Liam Frady

What are the 8 principles of TQM? TQM or Total Quality Management is a great way of driving continuous quality within an organization. It isn’t intended solely for products but can transform a business when properly implemented. However, that is only part of the equation when considering the move to this approach. Adhering […]

What common pitfalls in Scrum do people run into? Scrum has been one of the most popular approaches to Agile in recent memory, dominating the software industry for decades at this point. However, it isn’t always smooth sailing when it comes to adopting Scrum. As with any new methodology or approach, there can […]

Scrum vs. Kanban: Which is the best for your Agile efforts? Agile comes in a few different flavors, depending on the workflow you’re after. Sometimes, this comes as organized sprints meant to do incremental work. Other teams might benefit from limiting workflow and focusing on the tasks at hand. Both of these approaches […]

How does Six Sigma for cybersecurity work? Cybersecurity is paramount for the day-to-day operations of any organization, regardless of the industry. When you consider the interconnectivity of all elements for even mom-and-pop businesses, practicing good digital hygiene is paramount for the continued success of your business. While we typically don’t think of Six […]

What value stream mapping examples can we pull from real life? Value stream mapping is one of the key tools for looking at how materials and resources flow through a workflow. However, when introduced to this visualization tool, it can be a bit hard to conceive of how it applies to a real […]

How do you create a learning organization with Six Sigma and organizational culture? A learning organization is a valuable means of fostering a culture centered around education. This can take several forms, but the overall intent is the same. Ultimately, you’re after a culture of improvement, self-reliance, and agility. So, with that in […]

Are you using Six Sigma for supply chain management? Just about any process can be improved, refined, and made into the best possible version of itself. Now, I’m a strong proponent of finding what works best for your organization and using it rather than following the crowd. However, I think Six Sigma is […]

Is Six Sigma in education viable? We often talk about the applicability of Six Sigma to other industries. However, the benefits of this process improvement methodology are readily applied to other aspects of modern living. Education is one of our greatest assets, providing a stable foundation for the future workforce. Today, we’re going […]

Is Six Sigma for startups viable? Typically, when we think of Six Sigma, we think of deployments of the methodology across enterprises. Large organizations have been the constant domain of Six Sigma since its development. Now, that isn’t to say that smaller organizations completely forego using Six Sigma principles. My time working with […]

What does the future of Six Sigma hold? Business is ever-changing, especially when looking at the trends and market forces that push and pull in the modern era. However, Six Sigma is alive and well, flourishing some might say. Now, this isn’t down to just pure luck, but rather a proven track record […]

What are the best tools for Agile? Agile as a methodology can seem somewhat freeform, despite following rather rigid planning. Further, since Agile projects are typically broken down into individual components, complex projects can spin out of control quite quickly. As such, it makes sense to employ solid and dependable tools for the […]

Where do stakeholders in Agile come into play? Any project management methodology is going to have a stakeholder of some sort at its core. However, learning the roles and overall function of these individuals in the grander scheme of your Agile project can make quite a bit of difference when moving through sprints […]

How do you get past resistance to Agile? Change is a tricky subject for any company to navigate. This is doubly true when looking at instituting a methodology like Agile for your project management needs. If you’ve got an entrenched method of work, changing gears so abruptly can lead to some setbacks. However, […]

Agile vs. waterfall, what is the best methodology for managing your projects? There is no shortage of project management approaches when it comes to businesses. Agile is one approach that has taken off in the world of software development, with new practitioners even extending it well outside of the tech industry. Waterfall is decidedly different, […]

How does Agile project management fare beyond the world of software development? Software development has adopted Agile as an industry standard, but the same principles can be applied across the band to a wide variety of industries. Furthermore, many industries would benefit from implementing the Agile methodology in their current project management workflow. […]

What are the most common challenges in digital transformation? Digital transformation is one of the driving forces behind modern business. However, making the most of the digital revolution isn’t always a sure thing. As such, it takes a somewhat deft hand to navigate the common pitfalls of digitizing your workplace. This can result […]

There never seems to be enough time on a project, especially when considering flow time vs. cycle time. These measurements are great ways of tracking time throughout a project. However, when to use these respective measurements comes down to the stage of the project. Don’t fret, we’ll get you up to speed in no time. […]

Common cause vs. special cause variation, aren’t they the same thing? At first glance, you’d be allowed to think so. However, as with any part of the production cycle, there is a reason for these two measurements to exist. So, let’s dive right into what makes these variations different, and how to identify and benefit […]

When you know your process yield (percentage of a process that is free of defects), you can use this yield to sigma conversion table to easily determine your process sigma level, as well as your process defects per million opportunities.

How are companies leading Agile teams? Agile is a methodology with quite a bit of buzz, thanks partly to its rapid adoption in software development. Primarily intended as a software development approach, Agile emphasizes the use of distinct phases that are meant to iterate upon one another. The approach itself has caught on […]

Takt Time vs. Cycle Time: when do you choose what to use? Regardless of your processes’ efficiency, you will have to measure the time eventually. Now, if you’re a new Six Sigma practitioner, you might be wondering about Takt Time vs. Cycle Time. Both of these metrics are important to understanding and refining your processes. […]

Data analysis is a fundamental process in any project. However, data can be lumped into different types, with categorical and continuous data seeming almost opposed at first glance. That said, mastering these data types and understanding when and where to use them can lead to far more precision during data analysis as a whole. What […]

What are the best tools for supporting change management? Change management is a principle that helps guide organizations and projects through periods of change. On the surface level, it is an entirely separate discipline from project management. That said, you’ll want the right tools to make the most of your efforts. The best […]

How do you enact lasting organizational change in a digital environment? Much of what is written about organizational change existed before the advent of the far-reaching digital transformation we’ve experienced in the last five years. However, you can still impact this concept by keeping pace with other organizations. Understanding the changing environment is […]