Marty

:)

We’re working through the same problem at our hospital  and to build on Brit’s reply, you must have a patient to fill the bed or the savings will just be the variable expenses you save on the two hours (meds, food, etc.).  We’re estimating improved discharge savings for cardiology patients by adding up the all the hours potentially saved and c…[Read more]

Vinny, Stan,
That’s a good point to make: we shouldn’t be satisfied with mediocre understanding and we shouldn’t be satisfied with mediocre results. Of course, what is “best” isn’t always known. The definition of what is “best” can even change over time.
I was amazed when finding an example a while ago, which appears promising to me. With a…[Read more]

Charlie,
More focus, broader scope, stronger solutions? Sounds like you are looking for TRIZ. Kindly check out http://www.isixsigma.com/me/triz/ please.
That’s the good news for you: use focused TRIZ, instead of unfocused brainstorming. It’s free, it’s available on the Internet, or via consultants, if you like.
The bad news for you is: it takes…[Read more]

Cindy, Yes the operator was the same for all 8 runs. They do influence the residual stress, without knowing it, because we cannot tell them what might make the stress worse. The outputs x, y, and z all come from the same sample but at different locations down the length of the part. For example, they may be located at 3 ft, 9 ft and 12 ft.…[Read more]

Robert, here are the results (Hope they show up okay). The inputs are three separate settings on a straightening machine. The output is residual stress measured at different locations down the length of the sample. The goal is to minimize the residual stress. Obviously we don’t want the operator to create the stress that we found in location “z”,…[Read more]

Cindy, I have Minitab rel 14.11. I’ve looked through the stat guide and help menu but I don’t see anything for missing data. I am going to take a look at Design of Experiments by Douglas C Montgomery 5th Ed, which Shilpa recommended. This was a non-replicated design. Even with only eight runs it took five hours to complete. Also, to measure the…[Read more]

Shilpa, I don’t have a copy myself but I think I know where I can get my hands on a copy.  I’ll check it out.  I can email the results to you.  If you have time, I’d be interested in seeing how you would deal with it.  We are planning another DOE.  Even though I am missing some of the data, it was pretty evident that we need to take another look…[Read more]

Gabriel,
I agree that the frequency plot looks good.  Also the high P value was a good indication of normality.  The histogram made me suspicious so I did the goodness-of-fit test.  I didn’t even think about how the software was creating the histogram (insert forehead slap).  Using K=1+3.3 logN, to calculate the number of cells, I now see the…[Read more]

Scw, Could you explain what you mean by:
“You can not simply compare A-D values under different distributions as .89 under Weibull could have lower p-value than .804 under Normal does.”
Do you mean that I shouldn’t compare the AD under Weibull-.890 to the AD under Normal-.804 to choose a distribution fit?  I thought that this was the correct…[Read more]

Tim,
Thanks for the reply, I re-ran the stats again to confirm the results.  Just so we’re on the same page, I am using Minitab rel. 14.11.  I went to Stats – Reliability/Survival – Distribution Analysis (Right Censoring)  – Distribution ID Plot.  Did you use a different methond?  Also, I used the LSXY method.
Thanks,
 
Marty

isabel,
Sorry, I don’t know how to post it in an Excel file.  Here’s the data.  The USL is 0.0080 and has a lower boundary of 0.0000.  These are individual readings, not subgroup av…[Read more]

Remember, Six Sigma is all about reducing variation in the process. Fancy programs and too much dependancy on W,X,Y & Z factor talk tends to drive people away from getting to know the real Six Sigma. Define your project, Measure what currently happens, Analyze (with Excel) the measurement, brainstorm and Incorporate the changes that need to take…[Read more]

Robert, yes that did clear up some things.  Even in the books I’ve been referencing the duplicate/replicate issue can be confusing.  I thought that the samples collected at each level would be within run variation and not run-to-run variation.
I’m handling this experiment at our plant for another BB.  It is his project but he’s located at one of…[Read more]

OOPS! Newbie me posted this in the main forum first.  Here it goes again.
Thank for your all of you responses.
Dave- I do have Minitab and have used the  Power and Sample Size  feature for Anova’s and T Tests.  I wasn’t sure how or if I could use it for a DOE.
Opey- I would say that this is a screening experiment.  We are looking for those X…[Read more]

Your absolutley right. Thanks

Thanks
I do have the complete process layed out station by station using flow charts, but I did not look at the interaction aspect as a way of establishing a starting point. Management is pressuring for a labor variance criteria as a way to measure success. I have been trying to convince them that quality control should be the focus. But I am up…[Read more]

I would be interested in receiving this survey also. Could you cc. me
Thanks

In my previous organization, I’ve heard terms such as “joke” and “con-artist”.  There were some other ones that violated various workplace policies and wouldn’t be suitable here either

Elizabeth
You should look at doing a transactional black belt project for the University that you are attending. If you can get there cooperation and show them a financial return, you might help make it easier for others to do the same.
Marty