Six Sigma and Age Discrimination at 3M

It is an honor for an employee to be selected for education in Six Sigma practices (given the cost of that investment) and to practice as a Green and then Black-Belt in Six Sigma. Successful Six Sigma practitioners often are promoted or hired into business leadership positions over time. 3M is accused of age discrimination as it relates to the selection of candidates for Six Sigma management development training. ...

... "3M selects very few persons over age 45 for training as Six Sigma Black Belts or Master Black Belts compared to their presence in the work force, and selection gives younger employees huge advantages in subsequent employment decisions. " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Six Sigma and Age

3M Six Sigma reference material:

3M Green Belt Training Materials

3M Company Information: "3M introduced Six Sigma – a business process improvement methodology – in February 2001. "

3M Inhalation Systems: "Using Lean Six Sigma methodology and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, 3M is able to design an efficient, reliable manufacturing process for your specific product. "

Six Sigma Sales and Marketing Mobility

3M ESPE Brazil implements Antenna Software mobile solution for CRM to enable improvements in its sales and marketing performance. ...

... "3M ESPE Brazil also relied heavily upon its internal, Six Sigma and New System Implementation (NSI) methodologies for the planning and execution of the overall mobility project, which dovetailed with Antenna's implementation process. " ...

Via MSNBC: 3M ESPE Brazil Sales and Marketing Performance

3M Six Sigma Role in Innovation

3M's CEO emphasizes Six Sigma where it can have the greatest impact, in transactional business processes. He has also scaled back the methodology in research and development, using it appropriately. There is a role for Design for Six Sigma techniques in the innovation process. 3M is a powerhouse of research and is a source of good insights and best practices in the innovation space. ...

... "The key is to selectively use what makes sense in R&D, but not let Six Sigma become the end. For instance, we use (Six Sigma) design of experiments routinely in basic research ... " ...

Via Design News: 3M Innovation Engine

Process Depends on Culture

3M challenged by balancing disciplined process execution with flexibility needed to sustain creativity and innovation. It is difficult for an enterprise to sustain cultures necessary to be successful at both initiatives. ...

... "Buckley, a PhD chemical engineer by training, seems to recognize the cultural ramifications of a process-focused program on an organization whose fate and history is so bound up in inventing new stuff. " ...

Via Business Week: 3M Six Sigma

3M Six Sigma Culture: Risk Averse ?

3M adds manufacturing capacity to drive growth. Six Sigma focus may have clouded its judgement with regards to investing for growth. ...

... "In the past, a 3M culture that viewed new investment with circumspection and an over-reliance on the Six Sigma management technique made it shy of building some needed capacity, Buckley said. " ....

Via MarketWatch: 3M

Logistics Six Sigma Savings: 3M Brazil

3M will outsource pallet management to CHEP, trasitioning from exchange pallets. Using the Six Sigma DMAIC process, 3M validates significant room for improvement in its pallet operation. It expects to realize benefits with potential cost reductions for transportation and storage. ...

... "To determine whether CHEP services were appropriate for the company's operations, 3M used Six Sigma processes, solicited feedback from wholesale and superstore retail customers and conducted a comprehensive reference call at the Brazilian facilities of a leading global consumer products company. During the review process, managers identified a chance to decrease loss of pallets and reduce the quantity of renewed equipment derived by costumer returns. " ...

Via CHEP: 3M Brazil Sees Cost Savings With CHEP Program

CHEP is the global leader in pallet and container pooling services serving many of the world's largest companies. The company has more than 7,700 employees and operates in 44 countries. Combining superior technology and an asset base of more than 280 million pallets and containers, CHEP offers its customers exceptional value, a platform that enables reduction in customer product damage, and an environmentally sustainable logistical solution. Supply chains served include consumer goods, produce, beverage, and the automotive industry. With global partners that include Procter & Gamble, SYSCO, Kellogg's, Kraft, Nestle, Ford and GM, CHEP is known for Handling the World's Most Important Products. Everyday.

3M Brazil uses a number of management methods in its operations, such as theory of constraints in its supply chain. ...

Via AGI-Goldratt Institute: TOC World 2000 Video Presentations: "3M Brazil successfully applies the Theory of Constraints to their Sales and Operational Plan (SOP) to define their ideal sales mix in terms of addressing the market, the impact on production, and to evaluate the impact on their bottom line. "

In addition to its efficiency focus, 3M Brazil focuses on sustainability in its manufacturing operations. Its skills in pollution prevention are showcased here. ...

3P Examples: "3P team from 3M Brazil's Itapetininga facility replaced the solvent-based paper treatment process the plant used to manufacture packaging, medical and masking tapes with a new, water-based process. As a result of this change, the facility reduced solvent emissions by over 45 tons per year. "

Lean Training Canada

Ontario Canada invests in lean training to improve global competitiveness. ...

... "Bentley and the Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of CME, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 3M headquarters in London, outlining an agreement to develop more expertise in lean manufacturing, a total approach to manufacturing that emphasizes quality, efficiency and doing things from a customer point of view. " ...

Via CNW Group: McGuinty Government Supporting Development And Sharing of Expertise in Manufacturing Sector ...

Productivity Improvement: Lean Six Sigma at Caterpillar ...

Caterpillar expects slower growth in the future and will have to rely of gains through productivity driven by lean six sigma. ...

... "These investments will be funded over time by productivity improvement efforts, such as global strategic sourcing and lean six sigma, to relentlessly drive out cost, simplify our supply chains and improve customer service. " ...

Via Forbes: Caterpillar Slows To A Crawl ...

3M Six Sigma: Customer Impact

3M shares Six Sigma principles with its customer, Atlantic Broom Service. ...

... "Not only does Atlantic Broom buy all of the reflectivity agent used in its signs from 3M, it has benefited enormously from that company's tutelage in its Six Sigma program - an industry method for streamlining costs and maximizing productivity and profit. " ...

Via The Taunton Gazette: Homemade in Taunton ...

Six Sigma Quality Manager Supports Reorganization ...

Company reorganizes for growth and efficiency. ...

... "Erie Plastics also hired Dana Barre as Corporate Quality Manager. Dana has over 25 years' experience in quality management (primarily in the plastics industry) and has held positions with 3M, Loranger Plastics, Oneida Molded Products, Carlisle Engineered Products and General Electric. He received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from LeTourneu University. With Green Belt Six Sigma Certification, Dana is also a qualified SPC, QS9000 and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Instructor. " ...

Erie Plastics Announces Reorganization-Based Appointments: Positions Company for Growth and Greater Focus on Internal Efficiencies

Six Sigma: Core Company Fabric ...

As 3M unfolds its growth strategy, Six Sigma remains a core faric of the company. ...

... "Buckley announced the formation of several Emerging Business Opportunities (EBOs) - growth-oriented units to address commercial opportunities presented by the mega trends of society. 3M has enormous opportunity to flourish in high-growth spaces like track and trace, filtration, energy and minerals extraction, and food safety, Buckley said. Buckley said international growth plans include doubling investments in the developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Poland in the years ahead. International remains our single largest growth platform and we intend to invest to fully capitalize on opportunities around the world, he said. Buckley also recognized the gains 3M has made in recent years to improve its operating effectiveness, saying that Six Sigma and other performance initiatives are now part of the fabric of the company. " ...

Six Sigma: Core Company Fabric: Via 3M: 3M CEO Outlines Strategy for Growth; Company Will Focus on Innovation, International, Core Businesses and Complementary Acquisitions ...

Six Sigma Global Process Improvement ...

Evelyn A. Baldwin, 3M Electronics, explores global process improvement and acknowledges the Six Sigma process methodology. ...

... "That is one of the many reasons why I say, Thank goodness for process improvement tools such as six sigma and methods that help manage our business in this global environment. I strongly believe that these tools can help companies build value with customers. If customers are why we are here, making our operations work better is how we serve those customers. " ...

Six Sigma Global Process Improvement: Via Surface Mount Technology (SMT): Four Ways to Help Customers Improve Global Processes ...

Public Sector Six Sigma ...

In governments around the world, there is acknowledgement of the need to be more efficient, especially with enabling citizen services. Many governments are adopting e-government technology to solve their problem. This may be necessary, but not sufficient in streamlining processes for speed, eliminating waste, and delivering the best performance at the appropriate cost. Six Sigma is a methodology that can be truly transformative in improvement of public sector business processes. Andre Pope proposes an invigorating approach to improving performance in the public sector, leveraging Six Sigma methodology. ...

... "I am proposing the establishment of a National Public Corporation Commission with the objective of helping the various public corporations achieve financial and operational excellence through the introduction of Six Sigma methodologies and programs. Six Sigma, which is outlined with some specificity later in this paper, is a process or methodology that has and continues to be used by some of the largest and more innovative private companies across the globe, particularly in North America, Europe and Asia, to achieve breakthrough results. " ...

Public Sector Six Sigma: Via The Perspective: Using Six Sigma to Reinvigorate Public Corporations

Relevant resources on Six Sigma experiences in the public sector:

Quality Digest Magazine: "Six Sigma has proven its worth to the manufacturing industry, causing the education, health care and service industries to sit up and take note. Governments, though, have been slower to respond to the methodology's potential. This is understandable. Governments, whether local or federal, have huge and entrenched bureaucracies, and they lack the all-important market incentive for change. "

Challenge: "Following a pilot project where seven public sector agencies applied Six Sigma to selected work areas, the August forum, organised by the MFE office, was a good opportunity to showcase the findings and success stories. "

QW: Public sector? So what?: "What about six sigma in the public sector? Well, the term itself is potentially misleading, because the high-frequency operations that make this statistic meaningful (eg 3.4 defects per million opportunities) are rare in public sector organisations. QW published an article (in January 2001) on six sigma in a courts service although the piece admitted that in this instance achievement of just 2.8 sigma was the main target. "

Ministry Of Finance: "Six Sigma, a management tool which has made significant impact in private sector companies worldwide such as Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Motorola and 3M, is now being applied in the Singapore Public Sector. The use of Six Sigma by public sector organisations has started to offer significant improvements in service quality and reductions in cost."

RFID Plant MES Software: 3M Lean Supply Chain

3M expands its HighJump software, used in RFID applications, for MES applications in its plants. ...

RFID Plant MES Software: 3M Lean Supply Chain: Via 3M: 3M Selects HighJump's Manufacturing Advantage Software to Standardize Plant Systems Worldwide ...

... "3M announced it will implement HighJump Software's manufacturing execution system (MES), Manufacturing Advantage, as part of its ongoing global initiative to standardize manufacturing systems. 3M will use the Manufacturing Advantage software at 70 locations worldwide to improve management of shop floor activities, thereby enabling more efficient production. 3M is continuously striving toward a demand-driven, lean supply chain where its industry-leading products are manufactured based on customer demand. To this aim, the HighJump MES system will help 3M build its products just in time, in the right quantities, and according to the highest standards for quality and turnaround. Since Manufacturing Advantage is part of HighJump's adaptable Advantage suite, 3M will be able to configure its applications quickly and cost-effectively. This will allow the company to carry out its goal of supporting a diverse set of plant-specific requirements without supporting a diverse set of systems. HighJump has already provided supply chain solutions for 3M in the areas of RFID compliance and data collection. The success of these projects influenced the MES selection. " ...

Six Sigma Operational Efficiency: Managing Director ...

Six Sigma Operational Efficiency: Managing Director: Channell Commercial Corporation: Channell Appoints Greg Balla Managing Director Australia & Asia ...

... "Prior to 2003 Mr. Balla led 3M's Australia/New Zealand corporate Six Sigma initiative where he was charged with developing, implementing, training and communicating Six Sigma methodology across all levels and functions of the organization. This initiative led to increased operational efficiencies, on-time delivery performance and overall product quality. " ...

Channell Commercial Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of telecommunications equipment supplied to communications network operators worldwide and water storage tanks distributed in markets throughout Australia. Major product lines include a complete line of thermoplastic and metal fabricated enclosures, advanced copper termination and connectorization products, fiber-optic cable management systems and polyethylene water storage tanks. Channell's headquarters and U.S. manufacturing facilities are in Temecula, California. International operations include facilities in Toronto (Canada), London (U.K.) and various locations throughout Australia.

Lean Six Sigma Seminar: Integrated Enterprise Excellence ...

Austin business calendar - 2005-05-30

... "Smarter Solutions Beyond Lean Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard Executive Overview. Topic: Six Sigma (Integrated Enterprise Excellence). Speaker: Forrest Breyfogle, CEO of Smarter Solutions, and Keith Moe, executive vice president at 3M Co. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. " ...

Six Sigma Exemplaries ...

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

... "There are proven management practices that have many names including lean manufacturing, balanced scorecards, and Six Sigma. Although Japanese companies such as Toyota and Sony made many of these practices famous, they were originally developed by American experts such as W. Edwards Deming. Today most of the world's leaders in productivity are American companies such as GE, 3M, and Honeywell. " ...

DFSS Knowledge Management Roadmap ...

Office of International Programs [Publications]

... "In terms of the future of knowledge management at 3M, a recent Knowledge Management Thought Leader Panel recommended the following: Apply knowledge management principles and model to a corporate initiative; Integrate, align and leverage existing knowledge management resources; Increase understanding and application of knowledge management and Use design of six sigma to develop a roadmap for knowledge management integration." ...

Lean MES Software Enables Manufacturing Optimization and Supply Chain Operation ...

Lean MES Software Enables Manufacturing Optimization and Supply Chain Operation: HighJump Software Empowers Customers to Bring Manufacturing ...

HighJump introduces new software product that synthesizes manufacturing optimization with supply chain management ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... This capability is in keeping with lean manufacturing and inventory management initiatives critical to the ongoing success of many businesses today. ...

... HighJump Software, a 3M company, the global leader in providing highly adaptable, best-of-breed supply chain execution (SCE) solutions, today announced that it has entered the manufacturing execution solution (MES) market with the release of its Manufacturing Advantage solution. This new offering differentiates HighJump from other SCE and MES solution vendors by helping customers combine optimization efforts for manufacturing and related supply chain operations in a single suite. This helps create a truly seamless flow of accurate, real-time demand and supply information throughout the supply chain from source to consumption. This product represents a natural extension of HighJump's roots in automated data collection, an area in which the company has continually developed its expertise for more than 21 years. Manufacturing Advantage can be implemented on either a stand-alone basis or alongside other HighJump solutions to increase levels of on-time and complete shipments, helping to ensure rapid return on investment. ...

HighJump Software, a 3M company, is the global leader in providing highly adaptable, best-of-breed supply chain execution solutions that streamline manufacturing and distribution from the point of source through consumption. HighJump's tightly integrated solutions empower operational excellence in the warehouse and optimize the flow of inventory throughout the supply chain by facilitating collaboration with customers, suppliers and trading partners. These comprehensive solutions combine robust, standard functionality; a best practices-based implementation methodology; and a uniquely adaptable architecture that facilitates fast, cost-effective system modifications. The result: the industry's lowest total cost of ownership for more than 700 satisfied customers worldwide. As an independent subsidiary in the 3M family of companies, HighJump leads the SCE software industry in financial strength and delivers on an unmatched commitment to innovation and quality. HighJump leverages these advantages to continually expand its solution footprint and empower operational excellence for domestic and multinational customers.

Six Sigma Healthcare: Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals with a Culture of Continuous Improvement ...

Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals with a Culture of Continuous Improvement, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

... "There are proven management practices that have many names including lean manufacturing, balanced scorecards, and Six Sigma. Although Japanese companies such as Toyota and Sony made many of these practices famous, they were originally developed by American experts such as W. Edwards Deming. Today most of the world's leaders in productivity are American companies such as GE, 3M, and Honeywell. The experts we hear from today will tell us that we can get these same improvements from the health care sector if we adopt some of the same management practices. Like any other institution, hospitals are basically human endeavors. While we cannot legislate away human error, we can develop system for minimizing the chance of error by improving communication, standardizing practice, and learning from mistakes. " ...

Six Sigma Template

Template

... "About 20 of the posters were developed jointly by VA and 3M personnel as part of a joint project to use the 3M Six Sigma process to improve hand hygiene practices at VA medical centers. " ...

Six Sigma Business Analysis Software ...

Six Sigma Business Analysis Software: WARN Industries Deploys QlikView Business Analysis Software

Six Sigma initiatives can benefits from line-of-sight business analysis tools to support executive support and workforce alignment to the improvement objectives ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... lines. Next we plan to work with our internal quality team to build applications to support the new Six Sigma initiative. QlikView ...

... QlikTech Inc., a leading provider of powerful and rapidly deployable business intelligence, analysis and reporting applications, today announced that WARN Industries, the world's most recognized name in off-road products, has deployed QlikView to improve sales, financial and operational performance. WARN has deployed more than twenty-five QlikView business analysis applications to employees across several business functions to analyze and manage sales, finance, production, and operations. WARN's initial QlikView deployment was completed in under two weeks. This deployment began with an implementation of QlikTech's Accounts Receivables and Sales Analysis applications for the JD Edwards OneWorld Xe ERP system. ...

QlikTech is dedicated to simplifying business analysis. QlikTech's game-changing QlikView application is dramatically easier to deploy and use, inspiring fervent user adoption by business professionals who require it to run their organizations. QlikTech's patented technology allows instant, in memory, manipulation of massive datasets on low cost hardware, allowing affordable widespread deployment of highly sophisticated analytic applications in days. QlikView's click driven, visually interactive interface allows users to discover unanticipated insights hidden in operational systems with virtually no end-user training. QlikView has over 90,000 users at 1,500 customers in over 40 countries. In addition to hundreds of small and midsized companies, QlikTech's customers include large corporations such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Top Flite, 3M, and The Campbell Soup Company. QlikTech is privately held and venture backed by Accel Partners, Jerusalem Venture Partners, and Industrifonden. Founded in Sweden, QlikTech has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Scandinavia, and over 100 partners across the world. Warn Industries is the world's most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. As a result of its close working relationships with Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler, Warn is also a Tier 1 supplier of powertrain products specified on the leading domestic automobiles, SUVs and pickup trucks. Further, Warn continues to develop an international presence in Pacific Rim countries by working with Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, and Ssangyong. Warn Industries is a Dover Company (NYSE: DOV).

3M Company Six Sigma Waste Reduction ...

WDNR - 3M Company - Menomonie Plant Baseline Report

... "3P Project: TSS yield improvement Description: Six Sigma yield improvement project increased productivity 5%. This resulted in improved raw material usage and reduced waste. Saved: $148,000 Pollution Prevented (tons): 42" ...

Six Sigma Project for Hand Hygiene ...

VA National Center for Patient Safety

... "Checklist of Interventions developed in VA-3M Six Sigma Project to improve Hand Hygiene Practices: An obvious question is this: What do we need to do to improve performance on hand hygiene practices, other than just reminding people to decontaminate their hands more often? This document describes what we did in our project at four VAMC ICUs. Implementing these interventions in a setting with enthusiastic staff participation and input led to observed overall hand hygiene compliance increasing from 47% to 80% and nearly doubling the quantity of alcohol-based hand rub used." ...

3M Six Sigma Transformation Is Accelerating ...

3M Six Sigma Transformation: 3M Highlights Progress and Performance at Investor Meeting

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... "3M is in the midst of a transformation," McNerney said. "Six Sigma, 3M Acceleration and our other corporate initiatives are now integrated into every business ...

... 3M's future is brighter than ever, W. James McNerney, Jr., chairman of the board and CEO, told 3M investors and analysts today at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. "3M is in the midst of a transformation," McNerney said. "Six Sigma, 3M Acceleration and our other corporate initiatives are now integrated into every business, every function and every subsidiary of 3M, and we expect they will generate both productivity improvements and revenue growth for years to come. Our organic growth engine continues to strengthen through our 3M Acceleration initiative, through our extensive international reach, and through new technology platforms that are moving us into faster-growth markets." He also noted that these initiatives are clearly raising the performance levels of our legacy businesses. ...

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 67,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation.

3M Six Sigma: 3M Reports Higher Third-Quarter Sales and Earnings; Company Meets ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... "Our employees around the world are driving growth through initiatives like 3M Acceleration and customer-focused Six Sigma projects, and we continue to execute ...

Customer-focused Six Sigma projects can drive operational efficiency and enable capabilities that are valuable to the customer. These Six Sigma projects can drive customer satisfaction and ultimately increase revenue ...

... 3M (NYSE:MMM) today announced its third-quarter 2004 sales and earnings results. The company reported net income of $775 million, or $0.97 per share, versus $663 million, or $0.83 per share, in the third quarter of 2003. Net income and earnings per share increased by nearly 17 percent. ...

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 67,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation.

Healthcare Six Sigma: SBTI Announces Launch of Lean-Six Sigma Initiative for Healthcare ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... In the past Healthcare has been served Six Sigma with a heavy flavor of manufacturing, frustrating all involved and lowering the return on project investment. ...

... Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, Inc., an international business process solutions consulting firm, announced today that it is launching a new initiative specifically geared toward the Healthcare Industry. By executing a series of projects and enlisting the expertise of a number of healthcare professionals, along with the history of 50+ major deployments across various industries, SBTI has created the first complete portfolio of tailored process improvement solutions for Healthcare. In the past Healthcare has been served Six Sigma with a heavy flavor of manufacturing, frustrating all involved and lowering the return on project investment. SBTI has brought its considerable deployment experience to bear on an industry searching for help. Healthcare relies on the most cutting edge technological advances while caring for the most vulnerable members of society. This new initiative is aimed at helping healthcare entities render the finest care available, while streamlining processes and saving precious resources. ...

Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, Inc. is an internationally recognized consulting firm for enterprise wide business process solutions, offers an expansive portfolio of products and services to improve businesses in all disciplines at all levels. SBTI has assisted companies in a variety of industries including chemical manufacturing, assembly, transportation and power generation and distribution. Some of SBTI's customers include 3M, American Standard, Celanese and Invensys. SBTI is headquartered in San Marcos, TX and currently has four international offices serving a host of multinational clients.

ERP Software Industry Consolidation: Infor Acquires IncoDev, a Leading Provider of ERP Software for the ...

From Yahoo News (press release) ... IncoDev provides ERP software to large and midsized companies within the chemical, dyes and paints, life science, food and beverage industries. ...

... Infor Global Solutions, a leading supplier of enterprise software solutions to select manufacturing and distribution industries, is pleased to announce that it has acquired IncoDev Software-Entwicklung GmbH, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. IncoDev provides ERP software to large and midsized companies within the chemical, dyes and paints, life science, food and beverage industries. The acquisition is integral to Infor's on-going strategy of acquiring high quality brands with deep vertical expertise to build leadership positions in key markets. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. ...

... consolidation in the ERP software industry is an increasing trend.

Infor Global Solutions is a global provider of enterprise business solutions to select manufacturing and distribution industries. Our deep focus on select vertical markets enables us to provide solutions that solve problems and address industry-specific challenges in ways that others cannot. The result is a tangible return on investment and increased competitive advantage for our customers. Infor offers best-in-class, enterprise-wide software solutions that address the specific needs of our targeted verticals in areas such as supply chain planning, relationship management, demand management, ERP, distribution, and business intelligence. Infor's solutions have been chosen by some of the world's largest and most respected companies including Denso, TRW, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Pez International, Grohe, Cargill, Heinz, Heineken, xpdex, Godiva, Valvoline, 3M Unitek, GlaxoSmithKline, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

IncoDev Software-Entwicklung GmbH is a leading ERP solution provider, supporting the production planning and material management of midsized lot and recipe oriented manufacturers. Furthermore, IncoDev offers a wide range of supplementary services including business process consulting, implementation, training and project management. The company established in 1982 serves more than 200 customers from offices in Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Munster and Stuttgart and through partners in The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.

Six Sigma Tools: SBTI Announces Green Belt Toolkit in Excel

From Yahoo News (press release) ... The majority of Six Sigma tools are about capturing and managing variables by name as well as associated data. This software package ...

... Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, Inc., an international business process solutions consulting firm is proud to announce the release of our newly developed Green Belt Toolkit in Excel. The majority of Six Sigma tools are about capturing and managing variables by name as well as associated data. This software package offers an integrated series of 7 Excel-based workbooks in an Excel menu that follow the DMAIC phases central to Six Sigma. ...

Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, Inc. is an internationally recognized consulting firm for enterprise wide business process solutions, and offers an expansive portfolio of products and services to improve businesses in all disciplines at all levels. SBTI has assisted companies in a variety of industries including chemical manufacturing, assembly, transportation and power generation and distribution. Some of SBTI's customers include 3M, American Standard, Celanese and Invensys. SBTI is headquartered in San Marcos, TX and currently has four international offices serving a host of multinational clients.

Six Sigma Communities: Secrets of the shop floor

From The Manufacturer US ... “Communities of practice have given our programs like Raytheon Six Sigma great lift,” says Raytheon’s Mark Palla, a Dallas, TX, based Raytheon Six Sigma ...

... In this era of downsizing, outsourcing and transitional workforces, how can companies capture the knowledge that may be escaping? Rich Weissman looks at knowledge management on the front lines. The crew at H & W Machine was melancholy. The retirement party for the lead machinist, affectionately known as “Pops,” was coming to a close. He was loading his well-worn wooden tool chest into his truck and was saying his final goodbyes, looking forward to his retirement. At the same time, the shop’s general manager was in a quiet panic. In addition to his personal effects, Pops was taking along with him over forty years of shop experience, as well as most of the machine set-ups that were kept conveniently in his memory. ...

General Motors, 3M, Motorola, Owens Corning, Deere & Co., Eaton, Pilkington, Owens-Illiniois, Northwest Airlines, Pfizer Inc, Chevron, Levi Strauss & Co, and UnitedHealth Group have joined together with a shared mission to transform the way their companies research, design, purchase, package, and communicate career development and skill enhancement courses to over 2 million employees. The result is LearnShare, a consortium that pools the resources and knowledge of 13 of the largest and most diverse corporations in the world. Founded in 1996, this consortium of Fortune 500 members shares best practices, new thinking and perspectives, and intellectual capital. Members use the LearnShare website to access leading e-Learning providers to bring uniform, advanced career development and training courses to their employees throughout the world. Members also share proprietary research results and collaborate to solve problems.

Six Sigma Methodology: 3M Wafer Transport System Optimizes Semiconductor Packing and ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Using six sigma methodology, which drives decision-making based on data and helps customers drill down to find the root causes of process inefficiencies ...

Six Sigma Quality: Optical Film Brightens 3M's Picture

From MSN Money ... As 3M uses Six Sigma quality and productivity plan to refine film production, it can cut waste and improve margins,'' Gulley said in a recent research note. ...

3M Company launched its Six Sigma effort in April 2001. W. James McNerney Jr., the former CEO of GE Aircraft Engines who had taken over as chairman and CEO in January, calls the effort company's "number one initiative" for the next decade. "It's the only game in town for both cost and quality," McNerney declares. "If you do Six Sigma right, you get high quality and low cost—that's what it's all about." McNerney is convinced that Six Sigma, which has produced impressive results at GE for years, can help bring more unity and far greater focus to 3M initiatives aimed at boosting quality, lowering cost and improving customer satisfaction. Market demands for fuel cell products are rapidly evolving and expanding in ever-changing directions. 3M will be there with MEAs designed to meet your performance and manufacturing requirements. Using Six-Sigma business implementation practices, 3M is able to call upon the expertise of our technology staff to design an MEA for your specific needs.
Six Sigma creates a common language and measurement tools to reduce variation and deliver consistent results.

Six Sigma Quality: Optical film brightens 3M's profit picture

From Forbes ... As 3M uses Six Sigma quality and productivity plan to refine film production, it can cut waste and improve margins," Gulley said in a recent research note. ...

Six Sigma Software: Minitab Inc. Releases Korean Language Version of MINITAB(R) 14 ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... MINITAB Statistical Software - the company's flagship product - has been used to implement virtually every major Six Sigma initiative around the world, and ...

MINITAB Statistical Software is the ideal package for Six Sigma and other quality improvement projects. From Statistical Process Control to Design of Experiments, it offers you the methods you need to implement every phase of your quality project, along with features like StatGuide™ and ReportPad™ that help you understand and communicate your results. No package is more accurate, reliable, or easy to use.

Minitab Inc. creates and markets statistical software that enables those who teach or perform data analysis to obtain accurate, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions. For over thirty years, MINITAB Statistical Software has provided quick, easy and reliable data analysis solutions for people in both business and academia. From scientists to students, engineers to nurses, MINITAB offers solutions to users at every level. Originally developed in 1972 to help professors teach basic statistics, MINITAB is now used in more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world and is referenced in nearly 450 textbooks. Easy to use and easy to learn, MINITAB is the statistical software package professors trust. More students have learned statistics using MINITAB than any other package. MINITAB Statistical Software also has become widely used in the business world, offering accurate and easy-to-use tools for quality control, DOE, reliability/survival analysis and general statistics. MINITAB is now the tool of choice for businesses of all sizes and is used in 80 countries throughout the world; from start-ups to the Fortune 500 companies, including Ford Motor Company, 3M, Honeywell International, General Motors and leading Six Sigma consultants.

Six Sigma Objectives: Value-added Pharma Sales Optimizing Revenue Growth Through ...

From TMCnet ... The findings contribute significantly to our larger corporate Six Sigma objectives," said Jim Farr, global manager for 3M pharmaceuticals. ...

Six Sigma Operational Efficiency: Albertsons trimming store management

From Billings Gazette, MT ... The reorganization is using the Six Sigma Quality program, one employed by several major companies including GE, 3M and Allied Signal. ...

Six Sigma Collaboration Process: Global Healthcare Exchange Members Launch Collaborative ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Project Manager for 3M Health Care, is assisting with efforts to measure the value of UPNs to both buyers and sellers, using the Six Sigma process employed by ...

Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) provides an open and neutral electronic trading exchange, together with the products and services that improve efficiencies and reduce costs for the healthcare supply chain. GHX is the only electronic trading exchange in healthcare owned and governed by organizations representing the entire healthcare supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, providers, and group purchasing organizations (GPOs). GHX’s ability to reduce supply chain costs is based on its revenue neutral business model. In contrast to other exchanges that must make a profit to satisfy shareholders, GHX’s guiding principles dictate that the company only generates revenues to the level necessary for continued operation of the business. This business model, combined with GHX’s low operating costs (estimated at 35 to 50 percent less than a similar, but publicly traded, exchange) makes it possible for GHX to deliver its products and services to the market at the lowest possible cost. To achieve the greatest benefit from e-commerce, and to drive real efficiencies in the healthcare supply chain, both buyers and sellers need to be connected to the maximum number of trading partners. As a result of the recent GHX-Medibuy merger, GHX now connects over 1400 hospitals to more than 100 suppliers, creating the largest trading exchange in healthcare.

Lean Enterprise Research: Research centre gets £ 3m

From ic Wales, UK ... With funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, the university will combine the expertise of its Lean Enterprise Research Centre ...

Cardiff University is to be home to a world-leading research centre to help put UK manufacturing industry at the forefront of sustainable practice. The Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre brings together three leading research teams at the University to enable companies to develop a sustainable future, using new management and engineering approaches. Cardiff has won funding of £3.25M from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council to create the centre by combining the expertise of the Lean Enterprise Research Centre and the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group in Cardiff Business School and the Manufacturing Engineering Centre in the School of Engineering.

Lean Enterprise Research Centre... LERC is one of the Business School's major research centres, with over 20 staff and a track record of innovative research and teaching. It was founded by Professor Peter Hines, and Professor Daniel T Jones in 1994. Professor Hines is now the Centre's director and Professor Jones is Professor of Manufacturing Management. The centre is part of the Business School's Logistics and Operations Management section.

Key Lean Thinking Principles... By clearly defining Value for a specific product or service from the end customer’s perspective, all the non value activities - or waste - can be targeted for removal step by step. For most production operations only 5% of activities add value, 35% are necessary non-value adding activities and 60% add no value at all. Eliminating this waste is the greatest potential source of improvement in corporate performance and customer service.

Six Sigma Pharmaceuticals: Product Launch and Marketing Excellence: Using Thought Leaders to ...

From Business Wire (press release)  ... The findings contribute significantly to our larger corporate SixSigma objectives," said Jim Farr, global manager for 3M pharmaceuticals. ...

Six Sigma Training

...Black Belts, as well. Green Belts. Most 3M employees currently estimated at 40,000 will complete two weeks of Six Sigma training and work, part time, as Green Belts in a project that draws on their career experience. Green Belts are experts on...

Six Sigma Career: 3M's Rising Star

From BusinessWeek ... McNerney is also bringing more management rigor to 3M through Six Sigma. Originally a form of statistical analysis used to reduce ...