SixSig Reference Feature: The 5 Key Facets of Quality Leadership
Posted by: meikah | 29 June 2009 | 5:56 pm
You all know about quality methodologies, such as Six Sigma, and you try to use all of them or in combination to improve processes in our organizations.
However, you also notice that not all organizations are succeeding in their chosen quality methodologies. Perhaps, because a methodology can only do so much. It is still the people behind those methodologies who can make it work or not. That is why it’s crucial that you choose the good, if not the best, people to be on the team.
BNET shares a good article on the five key facets of quality leadership. And each quality spells F.A.C.E.T. 
- Focus
- Authenticity
- Courage
- Empathy
- Timing
*Photo from Stock.Xchng
Filed under: Leadership, Quality, Six Sigma References, Team Dynamics
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The Data Aspect in Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 25 June 2009 | 6:55 pm
Data is important to your Six Sigma initiative. Thus, if you are thinking of going into Six Sigma, you better learn how to gather and interpret data at the very least.
Oracle put out a white paper titled, Increasing Return on Investment with Data Services.
As the number of applications and platforms generating data increases, so does an organization’s need to give users access to that data through a unified, standard system compatible with multiple interfaces. Oracle Data Service Integrator is a powerful solution that allows organizations to build data services that unify business processes and data for easier use and improved customer service.
Filed under: Data, Data Analysis, Data Quality, Six Sigma, Six Sigma References
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SixSig Reference Feature: Case Study on Best Organization Achievement in Lean Enterprise Improvement by Avis Budget Group
Posted by: meikah | 1 June 2009 | 3:30 am
Avis Budget Group’s (ABG) operating divisions include the vehicle rental operations of Avis Rent A Car, Budget Rent A Car, and Budget Truck Rental. ABG operates these brands in the Americas, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand. Total 2007 revenues were $6 billion, 78 percent of which comes from U.S. car operations. Avis Budget has an extended global reach that includes approximately 6,900 car and truck locations operating more than 425,000 vehicles. In 2007, the organization completed more than 28 million vehicle rental transactions worldwide.
Filed under: Avis, Lean, Six Sigma References
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Avis Budget Group: Winner of the Best Organizational Achievement in Lean Enterprise Improvement
Posted by: meikah | 26 April 2009 | 8:36 pm
This is a case history of how Avis Budget Group was on their way to realize $100 million saved in 2008 through Lean and Six Sigma.
In March, senior management approached David Myers, Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, to take on a new full-time responsibility and lead this effort as global deployment leader, and to bring in outside help to expedite process improvements using tools such as Lean and Six Sigma. The objective was to develop an implementation plan to improve company-wide profits by $100 to $150 million in two or three years while maintaining or improving the quality of ABG customer service.
Filed under: Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Six Sigma Organizations, Six Sigma References
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Preparing for Six Sigma et al Certification Exams
Posted by: meikah | 21 April 2009 | 9:52 pm
I get emails and questions asking advice on how to prepare for certification exams, and if I know of books that could help them prepare.
Viola!
ASQ is releasing handbooks to help you and other quality professionals prepare for certification in 14 of ASQ’s existing certifications, including Quality Auditor, Quality Engineer, and Six Sigma Black Belt. A handbook for Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE) will be released this summer.
ASQ members can receive discounts on handbooks, which retail from $69 to $139, depending on the certification topic. Handbook pricing and order information can be found by contacting ASQ Customer Care at 1-800-248-1946. For a complete list of ASQ certifications, check THIS out.
Source:
Reliable Plant
Filed under: ASQ, Certification, Quality, Six Sigma, Six Sigma References
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SixSig Reference Feature: Manufacturers Satisfy Customers Through DMAIC
Posted by: meikah | 10 March 2009 | 9:47 pm
In a continuous process manufacturing facility, nearly 80 percent of downtime on high-speed packaging lines comes from minor stoppages which are generally caused by inconsistency of physical characteristics in the products being produced on the line. These minor stoppages can significantly affect product quality and negatively affect profit margin. By effectively following the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) process and Six Sigma tools, manufacturers can satisfy customers’ quality standards while boosting profitability targets with improved raw material utilization. In his article, Chong, advocates the use of both lean and six sigma tools to expedite the “define and measure” phase into one short week of focused activity. Learn about Chong’s approach and see how several companies are using the DMAIC process to take thousands of dollars back to the bottom line.
Filed under: DMAIC, Six Sigma, Six Sigma References
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Lean Six Sigma Insights From Cardinal Health
Posted by: meikah | 12 February 2009 | 9:44 pm
Catch this Webcast where Cardinal Health will share insights on the Lean Six Sigma journey. This webcast is cohosted by MoreSteam.
The Webcast will be held at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 19, and is free and open to the public.
Holly Stein, director of operational excellence at Cardinal Health, will discuss Cardinal’s worldwide deployment and how the company uses simulated practice to produce confident Belts with enough experience to complete projects leading to Cardinal’s goals.
She will cover the evolution of simulated learning, the benefits of simulated practice in today’s demanding economic environment, the Top Ten Insights about simulation learning in the field, and evaluation criteria to assess the fit of simulation for a Lean Six Sigma deployment.
Her co-presenter will be Bill Hathaway, founder and CEO of MoreSteam.com. Read more…
Filed under: Healthcare, Lean Six Sigma, MoreSteam.com, Six Sigma References, Webinar
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The SixSig Roundup
Posted by: meikah | 10 February 2009 | 7:10 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.
Discover6Sigma shares the concept of Affinity Diagram. If you’re handling large and complex data, and you need to evaluate and come up with a decision using that data, then affinity diagraming may just be useful.
At Your Marketing Machine, an entry talks about companies going into lean, but whose lean efforts don’t t even touch marketing operations. Thus the post recommends to lean your marketing.
The Art of Service talks about the need for discipline in the IT service management. Since ITSM is a process-based framework, then it is complementary with Six Sigma or business process management.
noank6.com talks about the role of the champion in Six Sigma. Six Sigma Champions have to undertake the very important task of aligning the Six Sigma projects to the objectives of the organization.
GembaTM Panta Rei asks, where did value stream mapping come from? The idea might have originated from John Shook and Mike Rother who are both pioneers in introducing material and information flow diagramming and developing lean thinking.
Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma Professionals, Six Sigma References
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Systems Thinking and Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 4 February 2009 | 9:38 pm
I remember in one of the Six Sigma forums that I attended, participants from a big pharmaceutical company threw this question: How do we choose Six Sigma projects? or How do we determine the need for a Six Sigma project?
The question might have come as a surprise to many of us, but thinking about it now, the question makes a lot of sense. Many companies that go into Six Sigma, or want to go into Six Sigma, don’t really know how to go about it. Lucky are those whose management recognizes the need for consultants because they are helped. But for those who discover the methodology along the way, it can be tough.
Going back to the two questions, I think the answer to that would be to go into systems thinking first. An article on iSixSigma has a good discussion on applying systems thinking to the practice of Six Sigma.
Systems thinking takes cause-and-effect thinking to a higher level and encourages the user to see not just the linear causal connections but also the web of causal interconnections that come into play in real systems.
Click HERE to find out how systems thinking can help you to go Six Sigma.
Filed under: Six Sigma, Six Sigma References, Tips
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Six Sigma Reference Feature: ‘Quick Wins’ vs. the ‘Mile Deep Thinking’ of Six Sigma
Posted by: meikah | 5 January 2009 | 12:29 am
Which do you prefer, a quick win or a quick solution or the mile deep thinking approach to things?
Well, I know most of us want a solution to a problem. Period. And in our desire to get a problem solved right away, we sometimes settle for quick fixes, whose impact are short-lived. Also, many of us don’t want to go through some process and spend along the way, if we know there’s an easier, faster, and cheaper way of doing things.
However, in these trying times, I think it’s about time that we think of long-term solutions to our problems. We need to shift to the mile deep thinking to enjoy long-term benefits and savings.
The Six Sigma Group put out an article detailing the difference between ‘quick wins’ and ‘mile deep thinking’ of using Six Sigma.
Read: ‘Quick Wins’ vs. the ‘Mile Deep Thinking’ of Six Sigma
