The SixSig Roundup
Posted by: meikah | 11 July 2011 | 2:26 am
Almost a year after my last roundup, I’m bringing back again the link-loving and see what other blogs are saying about Six Sigma, Lean, Lean Six Sigma and other quality improvement processes.
Let’s start with Mark Graban of Lean Blog, who compiled Dilbert’s strips that touch on Six Sigma or Lean. The strips are amusing and at the same they make you think hard about quality strategies. Check out A Collection of Dilbert Cartoons on #Lean and/or #SixSigma!
Over at Huntington Post, Aaron Hurst shares an interview with Ellen Lambert. the Executive Vice President of the Merck Company Foundation. Ms. Lambert talked about how they are using Six Sigma at Merck to make their processes more efficient and effective. Check out The Positive Side of Negative Space: An Interview With Merck’s Ellen Lambert!
Motley Fool reports that 3M used to lead in the area of innovation. In the recent years, however, 3M appears to have lost its innovation magic when it launched Six Sigma. Perhaps, many of you will disagree but this observation seems to be valid. Check out The Innovation Magic is Gone at 3M!
At PharmaExecBlog, there is an article there that is a good follow up on the case of 3M. Kevin Duffin, senior fellow, translational sciences at Eli Lilly – and a Six Sigma practitioner was asked during the Drug Information Association panel if Six Sigma indeed stifles innovation. Some believe so, others don’t. Weight it out for yourself by checking out DIA: Does Six Sigma Stifle R&D Innovation?
An article on Vision Systems Design, even automated systems to improve inspection processes need Six Sigma. How? Find out at how software seeks to minimize false positives in machine-vision inspection systems.
Filed under: 3M, Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Pharmaceuticals, Quality, Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Software/Technology
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Dow Chemical Company Shares Six Sigma in Kuwait
Posted by: meikah | 15 June 2011 | 9:19 pm
“The conference was a great forum for Dow to share its Six Sigma journey, and it was a great learning opportunity for companies considering starting their own journeys. The overwhelming theme of leveraging Six Sigma’s values of continuous improvement and innovation are ideally suited to address the significant needs of businesses in Kuwait and the GCC”, said Kevin McCarron, Six Sigma Leader from Diamond Value Chain Consulting (DVCC).
Filed under: Dow Chemical Co., Six Sigma, Six Sigma Conferences, Six Sigma News
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Six Sigma Reference Feature: 10 Rules for Six Sigma Innovation
Posted by: meikah | 26 January 2011 | 9:50 pm
Let me share with you an article by Hisham Sabry titled “Ten Rules for Six Sigma Innovation” on PEX.
I agree with him that during difficult times, we need to innovate to survive, but we don’t really need to reinvent the wheel. Learning from Best Practices is a good thing. My attention was caught by his 1st rule:
- “Somewhere, someone else had the same problem and has come up with a solution for it.” Do not waste your time in reinventing the wheel. The probability that the problem you are trying to solve was solved in another organization is more than 99%. Search for similar projects on line and ask other professionals, this will minimize the time you need to come up with a solution on your own. Even if you can’t find a ready made solution, you will have something to customize to fit what you have.
Filed under: Innovation, Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma References
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Six Sigma Companies News: Southcoast Health System Saves $20M Without Layoffs
Posted by: meikah | 28 October 2010 | 12:31 am
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.
Southcoast Health System–a three-hospital system based in New Bedford, Mass.–has saved $20 million since it began implementing Lean Six Sigma in January 2009, the New England Business Bulletin reports. The savings are “well over” the amount invested, Patrick Gannon, vice president and chief quality officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group, told the Bulletin.
Filed under: Healthcare, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma Organizations
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Six Sigma Companies News: New Tesla-Toyota partnership reportedly will use NUMMI plant
Posted by: meikah | 20 May 2010 | 8:25 pm
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.
San Francisco Business Times reports:
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday that electric car-maker Tesla Motors and Japanese automaker Toyota will produce a car together in the state. The Associated Press is reporting the cars will be built at the former home of the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant — or NUMMI — in Fremont.
Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma Organizations, Tesla Motors, Toyota
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The SixSig Roundup
Posted by: meikah | 17 May 2010 | 7:58 pm
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.
Maris Fadness talks about the technological aids for Lean Six Sigma Process Improvements. An example given is the company, Safeco, which now has an online, service-and-sales portal to improve processes because of Six Sigma.
Kevin Clay of Blog | Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. writes about Lean Six Sigma Story at Subway, a personal story that shows how Lean Thinking and Six Sigma Thinking play an important role in everyday life.
Six Sigma Training features a post on understanding Six Sigma Employment Assessment. Most Six Sigma evaluation plans for employees are essentially two parts, the first of the investigation as “preliminary†and the second is the “Comprehensive Survey.
Business Management Principles blog talks about the importance of understanding the role of communication in the process of Six Sigma certification. Communication is the key when it comes to successful Six Sigma projects going. to make the level of success and the ability of Six Sigma, what needs depend largely on the commitment and support of all concerned.
Shannon Berber shares a good book, titled Six Sigma Financial Tracking and Reporting. If you need to see that P&L dollar savings impact on your bottomline, then the book will be big help for you.
Filed under: Benefits and Savings, Certification, Communication, Finance, Human Resource, Six Sigma, Six Sigma News
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Six Sigma Companies News: Erie County Strengthens Its Organizational Structure
Posted by: meikah | 28 April 2010 | 12:05 am
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.
Buffalo Business First online journal reports:
Erie County Executive Chris Collins has started a search to fill two upper-level positions in his administration. Collins confirmed that Deputy County Executive Al Hammonds Jr., his Lean Six Sigma director, will be leaving the Rath Building next month and returning to the University at Buffalo.
Hammonds, widely considered a Lean Six Sigma guru, will be working for two UB departments — the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and the Department of External Affairs. Hammonds was recruited by Collins shortly after the county executive was elected in 2007. He had been at UB’s Center for Industrial Effectiveness.
Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma Organizations
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Six Sigma Companies News: Boeing Reports Q4 Revenues
Posted by: meikah | 27 January 2010 | 7:50 pm
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News. Boeing went through some rough times in the last couple of years.
Yet in the last quarter of 2009, Boeing reports:
… fourth-quarter revenues rose to nearly $18 billion from $12.7 billion a year earlier and net income rose to $1.3 billion, or $1.75 per share, compared with a loss of $86 million, or a loss of 12 cents a share in 2008.
Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma News, Six Sigma Organizations
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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
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Six Sigma Companies News: Capital One changes reporting structure
Posted by: meikah | 18 October 2009 | 8:50 pm
Here’s another edition of Six Sigma Companies News.
Mid this year, Capital One announced that they were going to launch Six Sigma to drive continuous improvement in their operations. The latest is:
Capital One Financial Corp. has realigned its business reporting structure into three operating segments: credit card, commercial banking and consumer banking, according to a Friday securities filing.
