• Case Study – Improve Early Release Process for Employees

    Project Title: Improve Early Release Process for Employees Define Project sponsor: Kelly Project Green Belt: Tim Tim was asked to find out how to improve the VTO process (voluntary time off, or “going home early”) in a large call center. Prior to FY## this had been a manual process, very hands on, very reactive to…

  • Case Study – Improve Software Beta Sweep Process

    Case Study – Improve Software Beta Sweep Process

    Project Title: Improve Software Beta Sweep Process Define Project sponsor: Steve Project Green Belt: Milton Every year when a new product is released, the Software Beta team must evaluate whether every existing KnowledgeBase entry applies to the new product. If yes, it is updated, a process known as “sweeping forward.” It was possible that customers…

  • Case study – Scheduling Call Center Outsourcer

    Case study – Scheduling Call Center Outsourcer

    Project: Scheduling for Call Center Outsourcer Define Project sponsor: Kelly Project Green Belt: Stacy Stacy was asked to take on the challenge of scheduling for an important call center outsourcer. Outsourcer was not filling the assigned schedules, and it turned out there was an issue with the transportation provided by Outsourcer to its employees. Ordinarily,…

  • Volcano Throwing Off Just-In-Time

    The Associated Press reports that firms which use the Just-in-Time system are experiencing problems due to the Iceland volcanic eruption. The strategy of keeping inventories lean paid off for U.S. manufacturers during the recession. Just-in-time delivery of parts makes even more sense when budgets are tight. Now that a giant ash cloud from a volcano…

  • Taking the Six Sigma Plunge

    Taking the Six Sigma Plunge

    Recently some prospective clients asked me for a demonstration project to help them determine if Six Sigma would be a good idea at their company. I advised them against it. Such a demonstration only shows management’s lack of commitment to the success of Six Sigma. Although philosophical issues are important, there are more concrete problems…

  • The Leadership Process

    The Leadership Process

    Leading an entire organization is a daunting challenge. One must keep everyone happy. A delicate balancing act, to say the least. We Six Sigma practitioners are often quick to criticize leaders for not properly supporting our efforts. But what if you were asked by a committed leader for advice on how to actually use Six…

  • How to Calculate Process Yields

    How to Calculate Process Yields

    Sam handed Peter a computer printout and asked, “If the yields are so high, why is my efficiency so low?” Peter, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, studied the report for a moment and then nodded. “Let me show you what’s going on,” he said as he picked up a marker and drew a diagram…

  • Six Sigma Roadmap for Small Businesses

    Six Sigma Roadmap for Small Businesses

    Many Six Sigma experts have expressed doubt that Six Sigma can be used effectively in small, or even in some medium-sized, organizations. However, while the approach to deployment must be modified, it is possible for small businesses to successfully implement Six Sigma. Here is how. At the outset, several givens must be in place: All…

  • 101 Things a Black Belt Should Know

    101 Things a Black Belt Should Know

    What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments.

  • DMAIC and DMADV

    DMAIC and DMADV

    The tools of Six Sigma are most often applied within a simple performance improvement model known as Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control, or DMAIC. DMAIC is summarized in Table 1. DMAIC is used when a project’s goal can be accomplished by improving an existing product, process, or service. The question is often asked: What is DMAIC Methodology? The chart…