Tom Black

Cookie,
We had a Green Belt that did a project on reducing the time to receive a patent.  After the process map and some measurements, it was obvious that there was a lot of wasted time in the system.  He made some improvements and reduced the time by 40% if my memory is correct.
Tom Black, MBB

DR,
What do you want to know?  How much confidence do you need in the answer?  Sample size will be based on these.  There is no one right answer.
Are you trying to characterize a population or compare two populations?
Tom Black, MBB

Matthew,
Our stated goal in our training is to NOT to train people to be statisticians in the Six Sigma courses.  We want to train them to be problem solvers.  Statistics is a tool that problem solvers can use. Stats makes them more effective and successful.
We feel they need to understand some basics, but not anything close to a four year d…[Read more]

Can we get other opinions from GE people?  What is the good and the bad?  How would you change it?
Tom Black, MBB

A true “outlier” is a point that was caused by a special cause variation.  You should know beyond a reasonable doubt the cause and know that it is something that can only happen once (or was caused by something you can fix and poke yoke).  Once you have done that you can eliminate that point from your capability calcualations.
If you do not k…[Read more]

It would be helpful to know if you are dealing with the yield of a chemical reaction or with the yield by counting a number of parts.  But in either case, you have to understand what you mean by “abnormal”.  Is that “out of spec” or just “economically too low”?
The standard deviation describes the process. (Are you sure you got a good sample of…[Read more]

Steve,
Six Sigma is a problem solving methodology.  Do you have some specific problem areas that are bugging you?  Some that won’t go away, but keep recurring?  Are there inefficiencies that you need to reduce?  If so, you could be a candidate for Six Sigma.
Typically I would say a company should have full time Black Belts.  But even one would…[Read more]

Terry,
Inventory variances are a problem just like other problems that can be solved by the Six Sigma methodology.  I mentored a BB in one of our manufacturing plants that did just that.
She started with the basic tools of process map and XY matrix.  Did gage R&R on the measurement devices for the liquid dispensing system.  Eventually, tr…[Read more]

John,
I don’t completely understand your job.  Training and Development in Total Productive Maintenance don’t tell me a lot.  Do you train maintenance people?  Do you teach the concepts of TPM?
Nevertheless, here are some ideas to help identify a project:

Who is your customer? (Every person has a process, every process has a product, and ev…[Read more]

Jeffrey,
I am interested in your answer on the differences now and then.  Is there anyway to give a short answer on the Forum?
Tom Black, MBB, ASQ CSSBB

Jeffrey,
I am interested in your answer on the differences now and then.  Is there anyway to give a short answer on the Forum?
Tom Black, MBB, ASQ CSSBB

David,
One could probably write a full paper on what a good Green Belt project is.  Let me just point out a couple of things that I think are key.  (Our definition for GB is someone who continues with their present job and completes a project on the side or as part of their normal job.)
The project should be a problem to be solved, not a s…[Read more]

One of the steps in 8D is:  Determine root cause.
Six Sigma is the best methodology for determinine the root cause.  MAI.  D(define) is part of the first steps of 8D.  C(control) is part of the last steps of 8D.  The only problem I have with 8D is that you have to have some method of finding the root cause.  8D is just a form to record the resul…[Read more]

Jacy,
I agree with Marc’s assessment completely.  Six Sigma is about delivering results not passing tests.  You need to start with a Six Sigma training course that requires project completion and provides mentoring.  Once you fully understand the Six Sigma process, you can continue to learn the tools and tackle bigger projects.  Then if you wan…[Read more]

Ali,
I don’t know if I can be much help to you or not.  I have my serious doubts about e-training courses, but there are a number of them available so that is always a possibility.
Most of the consulting firms contract with companies, not individuals.  I am not familiar with your part of the world and whether there are any individual training c…[Read more]

Terry,
The sigma level is the number of standard deviations between the mean and the closest spec limit in the direction of target (nominal) to spec.  If the mean of the process is on the spec limit, there are 0 std devs between them.  The sigma level is 0, the Z score is 0 and the defectives are 50% (from Z table).  If the mean moves outside the…[Read more]