Liam Frady

Which companies do design thinking the best? Design thinking is a relatively new approach to the likes of product delivery. While products are often drummed up with the customer in mind, few approaches consider the customer’s needs before even analyzing the problem and developing a solution. That said, some companies are embracing design thinking with […]

The gold rush of generative AI and autonomous agents is upon us. As such, we need to take a closer look at things like transparency and accountability, at least when considering who has ownership of the outputs of these digital tools. Corporations have realized that AI can speed up productivity, making for thousands of lines […]

When conducting process improvement, Root Cause Analysis is a physical, human-centric exercise. It involves stakeholders standing around a whiteboard, drawing Ishikawa diagrams, and asking the Five Whys until a human or mechanical point of failure is found. However, the nature of work has shifted as more industries are embracing automated workflows. Processes aren’t a string […]

What tools are needed to create business agility? An agile business can adapt and roll with the punches. I don’t mean a momentary setback but events that a business can easily adapt and overcome. In software development, this methodology is known as Agile and is one of the driving forces behind modern development teams. However, […]

Lean Six Sigma often evokes the image of a war room of sorts: a physical space with whiteboards, sticky notes, and a group of practitioners huddled over a Value Stream Map. There has been a shift of sorts in the workplace, and subsequently these sorts of spaces are falling out of fashion. Our workforces are […]

Big data vs. small data, which one are you choosing for your business? Data is a big market right now, something that it has held the distinction of for the last decade or more. Data drives business decisions, calls forecasts for future trends, and so much more. As such, it helps to have a plan […]

Is it easy to build a data-driven culture for your business? Data is a driving force in any modern organization. Even mom-and-pop stores are leaning on what they can glean from the digital revolution. As such, it is more important than ever to take the steps to create a data-driven culture to take your organization […]

What are the most common mistakes you can make with FMEA? As a framework, FMEA is aimed at creating lasting solutions to potential problems before they even arise. However, that doesn’t mean it’s completely foolproof. As we’ve seen with many of the tools of the trade, there is certainly a right and a wrong way […]

What’s the best process for conducting an FMEA? If you want to start implementing lasting changes into your production line, FMEA is one of the top ways to get things rolling. However, there is a certain procedure you’ll want to follow to make the most of your efforts. If you’re new to the concept, that’s […]

How can you use FMEA in product development? I’ve talked at length about using FMEA as a means of rectifying problems in production. However, you can apply the methodology to the design process of any product or service you’ve got in the works. It isn’t similar to DMAIC, as DMAIC is generally used to refine […]

The end of any Lean Six Sigma project is met with a collective sigh of relief from every member of your team. The DMAIC cycle reaches its final stage. Targets are met, and stakeholders sit satisfied with the ROI. That said, the most misunderstood phase of DMAIC, Control, is often the most under-executed portion of […]

What are the tools every Scrum team should use? Scrum is a popular way of conducting any Agile project, but you can maximize your results with some handy applications of modern technology. Now, these don’t change how you work, but they will make things much easier on the whole. So, with that in mind, let’s […]

What common myths about TQM muddy the waters on how it is utilized? Total quality management is a powerful framework, but without a keen understanding of the methodology, you fall victim to issues with how to best use it. That said, it isn’t a difficult methodology to get behind, as we’ll explore a little further. […]

Developing solid metrics and a good toolchain is instrumental for the success of any Scrum project. If you’re just flying by the seat of your pants, you’re likely not maximizing the potential of both your team and the outputs of a given project. Success in Scrum is about delivering value, not so much about the […]

Scrum is synonymous with software development, a practice going back decades at this point. It serves as Silicon Valley’s killer app, the engine behind rapid deliverables that let tech giants pivot on a dime. As the global economy grows increasingly more volatile and customer expectations shift toward instant gratification, Scrum isn’t just for software these […]

Applying Scrum to non-software industries is a lot easier than you think. The most recent edition of the Scrum Guide has even prepared the approach for integration into other business sectors. As such, there has never been a better time for adapting and ultimately using Scrum in a non-software setting. With that in mind, let’s […]

Today’s marketplace is increasingly competitive, with organizations facing mounting pressure to reduce time-to-market while maintaining current quality standards. For Six Sigma practitioners, the answer is relatively simple to reduce shipping times, and involves the integration of Agile teachings and techniques. By taking a systematic approach toward iterative development, defect prevention, and integrating continuous improvement, organizations […]

Going from Waterfall to Scrum is a tall order, but is easily achieved with the right mindset and approach. You can’t just drop and turn tail, you’ve got to ease into things to the best of your ability. Scrum is a flexible approach to project management, putting people well before any processes or technology. This […]

The Scrum Guide is something of a living document, undergoing frequent revisions and changes to better suit the changes of today’s business needs. The most recent edition of the guide is the 2020 one, authored by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland. Now, for the average person, this is a fairly dense document, in part thanks […]

What major changes in BPR implementation is your organization struggling with? Like it or not, sometimes implementing something new can lead to some real hurdles to overcome. Often, these can be minor speed bumps in the road, and an adjustment can get things back on track. However, BPR is quite drastic by design, and this […]

What role does leadership play in your BPR efforts? BPR is a drastic and often massive change to business processes. The concept of a clean slate isn’t just touted about, but followed through on. As such, it has its own sort of demands to consider when undergoing a BPR initiative. Leadership plays a key role […]

Process time vs. cycle time is a discussion that comes up often for newcomers to Six Sigma. Understanding these principles and how they apply to your time management is vital. Failing to grasp these concepts can negatively affect your bottom line . What is Process Time? Process time describes the interval required for a product […]

You’ve done the difficult task of conducting a business process reengineering effort, but how do you quantify the results? BPR is a very drastic practice, and can be somewhat more difficult to measure than you might think. When you consider the scope and depth of a BPR project, cleanly pointing out tangible benefits might seem […]

Kanban makes for a wonderful complementary tool in your Agile workflows. If you’re looking to optimize your software delivery workflow, then looking at a visual means of organization is a great way of keeping things centered on continuous flow. Further, it fits right into the somewhat looser principles around Agile, which focus primarily on results. […]