma. Right now, there are nine certified Six Sigma belts, out of a lean headcount of 173 employees. More are undergoing certification process. The belts lead and mentor company WIGS (wildly important goals) projects, provide technical coaching to other employees on improvement methodologies, and deploy the DMAIIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Implement-Control) process in addressing operational challenges.

To show that the company is really into Six Sigma, J&J (Phils.) launched Sally Sigma, a locally developed character tapped to teach concepts, demonstrate practical application of improvement tools and methodologies, do online coaching and mentoring, and communicate principles in bite-size portions. Sally Sigma has worked effectively for J&J (Phils.) that it has been adopted by other affiliates.

Sources:
Rath & Strong Management Consultants, “Client Achievement—Johnson & Johnson and Six Sigma”

The Philippine Star Business Section, “Johnson&Johnson (Philippines) Inc.: Journey to Quality Recipient of the PQA Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management.” January 15, 2007.

Filed under: Six Sigma Organizations, Awards, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson

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Six Sigma in the Asia Pacific

From May 22 to 23 this year, the 8th Annual Asian Six Sigma Summit 2007 will be held at Raffles The Plaza, Singapore. The Summit focuses on innovation, challenging all organizations to leave the old and embrace the new way of doing things.

The Summit will also highlight Six Sigma in the Asia Pacific. The last time we checked there are about 14 Six Sigma organizations in the Asia Pacific. I’m sure this number has increased.

Over at IQPC, Robert Dawson, Principal Director, Office of Information Systems and Technology of ADB, and the Summit’s speaker, shared his thoughts on the current state of Six Sigma in the Asia Pacific, how Six Sigma evolved in the region, and its future.

What is the current state of Six Sigma in Asia Pacific?

Six Sigma - based on my contacts - is growing very fast in the Philippines - which is the only place I can talk about at this time. The growth in call centers has raised the need for substantial process reviews and therefore Six Sigma is being used. Six Sigma however is being introduced to specific service areas, not highly technical areas such as software development and the like in the Philippines.

Six Sigma has a good “name value” at present and there is a need to get a lot more people involved in the consulting and training area. Having a university run courses - or incorporate units into their ongoing courses - would seem to be a good way of building up the people who can participate in the region.

Continue reading…

Further, in the region, what’s new for 2007 will be the Asia Pacific Six Sigma Excellence Awards! Submit your nominations now!

Filed under: Six Sigma Organizations, Awards, Events/Announcements, Interview

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Women Engineers Honors Bechtel Six Sigma Leader

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has honored Siddika Demir with the SWE’s 2006 Emerging Leaders Award for demonstrating excellent leadership in quality assurance.

Siddika Demir is manager of corporate services/Six Sigma for Bechtel Corporation. As such, Demir sets Six Sigma strategies and goals for corporate service organizations both individually and collectively. She is responsible for the success of Six Sigma goals for five senior vice presidents; has oversight of 140 Six Sigma trained individuals in corporate services; and serves as the lead Six Sigma black belt for all corporate services, which has a staff of more than 350.

Peggi S. Knox, vice president for Bechtel has this to say about Demir and her achievement:

“Through Six Sigma, Demir is now leading the four corporate service organizations in improving the quality of services they deliver to their customers. A successful black belt, she has applied her engineering knowledge and strong leadership skills to manage these four demanding organizations and help them improve their processes.”

With that record of successful Six Sigma projects and involving that number of people is a tough feat indeed. Demir truly deserves to be honored, and she’s a valuable resource person for Six Sigma in the industry. Congratulations!

Filed under: Manufacturing, Awards

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Dr. Spong on Baldrige

I’m sure you’ve heard about the Malcolm Baldrige Award. Motorola is among its first recipients.

In the U.S., the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award has been signed into law in August 20, 1987. Named for Malcolm Baldrige, the award aims to help American companies improve quality and productivity, and recognize their achievements among others.Last month, Dr. David Spong, Vice-Chair of the Foundation, was in the country. He shared his experience in using the Baldrige framework in leading turnaround and sustaining improvements in a complex organization.

Dr. Spong, as he is called, likened Baldrige to a physical exam for the organization. An organization must have this exam regularly to ensure that it’s a healthy one. It lets the organization see specific spots where it needs to improve or work on, whle providing an overall picture of the progress.

When asked, “Would there be any particular initiative that you would recommend in starting off Baldrige?” Dr. Spong replied:

“ISO, Lean, Six Sigma and CMMI are tools… However, if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Baldrige on the other hand is a bunch of questions that tells you where you have gaps, where you have opportunities for improvements. Then you will pull out the tools…to address those gaps. So if you need to be ISO-certified, then get yourself ISO-certified. If your production is not efficient, then use Lean. Baldrige helps you decide whether it is a nail or a screw that you will need. Baldrige allows you to look at your organization holistically.

Source: Lopez Link, a monthly publication of the Lopez Group of Companies

Related story: Journey toward award can be path to excellence

Filed under: Awards

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A Six Sigma Achievement for Freudenberg-NOK

No wonder Ford Motor Co. is still successful after all these years. It has Freudenberg-NOK, Inc. tucked under one of its wheels so to speak.

Freudenberg-NOK, manufacturer with a background in chemicals, polymers, and rubber products specializing in automotive, recently awarded a Recognition of Achievement from Ford for its consumer-driven Six Sigma accomplishments.

Six Sigma, which focuses on measuring quality and allowing for no more than 3.4 defects per million parts, is one of the pillars of Freudenberg-NOK’s Growtth program focused on superior quality, service and productivity.

Freudenberg-NOK has 61 Six Sigma black belts on staff and has completed 155 Six Sigma projects to drive superior quality, enhance reliability and help automakers and tier one customers to reduce costs.

Growtth(R) — Get Rid of Waste Through Team Harmony — is Freudenberg- NOK’s company-wide continuous improvement program and the cornerstone of the supplier’s corporate culture.

Launched in 1992, the program emphasizes teamwork and communications and combines lean practices, Six Sigma and other techniques to increase efficiencies in the use of time, labor, materials and space. It has helped Freudenberg-NOK become the benchmark company for lean systems in the North American automotive industry.

Freudenberg-NOK’s Advanced Vibration and Acoustics (AVA) group was charged with optimizing the sealing isolation system and the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics for a cam cover design. AVA has developed techniques to synergize sealing and NVH, which are typically opposing phenomena. Utilizing Design for Six Sigma techniques, the Freudenberg-NOK engineering team improved the product pre-production, also optimizing cost savings and increasing customer value.

Continue reading…

You have another case of the deadly combination of Lean and Six Sigma here. Many successful companies combine lean and Six Sigma to power their process improvement efforts to answer customer requirements.

Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Six Sigma Organizations, Awards, Team Dynamics

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CIGNA at WCBF’s Global Six Sigma Summit

H. Edward Hanway, CIGNA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Leslie Behnke, CIGNA Vice President of Business Excellence, will be presenting at the WCBF Global Six Sigma Summit, June 28 and 29, 2006 in Las Vegas.

Ms. Behnke will present her Continuous Improvement Tool Kit case study titled “Integrating the Full Range of Six Sigma Methods to Achieve Maximum Business Results.” The presentations is set on June 28 at 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Hanway, for his part, will present a CEO Presentation, “Leveraging Six Sigma to Drive the Acceleration of Business Results.” This is set on June 29 at 9:20 a.m.

Aside from these presentations, CIGNA is also the sponsor for Best Achievement of Six Sigma in Healthcare for the Global Six Sigma Awards program. This year’s award recipient will be named at the Global Six Sigma Awards Gala Dinner on Wednesday, June 28.

The Global Six Sigma Awards program has been established to identify the most outstanding business achievement through the application of Six Sigma and thereby demonstrating to the global business community the real results and excellence which organizations are achieving through the successful implementation of Six Sigma methodologies.

Check out: Summit Website and Awards Program Website.

Link: CIGNA to Present at the WCBF’s Global Six Sigma Summit

Filed under: Services, Awards

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Six Sigma CEO of the Year at The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTTC)

Being a woman and a Six Sigma advocate, I celebrate with Jill Considine for winning the Six Sigma CEO of the Year (2006) Award. Congratulations for a job well done, Ma’am!

On June 28, at The Venetian Resort-Las Vegas, during The 2006 Global Six Sigma Awards Gala Dinner, Ms. Considine will address the audience on Six Sigma success at DTCC. She bested 30 other CEOs of global organizations including DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Capital One Direct Banking; Cooper Tire & Rubber Company; Saudi Aramco; and TD Canada Trust among others.

Ms. Considine is an internationally recognized leader in financial services. She is a member and regular speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a board member of the Partnership for New York City. In addition, Ms. Considine currently serves on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in addition to serving on other public and non-profit boards.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation provides clearance, settlement and information services for equities, corporate and municipal bonds, government and mortgage-backed securities and over-the-counter credit derivatives.

You would wonder how the company achieved Six Sigma being the largest financial services post-trade infrastructure in the world, with operating facilities in multiple locations in the U.S. and overseas. The company may surely have launched several Six Sigma projects. One of them was featured as a case study on isixsigma.com. It talks about how DTTC turns to e-learning to train its employees for Six Sigma.

The company turned to e-learning when the Customer Training Department strived to satisfy the increasing volume of customer training requests. A growing product line presented challenges in finding instructors who were certified on each of the products, and the need to rapidly deploy updated information was becoming more and more crucial.

As most training programs, the Customer Training Department of DTTC met problems and limitations. To overcome them they had to re-examine their organizational structure and then deployed the DMAIC roadmap incorporating VOC, CTQ, and Root Cause Analysis.

The result: Developing E-Learning the Six Sigma way has allowed DTCC’s Customer Training Department to both identify and exceed critical customer and business requirements for E-Learning, reduce overall development time by close to fifty percent, reduce annual development costs by $282,000, and articulate E-Learning in a way that business managers understand. Perhaps just as important as the savings and the identification of customer and business requirements is the ability that the Customer Training Department now has to maintain this high level of performance.

You can hear now Ms. Considine proudly saying,

“DTCC plays a critical role in bringing safety, soundness and reliability to the post-trade processing infrastructure in the U.S. markets, “and we play a collaborative role with other service providers and infrastructure organizations around the world. Our Six Sigma initiatives help us ensure that we continue to protect the industry from risks inherent in growing trading volumes, the complexity of trading instruments and the influence of globalization and consolidation.”

Jill Considine, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, Wins the Six Sigma CEO of the Year Award as The Global Six Sigma Awards, announced on QsoftGuide.com and on SixSigmaZone.com

Read the case study: Developing E-Learning the Six Sigma Way.

Filed under: Tools/Toolkits, Benefits and Savings, Services, Six Sigma Organizations, Finance, Awards, Training, Team Dynamics

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