Roadmap for Lean Implementation

Insights on lean implementation process to prepare for and sustain the transformation. ...

Six Sigma Financial Certification

Six Sigma is used in financial industry to manage defects to best-practice levels. ...

... "From what I have seen, there appear to be at least four different assessment procedures in use by a sizable segment of the financial services industry: ISO, SAS 70, Six Sigma and CEFEX. " ...

Via Investment News: Financial Certification

Quality System Improvement: Medical Manufacturing Practices R Critical

Quality system improvements put Guidant manufacturing back on track. An FDA audit cited 483 observations that required remediation. This prompted Guidant to perform a thorough and systemic review of its quality system. ...

... "The FDA re-inspected Guidant's cardiac rhythm management (CRM) facility in St. Paul, Minnesota between November 9 and December 7, 2006. The re-inspection included an assessment of Boston Scientific's implementation of quality system improvements in response to the warning letter. FDA inspectors noted no observations during the re-inspection. " ...

Via Boston Scientific: Boston Scientific Resolves CRM Warning Letter Deficiencies

SixSigma Energy Executive ...

GE leader achieves executive position at wholesale energy company. ...

... "At ABB, Mr. Mukerji had global responsibility for ABB's Power Technology consulting services, and he drafted ABB's position paper on grid reliability after the 2003 blackout. He also led ABB's $500 million global Utility Partner Business, overseeing 3,000 employees in 35 countries. At GE, Mr. Mukerji implemented the Six Sigma quality improvement program in the Power Systems Energy Consulting organization, and helped establish the GEMAPS (Market Assessment and Portfolio Strategies) software as an industry standard tool for evaluating deregulated power markets. He also became the first GE Power Systems Energy Consulting employee to be promoted to General Manager from within the department. " ...

SixSigma Energy Executive: Via NYISO: NYISO Announces New VP of Market Structures: Rana Mukerji joins the NYISO's Senior Management Team ...

Toyota Kaizen Supplier Awards ...

CHD Meridian is recognized for kaizen supplier performance by Toyota. ...

... "A supplier for nearly seven years, CHD Meridian was honored by TMMK with the Supplier Kaizen Award for continuous improvement. Meridian provides TMMK team members with on-site health care, occupational health, acute and emergency care and oversees the operation of our pharmacy. Meridian recently participated in a practical kaizen activity in which they completed a standardized work assessment for all health centers at TMMK. " ...

Toyota Kaizen Supplier Awards: Via TMMK Toyota Georgetown: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Honors Ten Suppliers: Seven Suppliers from Kentucky ...

Xerox Lean SixSigma Services Create Innovative Solutions ...

Xerox provides Lean Six Sigma services to create innovative solutions for library. ...

... "Xerox deployed a team of specialized Lean Six Sigma consultants to the library to analyze and measure operations -- ranging from computer reservations to circulation -- at four Branch Library locations that represented a service population sampling for the system. Following the collaborative assessment process, Xerox presented the Houston Public Library earlier this month with a report that offered some innovative solutions and recommendations for efficiency gains to best service their customers. Lean Six Sigma is a rigorous, data-driven, results-oriented approach to process improvement. It combines two industry-recognized management methodologies evolved by companies like General Electric Co., Toyota Motor Corp., and Motorola Corp. By integrating the tools of Lean and Six Sigma, Xerox is helping customers improve quality, efficiency and speed in every aspect of their business. " ...

Xerox Lean SixSigma Services Create Innovative Solutions: Via Xerox: Xerox Services Help Houston Library Solve Staffing Issues: Xerox consulting services put to work to help library improve productivity ...

Growth Driven Through Six Sigma Approach ...

Softech PLM supports ELCAN's Six Sigma approach to growth. ...

... "During an Executive Leadership Workshop, ELCAN's rapid growth was identified as a burning platform; one that could burn out of control if not managed properly. Growth was obviously a good problem to have but ELCAN had the forethought to know it needed to manage it correctly without adding staff. Dedicated to continuous improvement and using techniques from the Raytheon Six Sigma approach, ELCAN followed a six step process to guide it through an assessment of its current business processes and to put into operation improvements that would support its growth. One of the first areas targeted was the Configuration Management Office (CMO). Resources were assembled to document existing CM processes in detail. " ...

Growth Driven Through Six Sigma Approach: Via SofTech: ELCAN Optical Has Clear Vision for PLM with SofTech ProductCenter ...

ELCAN Optical Technologies is a fully integrated provider of precision optical and electronic solutions for industrial, medical, defense and commercial customers. With a legacy spanning 150 years in the design and fabrication of fine optics ELCAN's founding companies include Ernst Leitz (Germany) and Texas Instruments (U.S.A). ELCAN today is part of The Raytheon company with 1100 employees and 450, 000 square feet of manufacturing operations in Midland, Ontario, Richardson, Texas and Malaga, Spain. In addition to its role as a manufacturer and supplier of quality opto-electronic products, ELCAN provides design and engineering services to assist customers in co-engineering performance solutions, manufacturing efficiencies and superior design approaches to applied optics.

Six Sigma IT Software Training ...

Perot Systems collaborates with Six Sigma Advantage to develop and deliver training tools and methodology in Six Sigma for information technology and software processes. ...

Six Sigma IT Software Training: Via Perot Systems: Perot Systems and Six Sigma Advantage, Inc. Team to Provide Process Improvement and Six Sigma Services ...

... "Perot Systems Corporation (NYSE: PER) announced that it will team with Six Sigma Advantage, Inc. to identify, contract, and deliver Six Sigma for Software and IT training, consulting and certification services. Together, Perot Systems and Six Sigma Advantage will provide a highly refined set of training tools and methodology with extensive process improvement assessment and implementation expertise to help meet the critical demands of the Department of Defense. " ...

Quality Assessment: Certified Six Sigma Black Belt ...

American Society for Quality (ASQ) and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) collaborate on quality certifications, such as the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Quality Assessment: Certified Six Sigma Black Belt: Via Financial Express: Ficci in strategic alliance with US body for quality assessment

... "Ficci will use some Indian members of ASQ as trainers and consultants thus offering world class training on quality at affordable cost to Indian professionals, said M Duhan, ASQ president. Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Manager, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt are the ASQ certification programmes identified to be offered initially. " ...

Six Sigma Critical Measures Drive Meaningful Improvement in Document Process ...

Six Sigma Critical Measures Drive Meaningful Improvement in Document Process: Océ Introduces Comprehensive Performance Management Solution for Outsourced Document Services: Océ MAXTM Software Enables Organizations to Better Manage People, Processes and Technologies Associated With Outsourced Mail, Print, Copy and Records Management ...

Using Six Sigma approach to measurements, Oce drives improvements in document business processes using customized software that enables the appropriate level of management visibility to key performance measures. Visible metrics enable client companies to identify and leverage best practices across an organization ...

... "Océ Business Services customizes Océ MAX software to address the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Service Level Agreements (SLA) unique to each client and industry. Based on Six Sigma™ methodologies, Océ MAX implementations ensure that the crucial performance indicators for each client are systematically measured, monitored and benchmarked. Clients then can see where and how to make meaningful improvements in their document processes, often yielding significant benefits ... Océ Businesses Services recently implemented the Océ MAX application for a Fortune 50 company at 38 offices in 18 states. This has enabled the client to easily monitor numerous document processes in multiple locations, save money and reduce the amount of time spent by staff on document process activities. The client has been able to identify areas for improvement as well as best practices to be shared across the entire organization. " ...

Océ Business Services is one of the world's leading providers of document process management services. The company seamlessly integrates technology, processes and people to manage business document assets throughout their lifespan of value. Océ solutions span copy and print management; fleet management; mail distribution and fulfillment; imaging and records management; office services; business performance management; and document assessment. A workforce of more than 6,000 professionals serves its clients in North America. Océ outsourcing solutions help organizations reduce and control costs, increase productivity, manage document risk, and enhance business performance. Océ is a leading provider of digital document management technology and services. The company’s solutions are based on Océ’s advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives – locally and around the world.

Tag: Six Sigma

Six Sigma Assessment: Pareto Charts ...

Via SixSig.info: Six Sigma Assessment Tools ...

... "Pareto charts are often used to determine the vital few causes that are responsible for the majority of defects or complaints regarding a product or service. Named after 19th century economist Vilfredo Pareto, the chart was first defined by JM Juran in 1950. " ...

Six Sigma Seminar: Competitive Edge

Six Sigma Seminar: Competitive Edge: Sharpen your Competitive Edge

... "September 22, 2005, 8:30am-11:30am, Walsh College, Novi Campus, 41500 Gardenbrook Road, Novi, MI, No charge to Michigan businesses but registration is required.

Topics Include:
Transformation Needs Assessment, LEAN - Strategic Business Solutions, LEAN Office, ISO 9001:2000 and TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001:2004, Automotive Core Tools , Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt, Cost Management & Control " ...

Xerox Lean SixSigma Assessment Drives Cost Savings ...

Xerox Lean SixSigma Assessment Drives Cost Savings: VHA Signs with Xerox for Document Services ...

Xerox identifies cost savings for client using Lean Six Sigma assessment methodology ...

... "Following a Lean Six Sigma-based document assessment for United Health Services, a VHA member in New York State, Xerox identified $100,000 in cost savings and built a digital forms repository for the hospital. The result was a more efficient process for viewing documents online, placing orders for electronic print jobs, and eliminating the costs associated with excess production of forms. " ...

VHA Inc. is a national alliance of leading not-for-profit health care providers that work together to improve the health of the communities they serve. VHA delivers industry leading supply chain management services and enables regional and national member networks to improve clinical and operational performance and drive sustainable results. Based in Irving, Texas, VHA has 18 local offices serving more than 2,400 health care organizations across the United States.

Xerox Corporation is a technology and services enterprise that helps businesses deploy Smarter Document ManagementSM strategies and find better ways to work. It offers an array of innovative document solutions, services and systems -- including color and black-and-white printers, digital presses, multifunction devices and digital copiers -- designed for offices and production-printing environments. It also offers associated supplies, software and support.

Tag: Six Sigma

Root Cause Accident Investigation ...

Root Cause Accident Investigation: Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet

... "All loss-producing incidents and near-misses are investigated for root cause with effective prevention. " ...

LeanSixSigma Methodology Streamlines PrintingOperations ...

LeanSixSigma Methodology Streamlines PrintingOperations: Enhanced Xerox Software, Services Help Offices Easily Manage Multiple Brands of Printing Devices ...

... "Also updated is Xerox's Office Document Assessment, which uses Lean Six Sigma methodology to assess and streamline the daily operations and usage patterns of a company's printing equipment. New to the ODA are greater analytics capabilities to deliver even more detailed and measurable recommendations for how networked and non-networked printing devices and operations can be made more efficient and effective. " ...

Xerox Global Services helps organizations streamline and digitize document processes such as invoices, policies and procedures, billing, training, and records management. Xerox consultants work closely with companies to identify, quantify and realize opportunities to save money, find new sources of value, mitigate risks, and simplify how work gets done.

Total Quality Management Pollution Prevention Integration ...

Total Quality Management/Pollution Prevention Integration Study for the Printed Circuit Board Industry

... "This study is aimed at identifying technical and organizational business assistance programs that would serve PCB manufacturers in reducing their waste while maintaining and possibly improving manufacturing efficiency and quality. The term pollution prevention is used in this survey to describe actions to reduce the amount of waste generated from a process by improving process efficiency. The success of pollution prevention within a manufacturing facility is increasingly recognized as a function of the facility's quality control and quality improvement systems. The survey provides the opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of your company's current quality improvement and pollution prevention programs. " ...

Six Sigma Capability Assessment ...

Defense Reform Initiative Breakfast

Remarks as Delivered By Deputy Secretary of Defense John J. Hamre, Marriott Westfields, Chantilly, Virginia ...

... "we are a six-Sigma operation when it comes to our primary business, which is going to war. When it comes to our support activities, I am afraid we are probably a two-Sigma operation. It always surprises me that an organization, on the one hand, could demand such excellence in the innovation and energy and creativity on the fighting side. Then, in the other part of the organization, which is the support structure, we live with wreckage, in many ways -- old, outdated, obsolete business practices, computer systems that nobody has the original source code to any longer. We are not even sure how they work. " ...

Six Sigma Business Analysis Tool

Document SR-2002-8

... "The Savannah River High Level Waste (HLW) Division?s Corrosion Control Program (CPP) relies on laboratory analysis of the tank contents in order to adjust the tank chemistry of about 36 million gallons of highly radioactive and caustic liquid waste to ensure tank structural integrity. The HLW Corrosion Control Sample Reduction Team applied the Six Sigma business analysis tool to reduce by 77% the number of high level waste samples pulled. This resulted in a cost avoidance of over $7 million over the next five years (FY02 to FY07) and an annual waste disposal savings of over 20 cubic meters of job control waste related to tank sampling. The Team application of the Six Sigma rigorous and statistically-based analysis process, coupled with data verification by outside organizations, exemplify using life cycle assessment and environmental cost accounting to reduce waste, labor cost, environmental risks, and operating life cycle cost. " ...

Balanced Scorecard Employee Performance Management Integration ...

Balanced Scorecard Employee Performance Management Integration: MindSolve Technologies Announces Partnership with Hyperion

Mindsolve and Hyperion partner together on development of an integrated balanced scorecard and performance management system ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Companies to Offer Integrated Balanced Scorecard and Employee Performance Management Solution GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 2 MindSolve Technologies ...

... MindSolve Technologies, the technology leader in Employee Performance Management, today announced a Technology Partnership with Hyperion Solutions Corporation, the global leader in Business Performance Management software, to bring the first integrated balanced scorecard and Employee Performance Management software solution to market. Balanced scorecard and Employee Performance Management are both high interest, high value strategic initiatives aimed at improving organizations' performance, productivity, and profitability. ...

MindSolve Technologies, Inc. is a privately held company, headquartered in Gainesville, Florida. In 1994, MindSolve revolutionized Employee Performance Management with the introduction of visual, user-friendly multi-rater assessment. In 1998, MindSolve offered the industry's first web-based drag & drop workforce performance management software. MindSolve provides technology-based software solutions and related professional services for performance appraisal, 360 feedback processes, goal alignment and tracking, employee development, salary and compensation planning, career and succession planning, executive coaching and leadership training, and organizational development for users in over 50 countries worldwide.

BSC for Management ...

Balanced Scorecard BSC for Management

... "From the very beginning of the transition from the traditional purchasing and personal property system reviews to the redesigned Federal and contractor system assessment approaches that replaced them, it was understood that further refinement and continuous improvement would occur. Consistent with that long-term strategy, and building on the originally redesigned Federal and contractor purchasing and property assessments, the Department's business system assessment models evolved to bring them more formally into line with the Balanced ScoreCard (BSC) approach to performance measurement and management, which is currently in use by many world class private corporations. The following describes the Department's 'corporate' business systems assessment program, implementation procedures, evaluation standards, and the reporting process. " ...

Six Sigma E-Maintenance ...

Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS)-Internet-based intelligent e-maintenance is key to achieve global leadership in six-sigma product aftermarket service and productivity for the 21st century ...

... "The vision for the Center is to achieve near-zero breakdowns of product and system through advancements in internet-based intelligent performance-degradation monitoring and proactive maintenance technologies, including innovations in machine performance degradation and reliability assessment, prognostics and diagnostics, smart service NetWare and agent, and self-maintenance intelligence. The Center's mission is to serve as a center of excellence for creation and dissemination of a systematic body of knowledge in intelligent maintenance systems and, ultimately, to impact next-generation product and service systems with six-sigma quality." ...

Kaizen Event Recommends Changes ...

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Waterton Plant ...

From Performance Track Annual Performance Report ...

... "In the ISO 14001 May Audit, the nonconformity identified was that the Integrated Emergency Response Plan and Crisis Management Plan be updated at scheduled times. The Crisis Management Plan was being updated at the time of the audit and was issued on 5/12/03. The updated Integrated Environmental Emergency Response Plan will be issued during 5/04. 2. In the ISO 14001 October Audit, the nonconformity identified was that the list contained in the Integrated Emergency Response Plan did not reflect current 90-day hazardous waste collection points. The list was updated immediately. As noted above, the overall Plan will be updated by 5/04. 3. In the Internal Audit, two findings were issued. These were: a.) Inadequate implementation of office inspection requirement because the requirement was unknown in several areas. The root cause was that the process did not require adequate accountability of supervisors. A Kaizen event is scheduled for April 2004 to evaluate and improve the process. A Kaizen event is a 2-5 day meeting in which a team analyzes a procedure or process, identifies shortcomints, and recommends changes. b.) The self-assessment plan did not identify root causes of problems and did not provide a means of verifying that problems had been corrected. Resolution of issues identified in the finding will be addressed during implementation of the 2004 self-assessment plan. Any remaining issues will be resolved during the annual company Environment, Safety & Health planning meeting during November 2004." ...

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

Kaizen Applied To Energy Management ...

Create Action Plan : ENERGY STAR ...

From EnergyStar ...

... "Eastman Kodak - Applying Kaizen to Energy Management: Like many manufacturing organizations, Eastman Kodak (Kodak) has developed a strong quality management program and culture. Kodak's energy office draws from its organizational resources to identify and develop action plans for critical energy projects. To develop these plans, the Kodak energy office conducts Kaizen Events. Kai means 'change' and Zen means 'better' and a Kaizen event combines a quick technical assessment with brainstorming to develop a better product or solution. The energy Kaizen Events bring together a mix of Kodak employees from an operating area as well as someone from outside that department. This multifunctional team then meets several times with the goal of developing a low to no capital cost energy efficiency solution." ...

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Results are already adding up. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to power 20 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 18 million cars - all while saving $8 billion.

Product Innovation Risks and Controls ...

FRB: Supervisory Letter SR 96-14 (SUP) on risk-focused safety and soundness examinations and inspections ...

From Risk-focused Safety and Soundness Examinations and Inspections, FRB ...

... "Keeping pace with technological advances in the banking industry, financial product innovation, and improvements in management systems and techniques requires that supervisory procedures constantly evolve, especially with respect to the assessment of risk management processes and internal controls. To meet this requirement, over the last several years, the Federal Reserve has taken a number of steps to enhance the effectiveness of its examinations and inspections by sharpening its focus on the areas of greatest risk to the soundness of banking organizations. These efforts have been directed at adapting examination and inspection processes so that they remain responsive to changing market realities, while retaining those practices that have proven most successful in supervising institutions under a variety of economic circumstances and industry conditions. " ...

BioInformatics Platform for Drug Discovery ...

BioInformatics Platform for Drug Discovery: GPC Biotech Announces Achievement of Milestones Totaling $1.2 ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... The ARI team has developed state-of-the-art automated genomics and proteomics research capabilities as well as a sophisticated bioinformatics platform. ...

... GPC Biotech AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: GPC; TecDAX 30; Nasdaq: GPCB) announced the achievement of several new milestones in its multiyear alliance with ALTANA Pharma AG working with the ALTANA Research Institute (ARI) in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. The achievements included one new implementation milestone, as well as three research milestones under the drug discovery collaborations that are part of the ARI agreement. The payments to GPC Biotech resulting from these achievements total $1.2 million and will be recognized as revenue in the fourth quarter of 2004. ...

GPC Biotech AG is a biotechnology company discovering and developing new anticancer drugs. The Company's lead product candidate -- satraplatin -- is currently in a Phase 3 registration trial as a second-line chemotherapy treatment in hormone-refractory prostate cancer following successful completion of a Special Protocol Assessment by the U.S. FDA and receipt of a Scientific Advice letter from the European central regulatory authority, EMEA. The FDA has also granted fast track designation to satraplatin for this indication. Satraplatin was in-licensed from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Other anticancer programs in development include a monoclonal antibody and a cell cycle inhibitor. The Company is leveraging its drug discovery technologies to elucidate the mechanisms-of-action of drug candidates and to support the growth of its drug pipeline. The Company has formed successful alliances with a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. For example, the Company has a multi-year alliance with ALTANA Pharma AG working with the ALTANA Research Institute in the U.S., which provides GPC Biotech with revenues until 2007. GPC Biotech AG is headquartered in Martinsried/Munich (Germany). The Company's wholly owned U.S. subsidiary has research and development sites in Waltham, Massachusetts and Princeton, New Jersey.

ALTANA Research Institute (ARI) is the entrepreneurial biotechnology division of ALTANA Pharma AG. ARI is exploring innovative technologies to support the company's drug discovery efforts. The ARI team has developed state-of-the-art automated genomics and proteomics research capabilities as well as a sophisticated bioinformatics platform. ARI scientists are applying the technology platform toward the identification of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diseases in ALTANA Pharma's core therapeutic areas. By adding and providing a fully integrated technology platform to the existing research engine, ARI will further increase the value of ALTANA Pharma's early- and late-stage pipeline for innovative therapeutic products.

Additional BioInformatics drug discovery resources ...

Genomics: Structural Bioinformatics Proprietary protein structure platform to accelerate drug discovery within the existing research infrastructure of the pharmaceutical ...

Beyond Genomics Unveils Revolutionary Approach to Drug Discovery: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... to design and build our bioinformatics platform and feel that ... leverages its technology platform across a ... of applications in drug discovery, product development ...

Six Sigma Energy Assessments: A Methodology for Analysis ...

Six Sigma Energy Assessments: Plant Uses Six Sigma Methodology and Traditional Heat Balance Analysis to Identify Energy Conservation Opportunities ...

The plant-wide energy assessment at W. R. Grace’s Curtis Bay Works in Baltimore, Maryland, identified four technically and economically viable projects with combined potential savings of $840,000 per year (approximately 96,000 million British thermal units [MMBtu] per year in fuel and 4.8 million kilowatt hours per year [kWh/yr] in electricity).

... The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) cosponsored the assessment through a competitive process. DOE promotes plant-wide energy-efficiency assessments that will lead to improvements in industrial energy efficiency, productivity, and global competitiveness, and will reduce waste and environmental emissions. W. R. Grace & Company’s Davison Product Line produces materials used in petroleum refining, paints, plastics, dentifrices, and edible oil refining. Davison’s products are intermediates for consumer products produced by other companies. Davison, which became part of W. R. Grace in 1954, has 13 production facilities worldwide. The Curtis Bay Works in Baltimore, Maryland, is the largest and most diverse site. The Curtis Bay Works is a multi-plant, multi-product facility covering nearly 90 acres and employing 700 people. Comprising 10 production facilities (Plant #1 through Plant #10) that manufacture thousands of products, Curtis Bay Works is separated into four complexes based on product lines. ...

Six Sigma is a rigorous and disciplined methodology that uses data and statistical analysis to measure and improve operational performance by identifying and eliminating defects in manufacturing and service-related processes. The goal of Six Sigma is to improve products and processes by eliminating variability, defects, and waste. The use of Six Sigma analysis tools provides a unique technique for energy conservation project comparison and selection. The concept can be applied across a broad section of manufacturing industries.

Additional resources on six sigma energy assessments ...

AFE : Strategic Training Partners: include the following: Project Management; Microsoft Project; Six Sigma Quality; ... by manufacturers to conduct pollution prevention and energy assessments, as well ...

National Insulation Association: Representing ... over manufacturing strategies like Six Sigma, total quality ... concurrently through DOE's six regional offices. ... no-cost, one-day energy assessments to eligible ...

Industries of the Future Plant-Wide Energy Efficiency Opportunity: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... Please submit six (6) copies of your technical ... Proposals should be for plant energy assessments that have ... Chemicals Inorganic Products 6 Sigma analysis of new ...

Pollution Prevention and Profitability Go Hand In Hand: of quality and total value, and achieving Six Sigma Quality products and ... Technical assistance includes energy assessments, engineering analyses, and the design ...

Six Sigma and CMMI Certification: DTCC Achieves CMMI Level 2 Certification;

Six Sigma and CMMI Certification: DTCC Achieves CMMI Level 2 Certification; Carnegie Mellon ` ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... such as software and systems engineering and dovetails with other process-improvement methods used elsewhere in the organization, including Six Sigma and the ...

... The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) today announced that its entire Applications Development and Maintenance (ADM) technology division has passed a formal assessment to achieve a Capability Maturity Model(R) Integration (CMMI(R)) Level 2 rating in all areas of the CMMI disciplines. This internationally recognized assessment from Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI) means that DTCC's technology division has established effective, well-defined processes and procedures in project management and software development that meet CMMI Level 2, and in certain cases, CMMI Level 3, requirements. ADM is responsible for developing, managing and testing all software used by DTCC and its subsidiaries for all services. ...

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), through its subsidiaries, provides clearance, settlement and information services for equities, corporate and municipal bonds, government and mortgage-backed securities and over-the-counter credit derivatives. DTCC's depository also provides custody and asset servicing for more than two million securities issues from the United States and 100 other countries and territories. In addition, DTCC is a leading processor of mutual funds and insurance transactions, linking funds and carriers with their distribution networks. DTCC has operating facilities in multiple locations in the United States and overseas.

Six Sigma in Retail: AMR Research Six Sigma Retailing Quotient Helps Retailers Find ...

Six Sigma in Retail: AMR Research Six Sigma Retailing Quotient Helps Retailers Find ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... AMR Research has created a self-assessment tool called the Six Sigma Retailing Quotient, which is a set of metrics that helps retailers realize these lost ...

... In the hyper-competitive retail industry, merchandising and promotional plans that are not consistently and properly executed in every store result in billions of dollars in lost sales. Out-of-stocks and unknowledgeable store associates are only a few of the complaints that cause customers to shop elsewhere. According to AMR Research, such issues cause an average customer to not return after three negative
experiences. Wal-Mart claims that each lost customer represents over $200,000 in lifetime lost sales. Even though retailers have hints of why problems exist, 80% have not measured their store operations. AMR Research has created a self-assessment tool called the Six Sigma Retailing Quotient, which is a set of metrics that helps retailers realize these lost profits. ...

AMR Research provides world class research and actionable advice for executives tasked with delivering enhanced business process performance and cost savings with the aid of technology. 5,000 leaders in the Global 1000 put their trust in AMR Research's integrity, depth of industry expertise, and passion for customer service to support their most critical business initiatives, including supply chain transformation, new product introduction, customer profitability, compliance and governance, and IT benefit realization. AMR Research's Six Sigma Retailing methodology and quotient is being adopted by retailers worldwide. Retailers interested in measuring the effectiveness of their store operations can access AMR Research's quotient by visiting http://www.amrresearch.com.

Lean Manufacturing Could Improve Performance at Nine More Sites ...

From ITP: Fourth Round of Plant-Wide Assessments ...

... "Ford Motor Company, Cleveland, Ohio, will address the production process and will apply the principles of lean manufacturing to identify energy and cost reductions in the manufacturing operation. Formosa Plastics, Port Comfort, Texas, and its partners will conduct a plant-wide study to develop and implement methods and strategies that address energy efficiency, waste reduction, productivity, and global competitiveness. Georgia Pacific, Crossett, Arkansas, developed a plan to evaluate the plant as an integrated entity to achieve system-wide gains. The plant will use computer-modeling tools to verify mill data and perform system-wide optimization. Jernberg Industries, Chicago, Illinois, will apply lean manufacturing principles and identify waste stream and productivity opportunities that can save energy. North Star Steel, Wilton, Iowa, will focus on energy, waste, and productivity and will initiate a total assessment audit to identify opportunities in the manufacturing systems facility." ...

Six Sigma Improvement Opportunity: University of New Orleans, College of Engineering Study on Continuous Improvement of Drydocking Management

From The Office of Naval Research's Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program ...

... "The results of the survey identified the need for standardization, performance metrics, better risk and ship condition (e.g., corrosion in the hull, plating in the cargo spaces, etc.) assessment, and new reliability and maintenance management strategies. Standardization is needed for items and units for pricing, reporting progress, and specification formats. Performance metrics are not currently used in making decisions. Better risk assessment is needed for scheduling and selecting shipyards as well as better ship condition assessment to create more precise specifications. Six Sigma can be implemented as a management strategy." ...

Six Sigma Market Leader: MEGA International Achieves Leadership Status in META Group's ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... MEGA was also noted for supporting New Basel II, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard, Zachman Framework, RACI, and EA, which includes MEGA's City Planning approach. ...

... MEGA International, the leading independent provider of enterprise business process analysis and enterprise architecture solutions, today announced that it has been ranked as a market leader in META Group's METAspectrum(SM) report for Enterprise Architecture Modeling Tools. META Group is a leading provider of information technology (IT) research, advisory services, and strategic consulting. The new METAspectrum evaluation provides an objective assessment of companies providing enterprise architecture modeling tools. ...

MEGA International is the global leader in Process Excellence and Enterprise Architecture modeling solutions. The MEGA value driven approach combines proven methods, modeling software and consulting to deliver the client enterprise repository. This enterprise repository provides to executives and operational managers the ability to understand, discover, align and control as governed from the enterprise level. MEGA International, headquartered in Paris, France and founded in 1991, focuses in Europe and North America through operations and affiliates in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and recently in Central and Eastern Europe. MEGA clients include Alitalia, Allianz, British American Tobacco, Credit Lyonnais, General Electric EP Europe, Novartis, Renault, Societe Generale, Target, Vitro and Wyeth.

META Group's METAspectrum(SM) methodology provides a framework for evaluating or selecting an appropriate IT vendor or product, simplifies the decision process, and enables more effective technology investments. META Group's research efforts, which adhere to the company's commitment to objectivity, are conducted independently, based on industry best-practice methodologies and subject to the highest levels of review by META Group's research community.

SAS70 Success: Pegasus TransTech Successfully Completes SAS 70 Audit

... "Pegasus TransTech, a leading provider of products and services that facilitate global commerce, announced today that it has successfully completed a voluntary service audit of its TRANSFLO Express and TRANSFLO ASP operations. The SAS 70 audit followed American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) guidelines for the professional standards used by a service auditor to assess the internal controls of a service organization. The resulting audit report addresses all five components of internal control outlined in the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation: the control environment, risk assessment activities, control activities, information and communication systems, and monitoring activities. Pegasus management chose to undergo the audit as a measure of accountability to the company's customers, including those who have Sarbanes-Oxley compliance programs. " ...

Event Tree Analysis ETA: Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Complex Systems

From Argonne National Laboratory ...

... "PRA is used to estimate the probability of the failure of a system and to determine what the most likely contributors are to that failure. It is also used in system-reliability assessments. When applied at an early stage of a project, PRA can be a valuable design tool. At later stages, PRA can be used to guide the acceptance testing of a system. Capabilities exist for a computerized fault tree and event tree analysis, common cause analysis, and importance analysis. These techniques have been used in the design of nuclear reactors, including the assessment of the effect on risk and reliability of plant modifications, equipment aging, procedure changes, and changes in technical specifications; and also to guide the design of advanced transportation vehicles. " ...