Quality, it seems, is harder to define than one might think. The article’s author, Tom Gaskell. takes yet another stab at defining this slippery term. He begins by presenting the widely accepted, intuitive definition of quality as goodness, luxury, or high priced exclusivity. While this is not incorrect, it is of limited use to those…

In a world that’s constantly evolving, some conventional systems risk becoming relics of the past. Accounting methods, for instance, have been grappling to keep pace with advancements in process excellence disciplines like Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and the Theory of Constraints. The result is a potential discord that can hamper the progress of organizations seeking…

In any Lean Six Sigma practitioner’s toolkit, batch and queue processing often holds the notorious reputation of a wasteful approach to production. Yet, this method remarkably mirrors the strategic planning process utilized by many organizations today. In this post, we’ll examine the parallels between these two and propose a transformative approach rooted in Six Sigma…

Bold headlines often proclaim: “Six Sigma destroys innovation!” But does it really? We’re here to address this misconception and shed light on how Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing truly interact with innovation. Six Sigma: A Threat or a Boon to Innovation? First, let’s address the myth head-on. Critics claim that Six Sigma, with its structured…

For a technical topic, Six Sigma tends to generate a lot of strong feelings. As the author of The Six Sigma Handbook I obviously have a few of these feelings myself. Still, on balance, I’m a Six Sigma “lover.” I think that the approach is an excellent way to help organizations achieve their goals by…