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Articles

Image: Poka Yoke, aka 'Mistake Proofing'

Efficient Use of Poka Yoke

Background With billions invested in manufacturing across the world and a lot of talk about Quality Assurance, there is immense focus on what goes on at the production floor space. ‘Statistical Quality Control (SQC)’, ‘total Quality Management’, ‘Zero Defects’ and techniques for Inspection focus on similar issues: How to reduce the number of errors? How […]

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leadership failure, leadership, lean six sigma, six sigma, business, ceo, management , 6sigma.us

Leadership Failure: Are You Stumbling?

Understanding the Trap Leadership failure can happen more often than you think. According to a recent survey, over 40% of new Chief Executive Officers (CEO) fail within their first 18 months. That is a very powerful statement! Newly hired CEO’s enter the arena with confidence and attitude that is success focused. They wouldn’t have gotten […]

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Kano Analysis

Understanding Kano Analysis

Introduction Products have to be consumer centric. The manufacturers of any product must have a clear idea of what purpose their product is promising to serve. In other words, a clear-cut definition of the functionality of the product is very important. A pudding is good only if the person who is eating approves it (in […]

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leadership, business, project manager, six sigma, lean six sigma, 6sigma.us

Leadership: Developing the Essentials

Are You Preparing? Leadership is often misunderstood. Often times, people define leaders as those appointed to positions of authority above them. It is expected that if you hold a position of authority, then you are a leader. Those same people then follow those in positions above them, with sometimes reluctant obedience. They see that their […]

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Risk Assessment

FMEA: Failure Mode and Effect Analysis – Risk Assessment

Need for Failure Assessment Traditionally, a lot of emphasis was placed on designing a product. Those who planned ahead of time were given a pat on the back. Then, most of the effort was positioned towards manufacturing the product. Lastly, the product was checked for any defects or areas where quality was compromised. This cycle […]

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police officer, hiring, six sigma, 6sigma.us

Hiring a Police Officer: Six Sigma Brings a New Approach

Hiring a Police Officer Hiring a police officer can be a lengthy and costly process. Unlike many traditional professional hiring situations, the process for hiring a police officer is lengthy and detailed. A hiring agency must go through a multitude of steps with excruciating detail to ensure they have a candidate that is suitable for […]

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Barriers to Radical Change

Barriers to Radical Change – Six Sigma is Here to Help You

When considering the many barriers to change efforts, a leader can become overwhelmed and easily frustrated. However, most of these barriers can be categorized into three areas, making them seem, perhaps, more manageable. These three categories include cognition, motivation, and obligations. Cognition deals with the way people think. It is understandable that many people hold […]

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fourth of july, six sigma, lean sigma, 6sigma.us

Celebrating and Honoring the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July holiday is filled with parades, barbecues, fireworks, and outdoor living at its best!  Families, friends, and neighbors gather to enjoy grilling great food, fellowship, and lighting of colorful fireworks. However you celebrate the holiday, we must remember what we are are celebrating. The Birth of a Nation The holiday was officially […]

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Product Branding

Product Branding: With a Little Help from Six Sigma

There is no dearth of advice and wisdom from marketers when it comes to product branding. Open the business section of your newspaper or surf to a marketing site and you’re bound to come across articles on the subject. We’re not sure though if anyone has discussed product branding within the framework of Six Sigma. […]

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Career Change Management Six Sigma Training

Six Sigma Training: The Evolution of Change

Embracing Change Six Sigma training can be an evolution of success. For most seeking change in their professional development, Six Sigma training can be an attractive opportunity for change and future success. Sometimes though, the conception of change can be a terrifying prospect. Recent studies tell us that the average person will be making a […]

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Six Sigma Solution

Six Sigma as a Solution

Years ago, a tennis coach told us that the follow-through was just as important as hitting the ball from the racket’s “sweet spot.” He described the follow-through as the swinging of the racket so that the racket ends upward, way above your shoulders. It was much better than hitting the ball and letting your elbows […]

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lean and six sigma, balance, success, business, quality improvement, 6sigma.us

Lean and Six Sigma: Finding the Perfect Balance

Finding the Balance Lean and Six Sigma concepts are well understood in many business situations. Each concept  has found its place and proven their value. Lean does its part, focusing on improving the process and eliminating waste. Six Sigma performs its role by eliminating variable in the process. Organizations implement each strategy differently, based on […]

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Six Sigma CEU Credit

Understanding How Change Works

Change Management is an approach to helping people transition from an old state to a new state. Its goal is to help the organization and its employees cope with change in the most efficient and seamless manner so as not to disrupt operations. Coping with change means dealing with the need for new skills or […]

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Benchmarking – The Acceptable Face Of Cheating

Benchmarking – The Acceptable Face Of Cheating

What is the ultimate route to business success? There are those who assert that hard work and dedication are the answer to this question. Business gurus though, might, deride such a simplistic view. It is almost unheard of, for a newly launched product to be immediately profitable. Instead, every aspect of the product from design, […]

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Force Field Analysis: The Power of Drivers & Restraints

May The Force Be With You Force Field Analysis is a powerful tool used to clearly understand the true position of a process. When trying to understand a process or a “why” there will always be proponents and detractors. Debates will ensue with lively arguments from both sides of the issue, clearly advocating their positions as […]

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Benchmarking – The acceptable face of cheating

Benchmarking – The acceptable face of cheating What is the ultimate route to business success? There are those who assert that hard work and dedication are the answer to this question.  Business gurus though, might, deride such a simplistic view. It is almost unheard of, for a newly launched product to be immediately profitable. Instead, […]

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force field analysis six sigma tools

Force Field Analysis: The Power of Drivers & Restraints

May The Force Be With You Force Field Analysis is a powerful tool used to clearly understand the true position of a process. When trying to understand a process or a “why” there will always be proponents and detractors. Debates will ensue with lively arguments from both sides of the issue, clearly advocating their positions as […]

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Six Sigma Remembers - Memorial Day

Memorial Day: Our Remembrance & Honor

What Are Your Plans? Memorial Day. It’s a four day weekend! Time to hang out by the water with friends, light the BBQ grill and cook some meat. Whatever you like, it typically evokes thoughts of fun in the sun, travel, friends and welcoming in summer! Before heading out on that road trip or stocking […]

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six sigma leadership

Leadership: Do You Have What It Takes?

The Qualities We Seek Leadership. What is it and how do we get it? The concept is one of the most debatable subjects in business today. As individuals, we lean toward what we like. Your personality gravitates towards like personalities and that is where you find your comfort zone. Fact is, no one find success […]

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busy professional, six sigma, lean, training, 6sigma.us

Specialized Training: Making the Time for Value

Overcoming the Obstacles Specialized training presents a prime opportunity to expand your knowledge base and critical skills. The obstacles most professionals face is the expense of the training and finding the time in a fast paced environment to attend the courses. In today’s work environment, between finding the time to manage meetings, burgeoning email streams […]

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