Innovation of the Week: Nissan Plays Up Innovation Angle
Posted by: meikah | 2 September 2010 | 10:55 pm
This week’s edition of innovation update features Nissan. With its new products, the company is playing up an innovation angle.
New York Times online reports:
Eight years after urging consumers to “Shift” their buying behavior when it comes to cars, trucks and minivans, Nissan North America is changing brand themes.
In a campaign that is scheduled to get under way on Saturday, Nissan North America, part of the Nissan Motor Company of Japan, will proclaim its mission is to provide “Innovation for all.”
Filed under: Innovation, Innovation Update, Manufacturing, Nissan
No Comments » |
Six Sigma and Eberl Iron Works, Inc.
Posted by: meikah | 10 March 2010 | 7:17 pm
Eberl Iron Works, Inc. attributes its growth and success to Six Sigma.
Nora Eberl, who serves as the companies’ Chief Financial Officer, says:
“It’s a combination of our core values, which include: Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, Respect, Communication, Quality Service and Innovation,” said Eberl. We have also used outside consultants, instituted Six Sigma principles, and worked in conjunction with UB’s Center for Industrial Effectiveness to better our business in its entirety.”Â
Filed under: Eberl Iron Works, Inc., Manufacturing, Six Sigma
No Comments » |
Thomas & Betts Corporation Attributes Q4 2009 Earnings to Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 10 February 2010 | 1:56 am
Thomas & Betts Corporation recently held an earnings conference call and they attribute their Q4 2009 earnings to Six Sigma.
In late 2008 and throughout 2009 we responded to the rapid deterioration in U.S and global markets by consolidating production, reducing head count, cutting cost and optimizing our proven lean six sigma manufacturing culture. We asked every employee to help us improve productivity, prioritize spending and manage our cash and they delivered.
Read the full transcript of the conference call.
Filed under: Manufacturing, Six Sigma
No Comments » |
Cummins Attributes Q4 2009 Earnings to Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 8 February 2010 | 11:20 pm
Cummins Incorporated recently held an earnings conference call and they attribute their Q4 2009 earnings to Six Sigma.
We also continue to make heavy use of Six Sigma to drive quality improvements and lower our costs across the company. Our Six Sigma savings in 2009 were nearly $500 million well above our target and all our business units exceeded their goals for the year.
Read the full transcript of the conference call.
Filed under: Cummins, Manufacturing, Six Sigma
No Comments » |
Six Sigma Companies News: GM Struggles to Shed a Legendary Bureaucracy
Posted by: meikah | 22 November 2009 | 9:51 pm
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.
Because of the crisis, many big American companies are either closing down or applying for a stimulus package or emergency bailout. You wouldn’t think this could happen to these companies actually.
One of them is G.M. After it received the government’s emergency bailout, G.M. had to reevaluate its operations. And according to the latest news, it’s streamlining.
New York Times reports:
When G.M. collapsed last year and turned to the government for an emergency bailout, its century-old way of conducting business was laid bare, with all its flaws in plain sight. Decisions were made, if at all, at a glacial pace, bogged down by endless committees, reports and reviews that astonished members of President Obama’s auto task force.
Filed under: Economy, GM, Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma Organizations
No Comments » |
SixSig Reference Feature: Ways to Use ERP to Lean the Manufacturing Supply Chain
Posted by: meikah | 15 October 2009 | 7:16 pm
Toolbox for IT gives us this whitepaper.
Summary:
Learn four tips for lean supply chain improvements in your manufacturing operation, including no-nonsense tips for treating the supply chain holistically enough to drive enterprise improvements that reduce inventory levels while increasing responsiveness. Plus six technology tools within an ERP application that help manufacturing executives implement and automate best practices.
Filed under: Lean, Manufacturing, Supply Chain
No Comments » |
Lean and Beer Production
Posted by: meikah | 11 October 2009 | 7:42 pm
Molson Coors Brewing Company has under a year of operation yet. But, perhaps due to the economic slump and stiff competition, the technicians of the company realize that there is a better way to make beer: to be leaner, operationally.
If employees were to work 10- to 12-hour shifts for four days straight (and earn Fridays off), they found there would be at least a quarter less time wasted starting up and winding down operations, allowing brewing to take place 24-7.
“They’ve come back and said if we were to run our brewing operation with two guys, around the clock for the amount of time it takes to brew, then we would be more productive than if we were to do it with eight-hour windows,” said Tim Farley, packaging team leader at the Moncton brewery.
“The decision making and empowerment really came from the shop floor.”
Filed under: Lean, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing
No Comments » |
Lean Six Sigma as Masco’s DNA
Posted by: meikah | 4 October 2009 | 8:13 pm
Masco Builder Cabinet Group is committed to providing the ideal kitchen experience. To be able to do just that, the company uses Lean Six Sigma. How they do it?
View the company’s Lean Six Sigma DNA here.
Related posts:
Top 10 Best Places to Work for Six Sigma Professionals
DFSS Improves Processes at Masco BCG
Filed under: Lean Six Sigma, Manufacturing, Masco, Masco Builder Cabinet Group, Six Sigma Organizations
No Comments » |
Six Sigma in General Cable Powers
Posted by: meikah | 4 August 2009 | 8:41 pm
General Cable Powers, leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets, is the new Fortune 500 company.
With $6.2 billion in annual revenues in 2008 – up 35 percent from 2007 – General Cable is the state’s fifth largest company in Kentucky. Two primary reasons for the company’s evolution are the adoption of a super-efficient management strategy and a broadening into a global company.
According to General Cable Chief Executive Officer Greg Kenny, “Our big decision was to get very good at a large business, and to have a philosophy of continuous improvement with our lean process and using Six Sigma as a tool to measure our improvement.”Â
Filed under: General Cable Powers, Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Six Sigma Organizations
2 Comments |
Trex Company Attributes the Strong Second Quarter to Lean Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 30 July 2009 | 9:52 pm
Net sales for the second quarter of 2009 totaled $91.5 million compared to net sales of $95.0 million for the 2008 second quarter. The company reported net income of $7.4 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the 2009 second quarter compared to net income of $6.5 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the 2008 second quarter. The company’s adoption of FASB Staff Position No. APB 14-1 related to embedded interest on convertible debt resulted in $1.6 million and $1.4 million of non-cash interest expense in the second quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively, reducing earnings per share by $0.11 and $0.09, respectively.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, Trex Company reported net sales of $159.1 million compared to net sales of $214.5 million for the prior-year period. Net income for the 2009 six-month period totaled $4.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $13.9 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, for the 2008 six-month period. These results included $3.3 million and $2.7 million of non-cash interest expense in the first six months of 2009 and 2008, respectively, which reduced earnings per share by $0.22 and $0.18, respectively.
President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald W. Kaplan has this to say:
“Our unwavering focus on enhancing Trex’s operations continued to produce results. We continue to expand the use of Lean Six Sigma manufacturing techniques throughout every phase of Trex’s manufacturing process in both our Winchester and Fernley plants. The resulting improvements enabled us to raise gross margin by 220 basis points to 31.2% quarter over quarter despite lower levels of capacity utilization. Our operating cash flow for the second quarter was strong, and we continued to execute our cash management strategy extremely well. We believe we’ve weathered the economic downturn better than many of our competitors. Our cash balance at quarter-end increased to $46.4 million and we haven’t borrowed against our revolver for more than a year…”
