Webinar: Accelerating Lean Six Sigma Results in the New Economy


Posted by: meikah | 15 March 2010 | 10:10 pm

IndustryWeek announces:
Live Webinar
Sponsored by SAP
Thursday, April 08, 2010 – 2:00 p.m. EDT (GMT -04:00, New York)
Estimated Length: 1 hour

This webinar is designed to help organizations that are implementing Lean Six Sigma generate rapid, significant benefits and sustain them over the long term. The presenters will discuss:

  • The key differentiators of a scalable Lean Six Sigma rapid deployment and rapid results model
  • 10 accelerators of Lean Six Sigma results and how to put them to work
  • New improvement opportunities in the current economy and how the fusion of leadership, technology, and innovation is changing the improvement focus of Lean Six Sigma
  • How to execute concurrent deployment best practices and reach annualized benefits of 3 percent to 10 percent of revenues — plus true cultural transformation

Speakers
Adrienne Selko (Online Editor, IndustryWeek)
Terence T. Burton (President, The Center for Excellence in Operations, Inc. (CEO))
David Strothmann (Customer Value Network Director, Manufacturing & Lean Enterprise SAP)

Complimentary Gift
As our way of saying thank you to our audience, 50 randomly-selected individuals will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Click here for full rules.

Register for the webinar now!

Filed under: Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, Webinar

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What A Six Sigma Green Belt Should Know


Posted by: meikah | 15 March 2010 | 9:27 pm

If you are working on your Six Sigma Green Belt certification, here is useful checklist from Tony Jacowski.

On project implementation
- well trained in DMAIC methodology
- able to explain the importance of the y=f(x) formula to the business and the processes

On monitoring project progress
- carry out the project for their own areas of operations

On understanding benefits
- able to understand the benefits and gains out of the project success
- understand the relevance of the project
- plan properly and stay in control of the progress of the project, based on data

On carrying out tests
- able to calculate the average and standard deviation from the set standards of the various metrics
- able to carry out statistical tests using software such as Minitab and JMP

Source

Filed under: Green Belts, Six Sigma

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US Fuels Improving Processes Through Six Sigma and Work-Out


Posted by: meikah | 15 March 2010 | 8:16 pm

When US Fuels’ 96.9-percent invoice accuracy was not meeting customer expectations, and the accuracy problem in some strategic segments was impeding sales growth, it was time to act. BP’s US Fuels used Six Sigma and Work-Out to solve the problem.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Six Sigma, Work-Out

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Innovation of the Week: Google’s Fluid, Iterative Innovation Process


Posted by: meikah | 12 March 2010 | 4:50 am
sixsig innovation of the week

This week’s edition of innovation update features Google. Who isn’t amazed by what Google is doing every day? So, now it would be interesting to know the innovation process of Google.

Helen Walters, Next Innovation Tools and Trends, BusinessWeek writes:

Yesterday, Google announced a new “stable” release of its open source browser for Windows, adding some 1,500 “Extensions” (which add functions to the browser toolbar) and “Bookmark Sync”, which synchronizes bookmarks across multiple computers.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Google, Innovation Update, Six Sigma

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Six Sigma and Eberl Iron Works, Inc.


Posted by: meikah | 10 March 2010 | 7:17 pm

Six Sigma and Eberl Iron Works, Inc.

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.” 

Read more…

Filed under: Eberl Iron Works, Inc., Manufacturing, Six Sigma

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The Lean Six Sigma Guide to Doing More with Less


Posted by: meikah | 10 March 2010 | 6:48 pm

Lean Six Sigma Guide to Doing More with Less

Mark O. George says about his book:

The Lean Six Sigma Guide to Doing More With Less – Cut Costs, Reduce Waste, and Lower Your Overhead addresses Lean Six Sigma and related approaches to help improve bottom-line performance and enable competitive advantage from process improvement, enterprise speed and agility. Through the discussion of critical tools, case studies and implementation tips, The Lean Six Sigma Guide to Doing More With Less provides a thorough and pragmatic understanding of how Lean Six Sigma can achieve rapid cost reduction that is sustained over time. The book provides instructions and insights for stand-alone cost-out projects, the launch and design of enterprise initiatives and how to extract greater performance from legacy Six Sigma programs.

Grab your copy now!

Filed under: Lean Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma Books, Six Sigma

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Quality Quiz from PQ Systems e-Line


Posted by: meikah | 10 March 2010 | 6:46 pm

PQ Systems Quality E-Line

PQ Systems through it’s Quality eline newsletter brings us another quality quiz by Professor Leary.

For this month’s quiz, and a chance to win a copy of the newly-released collection of Quality Quiz Classics, go to Quality Quiz. Submit your response by February 26 to be entered in the drawing.

Start reading the quiz.

Last month we met Quinn Quip, quality manager for Quince’s Quality Quiche in Quincy. In a market survey, Quinn wanted to determine the percent of outlets—restaurants, hotels, bakeries, and cafes, as well as private residents—in Quincy who sell or consume the quiche that his company makes. He took many samples of a (sample) size of 100. He found that on average 50 out of the 100 sampled use Quince’s Quality Quiche, and reported to his boss that half the town—give or take 2 percent—are customers.

Continue…

Winners of last month’s quiz and a copy of the Quality Quiz Classics DVD are:

Dan Frederick (Andersen Corporation)
Nayna Modi (Sentara Health Systems)
Walter Prowse (BAE Systems)
Breeda M Worthington (NHS UK)
and Donna Yeakel (Greene Tweed Co. Inc.)

Congratulations!

Filed under: Data, Data Quality, PQ Systems eLine, Quality Quiz, Six Sigma

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How to Handle Statistical Variation in Six Sigma


Posted by: meikah | 8 March 2010 | 10:00 pm

From Your Articles

Six Sigma metrics are more than a collection of statistics. The intent is to make targeted measurements of performance in an existing process, compare it with statistically valid ideals, and learn how to eliminate any variation. Improving and maintaining product quality requires an understanding of the relationships between critical variables. Better understanding of the underlying relationships in a process often leads to improved performance.

To achieve a consistent understanding of the process, potential key characteristics are identified; the use of control charts may be incorporated to monitor these input variables. Statistical evaluation of the data identifies key areas to focus process improvement efforts on, which can have an adverse effect on product quality if not controlled. Advanced statistical software such as Minitab or Statgraphics, are very useful if not essential for gathering, categorizing, evaluating, and analyzing the data collected throughout a Six Sigma project. Special cause variation can also be documented and analyzed. When examining quality problems, it is useful to determine which of the many types of defects occur most frequently in order to concentrate one’s efforts where potential for improvement is the greatest. A classic method for determining the “vital few” is through a Pareto chart.

Read more…

Filed under: Six Sigma, Statistics

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10 Key Technologies for Lean Process Improvement


Posted by: meikah | 8 March 2010 | 8:20 pm

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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Innovation of the Week: Cleantech, Silicon Valley’s Next Great Wave of Innovation


Posted by: meikah | 4 March 2010 | 7:32 pm
sixsig innovation of the week

This week’s edition of innovation update features Cleantech, Silicon Valley‘s next great wave of innovation. This time Silicon Valley is working on clean and green technologies.

MercuryNews.com reports:

Silicon Valley earned its name and first great fortune as the cradle of the computer age. Then it built a launching pad for the Internet age. Now the valley has assumed a leading role in the global competition to develop renewable energy and other clean, green technologies.

Cleantech is poised to be the valley’s third great wave of innovation — not just the next big thing, but perhaps the biggest thing ever. Confronting the peril of greenhouse gases and climate change happens to be a multi-trillion-dollar business opportunity.

“Energy is the biggest opportunity Silicon Valley has ever seen,” declared T.J. Rodgers, the founder of Cypress Semiconductor and chairman of SunPower, a leading maker of photovoltaic panels to produce solar energy.

Continue reading…

Filed under: Innovation, Innovation Update, Silicon Valley, Six Sigma, Sustainable Business, Technology

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