Volcano Eruption Tests Europe’s Lean Organizations

Do you still remember the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in Iceland last April? It canceled flights and affected the Lean supply-chain structures of the continent and across the globe, even to this day.

From the reports of BBC and Bloomberg News, the following are the companies that were affected by their inability to handle their JIT supply-chain lapses:

• BMW reported a reduction in output at three of its car manufacturing plants in Germany and one in Spartanburg, N.C., USA.
• Nissan had to shut down production lines in Japan for its Cube, Murano, and Rogue vehicles because air-pressure sensors from Ireland could not be shipped.
• Dell experienced delays in sending notebook computers to European customers.
• South Korean electronics firms Samsung and LG said that exports of their products fell by 20 percent during the flight ban.

Read more…

Filed under: Lean, Six Sigma, Supply Chain

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Citi’s Business Process Reengineering Program is Lean-based

After a market letdown and with a very diverse product range, Citi‘s new management introduced Lean methods, which leads to the Citi reengineering method. Some of three critical success factors of the program:

1. leadership – the strong management sponsorhip, which allows key employees to leave their dayjobs to do their special assignments for the reengineering program
2. people – able to source resources withtin the talent pool of the organization
3. finance – strong substantial financing for the reengineering program

Listen more about it from Sofie Blakstad, Head of Reengineering O&T EMEA for Citi, who shares her company’s business process reengineering story at the 11th Annual IQPC Process Excellence Summit and Awards.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Filed under: Citigroup, Leadership, Lean, Six Sigma

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The 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.

Pledgeco.com asks, What is Six Sigma and Why do Companies Need it? It’s a good reminder of what Six Sigma is.

Lean Applied Blog shares how to incorporate Lean in Six Sigma Projects. The article explains the importance of Lean thinking in every project.

Lean Reflections shares an article from Bloomberg titled Six Sigma is out; lean is in. The article discusses how companies are cutting cost and at the same time improving operations.

Business Development blog shares insights on strategic planning and Six Sigma and how the two are complementary.

Mba business says that Lean Six Sigma can help a healthcare organization. True! I have featured some healthcare organizations before, too.

Filed under: Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Processes, Six Sigma

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Podcast: A Lean in Healthcare Discussion with Mark Graban and Jim Hearn

The healthcare industry has also been going into Lean and Six Sigma lately. In fact, many of the organizations in the healthcare industry have been enjoying the benefits and savings because of Lean or Six Sigma or the combined Lean Six Sigma.

To reinforce this move by healthcare industry, let me share with you a podcast put out by Six Sigma iQ. It is about how Lean can work for healthcare.

Listen to it now!

Filed under: Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma

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Integrating Lean, Six Sigma & TOC: iTLS

The challenge of corporations these days is to improve their efficiencies and profitability. Thus, they look for a quality management strategy to achieve this goal. In the process, these corporations integrate a methodology or two and implement a combination.

This is the case with integrating Lean, Six Sigma, and TOC. An article on IndustryWeek online discusses the results of a case study of integrating the three. Called the iTLS, the approach successfully synchronized production with the available capacity levels while providing process stability. The case study also cites companies that use iTLS.

iTLS integrates, synchronizes and harmonizes the three powerful ingredients (Lean, Six Sigma and TOC):

• Focus on the few yet critical elements that limit the global performance of the organization by applying Theory of Constraint tools
• Eliminates waste in the form of “hidden factories” with application of Lean tools
• Reduces undesirable variability to ensure process stability with Six Sigma tools

Read more…

Filed under: Lean, Six Sigma, TOC

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8 Steps to a Successful Lean Implementation

I’m sure you have read a lot of tips for a successful lean implementation. But another set of tips won’t do us any harm. I got the tips from Lokesh R of iSixSigma.

1. Create a Burning Platform. A burning platform means that there is a compelling reason for the company to go into Lean Six Sigma. An urgency, or even an emergency always kicks people to do something about and are more willing to address the problem.
2. Put Resources in Place. Do not hesitate to hire the right resource—may it be employees, material, or technology—at the right price. For people resource, it is also important that you put people who can work as or with a team. All resources must adhere to your company’s vision.
3. Teach the Methodology. Train team members to be powerful change agents, and trainees should share the organization’s vision.
4. Prioritize Activities. Learn what to overlook and where to take risks. Prioritize: (1) Listen to the customer (2) Identify critical-to-quality criteria (3) Ensure Lean Six Sigma efforts are linked to business goals
5. Establish Ownership. Make it clear who owns the Lean Six Sigma initiative. With ownership comes empowerment and a sense of pride, and team members who are more committed, accountable and engaged.
6. Take the Right Measurements. Create a measurement system which helps determine baseline and process performance for objective decision making and analysis of variation. The key for measurement is to get the cost of quality right.
7. Govern the Program. Successful management of the program can ensure its sustainability.
8. Recognize Contributions. Rewards and recognition of good work inspire, build enthusiasm and help drive innovation.

Source

Filed under: Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Team Dynamics

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The 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.

Over at You Can Be Great If You Want To blog, Tony Jacowski shares some basic characteristics of Six Sigma deployments.

The Innovation World shares how the merging of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles can be a powerful combination.

Listen to Chuck Overbeck talk about Six Sigma and Sales Process or Sales Sigma at Medical Sales Recruiter – Tips & Quips.

Lean Manufacturing Blog shares a video on how to use BPM with Six Sigma and Lean Methodologies.

Over at The Latest Tech News for Tech Geeks blog, the writer shares with us how to understand Lean Six Sigma principles with a simple illustration.

Check out those links and learn!

Filed under: BPM, Deployment, Lean, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma

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Is Lean Beating Out Six Sigma?

I have read quite a number of articles saying that Lean is making headway with Six Sigma. The latest is from ApplianceMagazine.com which even has figures to support the claim.

These numbers are based on the Avery survey:

• Lean talent demand exceeded Six Sigma by almost 35%, significantly widening its lead over last year’s lead of just 11% as compared to 2005′s results, which showed that Six Sigma talent demand exceeded Lean by more than 50%.
• For companies looking for Lean talent, only 41% require candidates to possess Six Sigma knowledge as well.
• Of companies seeking Six Sigma talent, almost 55% are now requiring candidates to possess Lean knowledge as well, a requirement that has shown steady growth.

Source

Do you believe that Lean is beating out Six Sigma?

Filed under: Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma

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10 Key Technologies for Lean Process Improvement

Technology has indeed made life easier for all of us. With Web 2.0, sales and marketing have become a breeze. With the latest software, processes have become easier.

In the case of Six Sigma, for example, Apple has made Six Sigma applications available to iPhone users and on iTunes.

I stumbled upon Nari Kannan’s article on the ten key technologies for Lean Process Improvement. Again technology can play a big part in a lean process. Below is the list.

1. The Internet
2. Wireless connectivity
3. Automated workflow systems
4. Scanning and digitization
5. Service-oriented architectures
6. Document management systems
7. Business process monitoring and measurement
8. Business process management systems
9. Business rules systems
10. Online CRM systems/self-service FAQ system

Read more…

Filed under: Lean, Processes, Six Sigma, Technology

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Get Your Complete Lean Package from Gemba Academy

Gemba Academy is celebrating it’s first year anniversary. To celebrate a year of success, they are giving anyone that purchases an online subscription to a single course or to the Complete Lean Package an accompanying DVD or DVDs at no cost.

This is one cool promo that you shouldn’t miss!

Find out more about the promo here.

Happy anniversary Gemba Academy!

Filed under: Gemba Academy, Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Ron Pereira, Six Sigma

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