• Ignore Six Sigma at Your Peril

    Ignore Six Sigma at Your Peril

    The Jan. 22, 2001, issue of Fortune contained an article that offered readers risky advice–namely, that Six Sigma could be ignored without adverse consequences.1 Don’t believe it. To be fair, the article is directed toward investors, not managers. The author’s point is that Six Sigma alone won’t make a company successful. On that, I am…

  • The Role of Freedom vs. Permission in Six Sigma Implementation

    The Role of Freedom vs. Permission in Six Sigma Implementation

    Six Sigma betters an organization at all levels. At the highest level, this involves moving the entire organization from three- or four-sigma business processes to six-sigma business processes, which requires reducing defects by a factor of more than 20,000, completely transforming the organization’s culture. But this can’t be accomplished by simply tweaking the process; it…

  • Applying Virtual DOE in the Real World

    A case study from the manufacturing sector showcases the advantages of data mining and artificial neural networks. In a prior discussion, I outlined the process of implementing a virtual design of experiments (VDOE) using artificial neural networks and data mining techniques. Today, we delve into a practical instance from the manufacturing realm that underlines how…