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I’m surprised how quickly we blame a methodology for a business’s lack of performance. We’re always looking for some silver bullet to cure all ills. In contrast, Six Sigma integrates many methodologies to achieve sustained profitable results. When Motorola practiced Six Sigma under the leadership…
(Lean Enterprise Institute: Cambridge, Massachusetts) -- The classic management book The Machine That Changed the World (Free Press, 2007), which was recently reissued in paperback, has been named to an executive reading list compiled by The New York Times.The newspaper described the “…
(CoorsTek: Grand Junction, Colorado) -- CoorsTek Inc., a technical ceramics manufacturer and a long-time supplier to the electronics industry, has received an Outstanding Supplier Award for the second consecutive year from global sensor components manufacturer Kavlico Corp.Every Kavlico…
(National Starch & Chemical Co.: Bridgewater, New Jersey) -- National Adhesives, a business unit of National Starch and Chemical Co., has formed a partnership with SigmaFlow to provide Lean Six Sigma consulting services and integrated software to National Adhesives customers.“Our ability to…
Whenever I enter a Ritz-Carlton hotel, I know “I’m not in Mediocreville anymore!” Walking through those doors transports me to a world unparalleled in service, with guest amenities and services consistently beyond my expectations. Unlike the Wizard of Oz, the hotel is everything it purports to be…
(AIAG: Detroit) -- The only automotive industry event showcasing collaboration among trading partners, Automotive Industry Action Group’s AutoTech conference and exhibition returns this year with keynote and educational sessions, technical demonstrations, and an expansive exhibit floor…
(CFI Group: Ann Arbor, Michigan) -- The first Call Center Satisfaction Index from CFI Group indicates that the two issues having the biggest effect on customer satisfaction with a contact center were first-call resolution and offshoring. Issue resolution is the key driver of customers’…
(ISO: Geneva) -- The International Organization for Standardization recently issued an updated CD-ROM collection of its ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards. The disc includes new or updated standards for use in climate-change programs, environmental labeling, life-…
(TÜV SÜD: Danvers, Massachusetts) -- TÜV SÜD America Inc., a testing and certification services firm, has been approved by the Radio Research Laboratory (RRL) in Korea to test and apply the Korean Ministry of Information and Communications Mark for various standards related to emissions and…
Georgia Tech student Ashley Palmer, Ph.D., conducted experiments to validate a new cartilage-imaging technique developed by associate professors Marc Levenston and Robert Guldberg in the Georgia Tech School of Mechanical Engineering. On the computer…
(University of Leeds: Leeds, England) -- The Skin Research Centre at the University of Leeds, which has led the way in the treatment of acne, eczema, and other skin conditions, is the only university skin microbiology laboratory in the United Kindom to receive the international quality…
(NIST:Gaithersburg, Maryland) -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are developing state-of-the-art measuring techniques, similar to those used in making aerospace components fit together precisely, that soon could improve success…
(ClearCount Medical Solutions: Pittsburgh) -- The patented SmartSponge System, built by ClearCount Medical Solutions of Pittsburgh and based on radio frequency identification (RFID) has received Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance.“We are optimistic the SmartSponge System will…
(A2LA: Frederick, Maryland) -- The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation began adding medical laboratories to its accreditation offerings on June 1, 2007. “We see strong demand for an internationally recognized accreditation program in the medical laboratory industry,” says…
(DHHS: Washington) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt recently announced that the United States will participate in an international effort to encourage more rapid development and worldwide adoption of standard clinical terminology for electronic health records. The…
(NCQA: Washington) -- Women are significantly less likely than men to have their LDL cholesterol controlled to recommended levels, according to a new study by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The study, published in the May/June edition of Women’s Health Issues,…
I frequently hear discussions among engineers, managers, and higher-ups concerning process capability, an alphabet soup of indexes and three-letter designations. The indexes are bandied about as though a single number communicates knowledge, understanding, and certainty. My experience is that this…
(The Baldrige National Quality Program: Seattle, Washington) --The Baldrige National Quality Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, based in Washington, D.C., announced recently that the Washington State Quality Awards organization will host the Western 2007…
(ISO: Geneva) -- ISO has launched a new self-assessment tool on CD to help organizations ensure an effective and smooth-running IT environment through implementation of the ISO/IEC 19770-1 standard on software asset management.The CD “ISO/IEC 19770-1 Software Asset Management: Are You…
(Mazda: Hiroshima, Japan) -- Auto Bild, Germany’s largest car magazine, has ranked Mazda in first place in its highly respected “Quality Report” for 2007, which was published this month. This was the third straight year that Mazda has been awarded first place in this annual report.First…
(ASQ: Milwaukee) Eliminating outbreaks of food-borne illness is possible but it won’t happen by increasing inspections alone, say food safety experts in the latest Quarterly Quality Report from the American Society for Quality. The answer, the report finds, is in prevention. “The…
Now that we have talked about defining Six Sigma and 10 stupid Six Sigma tricks, I’ll move on to the measure phase and discuss some things that work and don’t work in measuring the effect of Six Sigma. The new metric that Six Sigma brought to us was the sigma index, so let’s start…
(Syracuse University: Syracuse, New York) -- Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management is joining with Brambles Ltd. of Australia to develop a curriculum for a new three-credit course on Six Sigma. The new course, to be called Lean Six Sigma, will be launched in the…
(WCBF: Chicago) -- Worldwide Convention and Business Forums is gearing up for its Global Six Sigma Summit, Oct. 23–26, at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. With a forecast attendance of more than 400 senior executives from across industries that are striving for business…
(U.S. Army: Washington, D.C.) -- The U.S. Army’s ongoing implementation of lean Six Sigma (LSS) techniques, as embodied in the Army Business Transformation Strategic Framework, continues to show success, and leaders anticipate reaching a $2 billion savings mark this year. A recent LSS…
