Keep your finger on the pulse: automate data crunching

It is becoming more important than ever to swot up on your data analysis skills. It’s more than just working the numbers and reporting endless statistics to clients and stakeholders. Large data sets can be invaluable for active decision making throughout the project. As we head deeper into...

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Using Data Analysis to Identify Six Sigma Sales Projects

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Six Sigma is a useful methodology for identifying sales improvement opportunities. The data-driven approach facilitates correlation of the factors involved in the sales process and helps isolate specific inputs to expand the potential for increasing sales. Analysis of existing sales practices and various statistical sales results provides a...

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Process Capability – Surface Finish Example: Part 2

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This is Part 2 of a two-part article on process capability. Part 1 addressed the concept of process capability and how to calculate it, including what to do with data that is normal and non-normal. Part 2 looks at failure rates and material conditions for a surface finish...

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Process Capability – The Basics: Part 1

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What is process capability? From a conceptual view it is a measure of the relationship between the voice of the process and the voice of customer (VOC). It is essentially a ratio of the customer requirement (specification) and the expected process variation. Process capability = Voice of the...

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How to be prepared for when projects don’t go to plan

If the current global pandemic has taught companies anything, it is how to continually adapt. As government guidelines for business change as a response to threat levels and external factors, organisations have had to be proactive in implementing change. This has affected management at every level who have...

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Practical Examples Enhance LSS Training

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When I was a teenager, I took a SCUBA diving certification course. For the first few lessons, I sat in a classroom with the other students and learned a lot about critical concepts like nitrogen in the bloodstream, proper equipment usage and emergency procedures. We eventually progressed to...

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Six Sigma: It’s Not Just a Company’s Processes That Vary

A good implementation of Six Sigma covers a lot of territory, from improving existing business processes to designing new ones and then to managing them for the long term. Organizations that understand begin by applying Six Sigma to improve current processes, using specific statistical tools to identify and...

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Six Sigma Certification, Who Can Do It?

Six Sigma certification questions continue to roll into my inbox. While I can’t find time to answer each email with a tremendous amount of detail, I can and do save them for answering in an article such as this. Can My Company Certify Six Sigma Yellow/Green/Black/Master Black Belts?...

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Is Your Organization Ready to Implement Six Sigma?

Deployment of Six Sigma is not an easy task and does not necessarily translate into instant results. A successful implementation depends on many factors, such as a company’s culture, and the commitment and conviction of its leadership. Without the necessary pieces in place, a Six Sigma deployment can...

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