In the 21st century, new technologies will be developed and improved and will eventually be obsolete for the need of more advanced technologies. In this dynamically changing world, product cycles are expected to last for just a few months. To meet these demanding requirements product developers have to develop products in the shortest amount of…
You have decided that you would like to implement a quality program within your business or organization. Consulting companies have developed many different programs ranging from step-by-step procedures to complex manuals, charts and software. The quality program may take the name of Six Sigma, TQM, quality assurance or just plan quality. Regardless of the methodology…
Only by using the appropriate information source can you begin to truly know your customer and understand your customer needs. Read about all the possible information sources that are available that you may already have access to.
A process can be defined as a set of ordered actions that lead to an output. In any business function, a goal is achieved through a process – paychecks are printed, orders are taken, employees are hired. How well the processes operate is the focus of this article, and the focus of process management. Process management…
Free Workshop on Process Improvement for Energy Company Professionals
The Six Sigma quality methodology almost always requires a Black Belt or Green Belt to lead a team in solving a problem. When teams members interact – and no matter how well the Black or Green Belt can facilitate – opinions of the individual team members will inevitably differ and the team may end up deadlocked, compromising…
The term benchmark originated as a surveying term. It is a distinguishable mark placed on a wall, building or rock that is used as a reference point to determine elevation and position in topography surveys. In business today we use a benchmark in much the same way – to select a reference point to make…
One of the most distinct differences between Six Sigma and other quality management systems is the link to business finances. For the greatest business benefit, calculate financial benefit before, during and after.
What does it mean to be “Six Sigma”? Six Sigma at many organizations simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. But the statistical implications of a Six Sigma program go well beyond the qualitative eradication of customer-perceptible defects. It’s a methodology that is well rooted in mathematics and statistics. The objective…
Building the e-Learning Business Case for Your Lean Six Sigma Deployment
A tremendous amount of work goes into the design, planning and execution of a productive team meeting. Attendees should always know the purpose and desired outcome(s) of the meeting before getting too deep into the content. The meeting should start on time, an agenda should be set and previous meeting notes should be reviewed, if…
The Quality profession has always been about improving processes, products and services. From TQM to PDCA to Six Sigma, all Quality methodologies are focused on eliminating defects and the root causes of those defects. It involves products that satisfy your customers, running processes at greater efficiencies, producing less waste and increasing business productivity. All of…
Create Six Sigma project charters that are compelling to business leaders by capturing all quantifiable benefits of eradicating a business problem. This checklist will help you do so.
“Changing what we have the power to change, accepting the things we cannot change, and becoming wise enough to know the difference between the two.” It is a very old saying, and one that many people aspire to. But when it comes to implementing quality within your business, many feel they have or should have…
MoreSteam.com Announces Release of TRACtion® Version 3.0
“I entered the Six Sigma program with our organization in May as a BB candidate. Since then I have encountered a number of setbacks and frustrations. They aren’t unique to me, either. Many other BBs at my company are experiencing the same things. I’m hoping for some general advice. What can you do (as a…
As a customer, the worst experience I can imagine is being a casualty of process variation. ‘It doesn’t seem that bad,’ you may be thinking to yourself. Just remember back to the last time you: Went grocery shopping only to select the slowest teller in the store. Received a haircut that was shorter or longer…
Six Sigma is a quality methodology that can produce significant benefit to businesses and organizations. Not much text, however, has been written about the structure needed to successfully implement Six Sigma quality within your business or organization. This article will focus on roles and responsibilities, as well as required rewards and recognition for a successful…
Conversion Services International Sponsors iSixSigma Financial Services Industry Channel
Six Sigma e-learning is now on the radar screen of every major company implementing the Six Sigma Quality initiative. The key will be to design a Six Sigma e-learning system that combines both online and in-person classroom learning to meet the needs of individual employees and the business. Although it’s still in its early stages,…
Quality improvement methodologies and the analyses that are performed within your organization are only as good as the data on which they are based. That is why it is essential to make sure that your measurement system – your gages, personnel, methods and procedures – is stable and capable of measuring your data before continuing with…
Learning the Six Sigma methodology can be confusing. Even if you know the Six Sigma methodology, questions arise from co-workers or in daily activities and answers may not be readily available. To help with this problem, iSixSigma has compiled a list of questions that have been posed on the discussion forum. Below are the five…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact: Linda Duchin 617-995-5763 lduchin@prsteering.com Enterprise PPM Functionality, ‘Just Right’ Configuration and Scalability Highlighted Cambridge, Massachusetts (April 16, 2008) – PowerSteering, the only On-Demand, Enterprise PPM software used to manage, Six Sigma, Information Technology, New Product Development and other strategic initiatives, today announced its coverage in Forrester’s “SaaS-Based Tools…
To maintain control and assure a payoff from LSS, it may help to start on a limited scale. With only a few key team members – including the right Black Belt candidate – a company can create a program that will have an impact enterprise wide.
Many of us – as Quality professionals – have implemented quality improvement projects throughout our careers. Best practices resulting from these implementations are paramount for: designing processes for Six Sigma (defect-free) production from the beginning, increasing business productivity on future projects, as well as not ‘reinventing the wheel.’ After recently implementing a technology project, I thought it…
Six Sigma training is one of the most important factors that contributes to and helps modify and shape a Six Sigma culture. This article will help identify who in your organization is required to go through six sigma training and what type of six sigma training they should receive.
Mosaic Rapid Lean Six Sigma Team Saves over $12 Million and Wins Award
There is a synergistic relationship between enterprise risk management and Six Sigma. The continuous improvement methodology assists leadership in managing both the operations of the organization and the inherent risk associated with it.
Every interaction with a customer is an opportunity for advancing your relationship and gaining key information. Your early interaction efforts set the stage for mature and productive relationships. Clear and efficient communication with your customers may serve you better than anything else in developing relationships. Once you have established mutual trust and respect, you will…
Sponsors: Minitab Cate Twohill 814-753-3463, ctwohill@minitab.com Before practitioners can improve a process, they must understand it. The process map, a visual representation of the steps taken to complete a process, is a valuable tool in this effort. Project team members can adapt the map from a high-level view during the Define phase to focus on…
Good Quality leaders rely on the strengths of employees. Learn how to solve business issues by asking a simple question and empowering employees.
The Internet has not only lowered the barrier of entry into markets, but in many cases also allows companies to offer products and services at much lower prices. Customers now have the choice and, more importantly, they are aware of their choices. As the economy moves more towards the e-conomy, customer expectations and the ability…
iSixSigma receives many questions regarding the Six Sigma methodology and, more specifically, what each business change agent (Champion, Master Black Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt) should know in order to be effective. To help meet this need, I have created a reference document detailing what should be contained in a Six Sigma curriculum. Below is…
One of the most confusing issues associated with someone saying “I’m using Six Sigma” has to do with what methodology they are actually using. A majority of the time they are using the DMAIC methodology, because they have existing processes that are wasting resources (hence the big savings you’ve heard about at GE, Honeywell and…
Celebrations and awards not only serve to honor the accomplishments of successful Quality projects and employees, they bolster and endorse the specific actions, behaviors and values that your business is striving to put in place as a Quality culture.
Holiday season sales will be up 100% to about $10 billion, and customers expect 100% Web site availability, order status and online customer service. This year (2000) the price of admission to the online market is much steeper. Is your business operating at 6 sigma…or 2 sigma? Improve your customer experience by measuring it.
Holistic Process Improvement Training for Managers
iSixSigma released a process sigma calculator which allows the operator to input process opportunities and defects and easily calculate the process sigma to determine how close (or far) a process is from 6 sigma. One of the caveats written in fine print refers to the calculator using a default process shift of 1.5 sigma. From…
You never hear anyone say “I don’t have time for integrity – I have too many other priorities to take care of right now.” So why, as quality leaders, do we consistently hear how some of our business leaders and process improvement teams don’t have time for quality? Is personal integrity more important than the quality…
Without employee contributions, we might as well hang a sign in the window and close up shop. We need to make sure that employees are always contributing to their maximum extent — we need to keep them energized on Quality.
Getting your “quality” life in order is no easy task. Project meetings, staff meetings, tollgate reviews, and business deliverables can wreak havok on our daily lives. Sometimes it seems as if there is nothing we can do to stay organized – until now. Just as we teach our businesses that processes are necessary to increase productivity,…
2007 Pharmaceutical Technology Conference Focuses on Lean Design, Quality Initiatives and Cutting Edge Technologies
New Six Sigma Standard™ for Sustainable Financial Benefit
Education on ‘LSS/CPI Blended Learning,’ from The Quality Group
Breakthrough Management Group Hosts 2-Day Innovation Workshop for Executives
The American Council on Education Has Recommended Graduate Level College Credit for SBTI’s Master Black Belt Program
Open Source Six Sigma™ Hits Community: DMAIC v8.0 Now Available – OpenSourceSixSigma.com
Six Sigma Online Training, often referred to as Six Sigma e-Learning, is a great alternative to in-person, classroom training for many people. The question often asked iSixSigma.com is how to separate out the reputable Six Sigma e-Learning providers and select a provider that will provide Six Sigma training and/or Six Sigma certification that has value…
Hertzler Systems Releases Case Study of Six Sigma in Financial Services
SigmaXL Announces Release of SigmaXL V5.1 Excel Add-in for Six Sigma Statistical and Graphical Analysis