MBB Feedback

Never be afraid to say I don’t know!
This prompts an opportunity to learn.
Chris,you’re dead on.

ps
Where the hell do they get these obtuse two words that we type into the box just so we can post? These hypo/hyer hyphenated and blurred out words that we must be able to discern and type in.

I knew I needed an eye test,some of these random words confirm it?

@cseider – While I agree on the distribution of capabilities, I would expect that a “certification” would dictate a mean shift to a level where the minimum level is beyond the “I can’t answer because I’m not a statistician.”

I’m not a statistician (as I’m sure Robert Butler can attest – a most learned statistician on this board), but I know enough to formulate a question and research a solution. Anything less would not delineate an MBB in my opinion.

Now there are many instances where the answer is “it depends.” In fact, most questions that I receive must be prefaced with those two words – and until we establish the assumptions, anything else is a hope/prayer.

@EddieBarnhill – I’m assuming that your comment was related to my post related to MSA and precision. Yes, I’m rather disappointed in the responses, particularly since it didn’t take a profound understanding of statistics, rather a fundamental understanding of basics. If you read my recent posting in that thread you will find a favorite question of mine which I use to separate those who have studied SS and those who understand SS. There is a difference.

@EddieBarnhill I am not sure how you have determined that people think it is acceptable to say that based on what? You have heard it how many times? I am not really sure how many times I would need to hear something before I decided it was now acceptable to say it. That comment wouldn’t fly in my company or the companies of most of the people I know. I have been in places where the culture drives that type of answer. In at least 2 organizations I am aware of there was an individual that tried to position himself as the approver of DOE’s before they were run. A second opinion is always a smart thing but I haven’t met the person with some kind of devine knowledge – although there are some that I do trust more than others.

If this is a real issue for you why don’t you ask them why they said it? People do things for reasons and the simplest answer is to ask the people doing it.

@MBBinWI and @cseider Absolutely agree with you on Robert Butler’s response. Let’s not forget a resource we all use on a pretty regular basis – the people at Minitab. Joel, who now is posting regularly – thank you, is a statistician and is very helpful. He replaced someone that is a statistician and was absolutely great, Jennifer Atlas.

@Mike-Carnell
Thanks for the kind words Mike! Even though my work is different now, I hope you’ll still reach out to me for those rare instances when you aren’t sure of an answer. It’s not like Minitab put me back in the vault for awhile like they do with those Disney movies. @cseider, yes, I know it’s been a month since your email….I promise to catch up this week.

Done :)

@jennatlas I know they have not locked you away but we do miss your bright smiling face (we won’t mention bloodshot eyes) at the conferences.

I do think that we have seriously neglected people understanding the difference the statistical software has made in our ability to roll out Six Sigma. Basically without it the whole concept of the way we roll it out would have to be different if we did not have the software to do the anaysis. Nobody except Gary Cone wants to do this on a 4 function calculator. Minitab jumped in to help us since the first wave of training in 1995 and has spent a lot of resources supporting the SS industry. We do appreciate the support and we appreciate the quality of the people Minitab has always kept on board to support all of us out here. Thanks.

@MBBinWI I didn’t see Minitab until 1990 at Motorola Seguin Texas. We had been using Statgrafics up until them and always had management on our butts because of the way the graphs looked.

Don’t remember my stats grade. I do remember talking to the professor about it. I told him I liked it and asked what I could do with stats. His enlightened advice “nothing.” I guess that is why he was teaching stats at night. I considered looking him up but what is the point?

@MBBinWI
Only had the pleasure of working with Minitab since 1991….guess this proves you are older…oh wait, that wasn’t in question. :)