Is Lean Six Sigma the Winning Formula?
Posted by: meikah | 4 August 2008 | 8:52 pm
If you still have doubts as to the merit of combining Lean and Six Sigma, RetailWire and Supply Chain Digest give you an idea.
Many believe this “Lean Six Sigma” strategy is the best way to improve overall supply chain results and tackle process improvement more holistically.
I don’t see why a sound combination of eliminating wastes and reducing variation cannot benefit a company.
A more relevant question, I think, would be, is your organization ready for a Lean Six Sigma initiative? Or does Lean Six Sigma fit in your organization’s improvement processes?
Source:
Six Sigma Zone
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Lean Six Sigma, Deployment, Lean, Six Sigma
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Six Sigma and Lean at Good Samaritan Hospital
Posted by: meikah | 30 July 2008 | 11:35 pm
For Good Samaritan Hospital in L.A., “good isn’t good enough. Aim Higher, Work Smarter and Do it Better.”
That is their mantra and they’ve lived with it. How?
Through Six Sigma, Lean, and other change management techniques. The hospital started with Six Sigma in 2001, deploying projects for:
- pacemaker billing and reimbursement
- length of stay for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
- use of Omnicell non-narcotic
- medical record retrieval
- room availability cycle time,
- lab supply management.
All projects have been successful.The elements of Lean were brought in to eliminate waste in the process steps and is also successful.
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Six Sigma Organizations, Deployment, Healthcare, Six Sigma
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Hertzler Systems Continues Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 28 July 2008 | 8:40 pm
Over at TMCnet, Hertzler Systems still finds value with Six Sigma.
In a recent interview with Evan Miller, CEO of Hertzler Systems, these are some of the values they’ve gleaned by continuing with Six Sigma:
- Six Sigma growth is among smaller organizations which are now deriving value from the program.
- Small organizations can get a lot of value from Six Sigma implementations, but they have to be really smart about how they execute.
- Most business initiatives have the shelf life of cottage cheese, Six Sigma has had remarkable staying power in the face of that.
This is like saying that if you believe in Six Sigma, and know how to make it work for your organization, it will definitely bring in the savings and benefits.
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Six Sigma Organizations, Six Sigma, Hertzler Systems
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Six Sigma Reducing Medical Errors
Posted by: meikah | 23 July 2008 | 11:35 pm
I’ve said this over and over that if I had to list the top 10 industries that should have zero defect, the healthcare or the pharmaceutical industry would be on that list.
Good thing there are quality methodologies, like Six Sigma, that can reduce errors. Take for instance, the medical errors. In an article on HealthLink, three initial projects on reducing medical errors were successful because of Six Sigma. These are:
- IV drug infusions - errors and discrepancies were improved by standardizing drug concentrations, developing tables to improve the accuracy of drip calculations.
- Patient Controlled Pumps for Administering Pain Medications - this area was improved by standardizing processes and training the involved personnel.
- Laboratory turn-around time - this aspect was improved by improving on software and interface issues and the pneumatic tube system, and training Black Belts.
*Photo from Stock.Xchng
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Healthcare, Six Sigma
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Lean Six Sigma Saving Money and Environment in Heidelberg
Posted by: meikah | 23 July 2008 | 11:04 pm
ARMY.MIL news reports:
Residents in 10 family housing buildings in Heidelberg have walked through a six-week education process designed to significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste that has to be incinerated.
The pilot project, called “Rumbling Rubbish/Keep It Green” was developed by Heidelberg Recycling Manager Travis Vowinkel, and with the support of the Environmental Division, the pilot program was launched.
The project has been successful because of Lean Six Sigma. Worked on as a Lean Six Sigma project, the families in the pilot project were educated about recycling and reducing wastes. The education campaign did not only involve info campaign materials but the staff members themselves also met with each family and showed them the recycling process that results in the least amount of non-recyclable waste.
Recycling projects are happen all over the world and some are making progress, others are struggling. But what struck me about this environment effort is the use of Lean Six Sigma. 
Anyone of you have used Lean Six Sigma in their environment projects, too?
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Lean Six Sigma, Military, Sustainable Business, Six Sigma, Environment
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NYISO Enhances Website Response Time Through Lean Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 23 July 2008 | 9:48 pm
The response time of New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) website has improved a lot. Users are now able to enter and navigate the site much faster and more easily.
The NYISO’s website is important to a lot of people, especially those involved in and affected by news and policies in the transmission and generation, and other power supply industry. The site contains news and information about the bulk electricity grid and wholesale electricity markets in New York State.
The team of NYISO employees tasked with improving website response time attribute their success to Lean Six Sigma. In doing so, here are what they have accomplished:
- reduced the site’s average page download time from 17.3 to 3.3 seconds
- improved the downloading the site’s home page more than 1200 percent - from 18 to 1.3 seconds
- reduced the number of templates, combining computer script and compressing graphics, so that dozens of nyiso.com portals were accelerated
I can say that NYISO has the good sense to think of their users. Other websites don’t seem to care at all!
Source:
iSixSigma News
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Organizations, Software/Technology, Internet, NYISO
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Mentor Graphics Uses Design For Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 21 July 2008 | 7:53 pm
TradingMarkets reports:
Mentor Graphics, a supplier of electronic design automation systems, has announced that its virtual prototyping tool, SystemVision, will support Design for Six Sigma methodologies to achieve cost-effective design innovation by a model-driven development process.
The development process for a product made up of a complex blend of hardware and software, analog and digital signals, sensors and actuators, and a mix of disciplines, such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic, is difficult to manage efficiently. At the same time, using physical prototyping to optimize the design for manufacturability becomes prohibitively expensive, cumbersome, and time consuming.
Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies combined with model-driven development can result in order-of-magnitude improvements in both productivity and quality when virtual prototyping, automated data collection, and statistical analyses are used to guide the model-driven development process.
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Six Sigma Organizations, Deployment, DFSS, Six Sigma
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LAI’s Six Sigma Team Cuts Production Time by 20%
Posted by: meikah | 14 July 2008 | 9:54 pm
Early this month, LAI International reported that the company was able to cut its cycle time on a critical aerospace product by 25%.
Last week, Market Watch carried a story that LAI’s Six Sigma Team was able to cut production time for a critical structural aerospace component by 20%.
A team of LAI employees in engineering, quality control and production formed a team to complete a comprehensive Six Sigma study that includes intensive workflow assessment, process analysis, value streaming and control planning of a manufacturing process for a precision-manufactured structural panel for a jet fighter.
“We also took every step off of our flowchart and measured the time to do each and every step of the process,” John Rogers, vice president of operations, said. “The team examined key process input variables and studied methods to do each step more efficiently.” An evaluation seven months after the Six Sigma project was completed revealed savings of $196,000 in the program, related to a reduction in cycle times, more efficient inspections and an overall reduction in production time by 20 percent.
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Manufacturing, Six Sigma Organizations, Processes, Six Sigma
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Six Sigma Helps Cessna Make Good of Its Promise
Posted by: meikah | 14 July 2008 | 8:41 pm
Despite the fuel crisis and other problems faced by airlines, it’s business as usual for Cessna Aircraft Company.
According to an article on Jobwerx, Cessna is set to deliver 150 Model 350 and 400 aircraft this year. The company is right on schedule because of Textron Six Sigma initiative.
By transitioning its Cessna 350 and 400 composite aircraft facilities to the Textron Production System, Cessna Aircraft has experienced improved workplace safety, rising productivity and higher customer satisfaction.
“By implementing Textron Six Sigma and using lean operating tools, our team in Bend is making great progress on streamlining production while maintaining the high quality and reliability of the aircraft,” Mark Withrow, general manager of the Bend facility. “We’ve seen a significant reduction in labor hours per aircraft, and Bend is on track to cut the number of factory related safety incidents in half this year. And, most importantly, I’m happy to report that along with a flawless on-time delivery record this year, our employees’ work has received the top score for quality on all post-delivery customer surveys,” he added.
Related story:
Textron’s Six Sigma Way
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Manufacturing, Six Sigma Organizations, Aviation, Six Sigma
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VTech Attributes Success to Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 14 July 2008 | 8:00 pm
In a press release, VTech announces its record revenue and profit despite difficult economic conditions.
VTech Holdings Ltd. is one of the world’s largest suppliers of corded and cordless telephones and a leading supplier of electronic learning products. Being a mother of two play-age kids, I know the value of VTech electronic toys. I can really vouch for their durability and learning utility.
Now, I know why they continue to produce high-quality products. First, when they started in 1976, their mission is to be the most cost effective designer and manufacturer of innovative, high quality consumer electronics products, and to distribute them to markets worldwide in the most efficient manner. Second, they have adopted Six Sigma and have been benefitted by it ever since.
The prospects for the CMS (Contract Manufacturing Services) business looks promising and further sales increases from both existing and new customers are anticipated. The business will continue to focus on medium sized customers and maintain our edge in quality and cost.
In mid 2007, the CMS business set up a six sigma team to improve operational efficiency and this is beginning to yield results. Work processes are being streamlined and automation increased in order to reduce the dependence on labour, raise productivity and improve product quality. The business is also consolidating the supplier base and strengthening relationships with fewer suppliers to ensure it achieves the most favourable pricing.
“We should not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead, but with leadership in our markets, a strong balance sheet and a highly efficient manufacturing capability, VTech should benefit in the longer term from the industry consolidation that will ensue,” concluded Mr. Allan Wong, Chairman and Group CEO of VTech Holdings Limited.
