Lean SixSigma Medical Manufacturing

Apriso will discus lean case study on April 17 event. ...

... "Apriso's Industry Director for Life Sciences, Rick Gallisa, will demonstrate how software can be an enabler to implementing sustainable Lean/Six Sigma programs including e-Kanban across highly complex manufacturing environments found within the Medical Device industry. Apriso FlexNet provides complete visibility, traceability and control over manufacturing operations, providing a foundation to implement cost effective compliance within Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives. " ...

Via Apriso: Lean and Six Sigma Event for Medical Device Manufacturers

Motorola Six Sigma Weakness

Motorola may have lost its focus in the phone market as it emphasized efficiency over innovation and differentiation. ...

... "The real question is: is it possible for a company to become so engrossed in its process improvements that it fails to notice some vital trends in the marketplace? This may well have been the case with Motorola. " ...

Via domain-b: Motorola Six Sigma

Lean Manufacturing Dupont Case Study

Multi-part video case study of lean manufacturing applications at Dupont in their pharmaceuticals line of business. ...

Lean Six Sigma for Manufacturing Complexity

Webinar this week ...

... "Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. will be holding a webcast, entitled Implementing Lean/Six Sigma in Complex Industries: A Case Study at Endicott Interconnect Technologies, on September 6, 2007. The webcast will discuss the weaknesses in five essential factors that make most complex Lean/Six Sigma deployments falter. " ...

Register for Webcast on Implementing Lean/Six Sigma in Complex Industries

Six Sigma Financial Services Case Study

Six Sigma in financial services is discussed ...

... "The case study, Building a Six Sigma Measurement System in Financial Services, explores how one company deployed and implemented Six Sigma projects within the context of a robust data systems infrastructure. According to the case study, this infrastructure was a fundamental first step in developing an effective transactional Six Sigma initiative. " ...

Hertzler Systems Releases Case Study of Six Sigma in Financial Services ...

PDQ Lean Manufacturing Process: ABB Supports

ABB supports lean process at PDQ by preparing its drives for immediate installation. ...

... "In support of the lean manufacturing process at PDQ, when ABB drives arrive at the company, they already are pre-programmed and ready to be installed. " ...

Via DrivesMag: ABB Case Study

Kaizen Supply Chain ...

Supply chain successes discussed ...

... "Siemens changed the way it did business by adopting kaizen techniques and total quality management. This is a shining example of how changed supply chain methodologies can actually influence the bottom line and increase the company’s value. " ...

Supply Chains: Reinventions, Successes, and Failures ...

Make-to-Order Model Through Lean Manufacturing ...

Manufacturer adopts lean model and transitions to a make-to-order supply chain. Marv Balousek explores the evolution of Research Products corp as it embraces lean manufacturing and eliminates root causes through failure-mode and effects-analysis, FMEA. ...

... "Research Products adopted a lean manufacturing model a few years ago inspired by Japanese manufacturers and now makes products to fulfill orders instead of to build inventory. " ...

Make-to-Order Model Through Lean Manufacturing: Via Wisconsin State Journal: Longtime Madison company gives customers . . . .A breath of fresh air ...



Supply Chain Systems Magazine Features: Manufacturing Adapts for Success: "Increasingly, manufacturers differentiate products late in the manufacturing cycle according to order, though most maintain a buffer stock inventory to deal effectively with business fluctuations. In a Make to Order (MTO) environment, the most critical success factors are visibility and sophisticated production scheduling ..."

Emerald FullText Article : The SHEN model for MTO SMEs: "This paper presents a new model developed for make-to-order (MTO) companies to aid in determining appropriate content for performance improvement programmes. The model has been developed using literature evidence and case-study data from six MTO small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As well as being important aspects of the new model, some of the conclusions from the case-study evidence are important insights into best practice in MTO companies in their own right."

Medical Design Technology Online: "Early adopter of lean manufacturing in transition to make-to-order (MTO), which could not be supported with current technologies and processes"

Six Sigma Case Study Overview Seminar ...

Six Sigma Case Study Overview Seminar: Via Toledoblade

... "Six Sigma Overview & Case Studies is the topic at the American Society for Quality meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Eddie Lee's Restaurant, 4700 Nantucket Drive. Speaker: Bruce Barth, Ford Motor Co. " ...

Lean Continuous Flow Operation Conversion

In a lean continuous flow operation, the manufacturing operations receive and produce only what is needed, exactly when it is needed. Continuous flow cells use pull systems to manage raw material and WIP, work in process ...

Lean Continuous Flow Operation Conversion: Via HB Maynard: York Casket Case Study ...

... "For York to remain competitive and meet Matthews operating objectives, division management needed to reduce unit costs by 20 to 40 percent. To reach this goal, York partnered with H.B. Maynard and Company, Inc. for assistance in converting the wood casket plant to a Lean Continuous Flow operation. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Visual-Marking Requirements

Lean Manufacturing Visual-Marking Requirements: Via Daily News: AliMed adds DuraStripe to its workplace safety line ...

Lean Manufacturing techniques can be as simple as marking visual lines on the factory floor to accelerate the flow of materials, using products such as Durastripe. Visual markings are a direct contributor to an corporate 5S program ...

... "DuraStripe, DuraShapes and DuraSigns are all marking products designed to promote on-the-job safety through visual communication. DuraStripe offers a solution to any company's safety or 5S programs and enables businesses to meet their lean manufacturing marking requirements. " ...

Additional references for applications of visual-marking in the manufacturing environment and the visual 5S factory:

Lean Building Blocks: MAMTC LEAN: Manufacturing consulting company helping small to ... The intent of a visual factory is that the whole workplace is set-up with signs, labels, etc.

5S Supplies: Where would you use this floor marking tape? "A place for everything, ... of visual controls needs to be part of a much larger lean manufacturing effort. ...

5S | Lean Thinking | Lean and the Environment | EPA: 5S provides the foundation on which other lean methods, such as TPM, ... The Visual Factory: Building Participation Through Shared Information (Portland, ...

Visual 5S Case Study: Factory simulation, to introduce the team to lean manufacturing tools and the ... 5S and Visual Management. The aim was to introduce the team to a method of ...

Dow Chemical Six Sigma Methodology ...

The Dow Chemical Company's Use of the Six Sigma Methodology Case Study ...

... "The Dow Chemical Company's Innovative Use of Six Sigma: Avoiding ergonomics-related injuries is an important component of The Dow Chemical Company's (Dow or the Company) overall emphasis on safety and health. Dow is a science and technology company that develops, manufactures and provides various chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services for customers in over 180 countries. In 1994, Dow adopted a set of voluntary 10-year EH&S goals to dramatically improve the Company's performance by 2005. These goals call for a reduction in the Company's reportable injury and illness rate by 90 percent to 0.24." ...

Six Sigma Clinical Trials Supports EU Regulations While Enabling Innovation ...

Six Sigma Clinical Trials Supports EU Regulations: Atrium Medical Center Selects Sopheon's Accolade Solution to ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... closely with the Atrium team to configure Accolade to fit a new, jointly-developed process incorporating elements of the Six Sigma manufacturing methodology ...

... Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today that Atrium Medical Center, one of the largest general hospitals in the Netherlands, is deploying Sopheon's Accolade solution to support implementation of a structured process for comprehensive management of clinical trials. Use of the software is expected to help Atrium enhance management of trials activity and ensure compliance with the latest European Union (EU) clinical research regulations. Accolade will also be used by the hospital to manage innovation projects, including major capital investment initiatives. In May 2004, new regulations went into effect across the EU aimed at establishing common guidelines for clinical-trial procedures. Atrium is using these compliance directives as an opportunity to strengthen the organization and management of its clinical-trials operations. ...

Sopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of software and services. The Sopheon Accolade product development system automates gate- or phase-based product development processes and provides strategic decision support that allows companies to improve innovation, cut product development spending waste and shorten time-to-market. Sopheon's Monitor software operates as a "reading robot" that automatically reviews, filters, analyzes and pushes relevant content to healthcare and engineering professionals to enable effective compliance with protocols, standards and regulations. Sopheon is listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands.

With 3600 employees and 1230 beds, Atrium Medical Center (Atrium) is one of the largest employers in the south of the Netherlands. In 2004 Atrium celebrated its 100-year anniversary. It has a national reputation for hospital innovation, and has recently participated in experimental studies on reducing patient wait-lists, increasing care-delivery production, implementing new budgetary systems and improving patient safety. In 2003, supported by a EUR 187 million budget, Atrium registered 28,000 clinical admissions, 24,000 day admissions and 432,000 patient visits to its policlinics. Atrium's focus on patients, professionalism, and continuity and effectiveness of treatment ensures that the quality of care it provides remains on the highest levels.

Additional resources on Six Sigma clinical trials that support European Union EU regulations ...

Cognizant's Differentiators - Life Sciences Practice: electronic data capture product in over 160 clinical trials. ... Experience in execution of Six Sigma projects. ... and data investments to support sales, marketing ...

Conferences, Workshops, Meetings: goal of addressing reasons for clinical trial failure earlier ... discuss how the deployment of Six Sigma could help ... to application in a clinical setting, allowing ...

Concurrent engineering in a pharmaceutical firm: a case study: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... new molecules developed by DRL undergoing clinical trials. ... technical and regulatory support to customers ... product development using six sigma methodology with a ...

Inventory Stock-Outs Decreased Using Six Sigma DMAIC Process ...

Inventory Stock-Out Six Sigma DMAIC Process ...

From Decisioneering, Inc ...

... In this case study, the Six Sigma DMAIC process is augmented with powerful optimization tool, CrystalBall, to decrease the number of inventory stock-outs while minimizing inventory costs for a company that sold perishable inventory. The Six Sigma project team resolved this problem and lowered the defect rate for stock-outs. The use of a stochastic solution, such as CrystalBall, in the DMAIC process resulted in lower costs than other methods. Also, the optimization model is run dynamically in the control phase of the DMAIC process to incorporate the latest demand and delivery information to determine if the improvement in defect rate can be sustained.

Crystal Ball is a suite of Excel add-ins that help turn your existing engineering and process spreadsheet models into dynamic forecasting tools. Today, Crystal Ball is the tool chosen by more than 85% of the Fortune 500. Companies like GE, Motorola, Honeywell, Seagate, Black & Decker, and Osram Sylvania all rely on Crystal Ball to manage risk, reduce variability, and make more informed business and strategic decisions. Crystal Ball is for anyone who uses spreadsheets and needs to forecast uncertain results. Six Sigma Black Belts, Master Black Belts, Green Belts, and other practitioners in nearly every industry, from manufacturing to software to pharmaceuticals to consulting, all rely on Crystal Ball to improve the quality of their Six Sigma analyses. In addition to Monte Carlo simulation, key Crystal Ball features include distribution fitting to historic data, correlation of distributions, sensitivity analysis, precision control of simulations, and forecast filtering. ...

Since 1986, Decisioneering, Inc. has been providing decision analysis software and solutions that empower individuals and organizations to make better decisions. Trust the leader in risk-analysis software to deliver better outcomes by defining risk and uncertainty. In October 2004, Decisioneering, Inc. was ranked on the Deloitte & Touche Colorado Technology Fast 50 list of fastest-growing technology companies in Colorado. This is the seventh year in a row that Decisioneering has made the list, which is based on five-year percentage revenue growth.

Kanban Techniques: Whirlpool Corporation Marion Division-Marion ...

From Enviro$en$e, Case Study on Whirlpool Corporation Marion Division ...

... "Pollution prevention was initiated with waste minimization efforts in the mid-80's and extended from that effort to the current plan. The recycling of cardboard began with the purchase of a baler, which created a dust and particulate problem and was replaced by a compactor. The compactor was very successful at reducing volumes and allowing efficient recycling. Separation of solid waste was accomplished by installing a two-compactor system in 1990. These initial efforts were successful because of employee involvement and good management practices. Cost savings were realized from the recycling of cardboard. This recycling project led employees to work with vendors to design plastic returnable containers to lessen cardboard waste. The Marion Division is undergoing extensive changes in production planning. Just-in-Time inventory, Kanban and Point of Use Supply strategies are being implemented. These manufacturing principles will assist in efforts to minimize waste and prevent waste production. Use of employee involvement teams has been crucial to identify waste production areas. Through their efforts the use of returnable containers has been implemented " ...

Enviro$en$e is a free, public environmental information system resident on the Internet's World Wide Web. This Web site provides users with pollution prevention/cleaner production solutions, compliance and enforcement assistance information, and innovative technology and policy options. It also provides access to funding, grants, and environmental research publications. Enviro$en$e, which is currently part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Web site, was opened to the public in 1994 and was initially funded through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).

Six Sigma Cash Flow Software Webinar: Drive Six Sigma Quality in Receivables, Credit, and Collections ...

Webinar on Six Sigma Working Capital Case Study: Volt Information Sciences Improves Cash Flow Management leverages Six Sigma and software from Emagia. Emagia is software for cash flow management. Emagia provides real-time intelligence, visibility and control to manage cash flows efficiently across the enterprise.

... Learn how Volt Information Sciences, a leading $2 billion staffing services firm, leveraged Emagia solutions and delivered rapid results to the bottom line including significant reduction in DSO, faster dispute resolution, improvement in the A/R portfolio and reduced operational expenses. Tuesday, November 16, 2004, from 9AM to 10AM PST. Register. ...

Kaizen Ideas in Action: Report for the GeoOrb Polymers, North America Case Study...

From NIST Baldridge Award ...

... "A variety of approaches encourage knowledge sharing across the organization, including Communities of Practice (COPs), rotational teams, cross-functional job training, and WINGS. G-ORB also shares performance results, Kaizen ideas, and best practices through numerous mechanisms, such as newsletters, closed-circuit television postings, e-mail bulletins, shared servers, Steering Team quarterly forums, weekly departmental meetings, and bulletin boards." ...

The Baldrige Award is given by the President of the United States to businesses—manufacturing and service, small and large—and to education and health care organizations that apply and are judged to be outstanding in seven areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.

Six Sigma Excellence: Proven Tactics for Profitability Across Industry Lines

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Companies save billions of dollars and eliminate ineffective process steps by implementing "customer-centric" Six Sigma insights, according to ...

The folks at Best Practices, LLC. have created a Case Study of Six Sigma Excellence at GE, General Electric ...

... Companies save billions of dollars and eliminate ineffective process steps by implementing "customer-centric" Six Sigma insights, according to benchmark studies by research and consulting firm Best Practices, LLC. The program's methodology has emerged in various market sectors, especially in the manufacturing and the financial service industries, where companies employ the Six Sigma philosophy to improve process timelines, cash management and customer satisfaction. ...

Best Practices, LLC is a research and consulting firm that conducts work based on the simple yet profound principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class companies.

Six Sigma Operational Efficiency: Lean, SixSigma & TQM Project Success: New Trends in Cost-Cutting ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA  ... "Lean, SixSigma & TQM Project Success: Recent Case Studies and Benchmarks," available at: http://www3.best-in-class.com/rr440.htm, offers an outline of ...

Six Sigma quality initiatives drive operational efficiency...

... Most businesses save up to 10 percent of their annual revenues each year through quality initiatives, according to a new study by research and consulting firm Best Practices, LLC. Based on a survey of 84 companies and 15 case studies, the findings act as a primer to assist companies on how to choose the best productivity approach based on the improvement or goal sought. ...

Best Practices, LLC is a research and consulting firm that conducts work based on the principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class companies.

Six Sigma Ergonomics: The Dow Chemical Company Renews Alliance with OSHA; Process ...

From U.S. Newswire (press release), DC ... The ergonomics case study is available online and discusses how Dow has applied the Six Sigma management system strategy to identify and implement ergonomics ...

In addition to a number of specific quality programs, Dow embraces the toolset, methodology and mind set of Six Sigma. Dow's Six Sigma commitment coordinates with and builds on other quality initiatives. The rigor and data-driven decision making of Six Sigma is at work in every Dow business and function, driving out defects and variation. Dow is applying Six Sigma in order to improve current operations and develop innovative new solutions. An important aspect of Dow's commitment is a focus on applying the power of Six Sigma to increase customer satisfaction . . . building to establish an unprecedented level of customer loyalty. The desired outcome is unparalleled business excellence.

Lean Supply Chain: Arrow Electronics and Flash USA Address DEMAND Execution ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... The case study addresses the challenges faced by manufacturers striving to develop an increasingly lean supply chain while also maintaining the highest levels ...

Six Sigma Case study: Controls speed project work

From VNUNet.com, UK ... The next stage for the bank will be to incorporate the Six Sigma methodology for project management and process improvement into its current implementation. ...

Lean Supply Chain: Arrow Electronics and Flash USA Address DEMAND Execution ...

PR Newswire (press release) - Apr 19, 2004
... The case study addresses the challenges faced by manufacturers striving to develop an increasingly lean supply chain while also maintaining the highest levels ...

Darr Greenhalgh, Director of Supply Chain Services for Arrow Electronics, will be joined by Robert Dean, President of Flash USA, to provide a real-world viewpoint on how demand centric theory and the realities of conducting business as a multi-national EMS provider collide.

The case study addresses the challenges faced by manufacturers striving to develop an increasingly lean supply chain while also maintaining the highest levels of flexibility to meet diverse and often erratic customer demands. Darr and Robert will present "Enabling Lean, Demand Centric Execution: A Case Study" on Tuesday, April 20th at the ESCA Spring Symposium in San Jose, California.

Six Sigma Finance: Ceridian to Present Case Study at the 2004 SixSigma in Finance ...

From Business Wire (press release) ... of quality and productivity, will present a case study addressing highlights and lessons learned during the successful roll out of the Six Sigma program for ...

Details: This year's Six Sigma in Finance Conference will focus exclusively on Six Sigma applications in Banking and Finance Operations. Vice Presidents, Presidents, and CEOs will gather in Chicago for 2 days on April 20-21, for information exchange on quality issues and Six Sigma deployment. Six Sigma has proven the best business strategy for securing sound business results in a climate of no-jobs growth and rapid economic change. Key points of discussion are how Six Sigma continues to free up capital for strategic investment, creates clear deliverables, and secures a higher rate of process improvement than many other, existing quality initiatives. Particular attention will be paid to advanced Six Sigma applications, such as Lean & Six Sigma, Project Selection and Execution, and Six Sigma in Supply Chain Management.

Ceridian to Present Case Study at the 2004 Six Sigma in Finance ...

From Business Wire (press release) ... of quality and productivity, will present a case study addressing highlights and lessons learned during the successful roll out of the Six Sigma program for ...

Ceridian chairman, president and CEO, Ronald L. Turner, describes the Company's focus on customer service:

"Ceridian's mission is to be first in customer service in every business, in every market, and with every customer we serve. Customer service is the sum total of a customer's experiences with the Company. We will achieve our goals by understanding customer needs; doing the right thing for our customers the first time; and exceeding expectations with great products, attention to detail, employee and customer training and personal service.

Ceridian is applying Six Sigma methodologies to improve how the Company's services and products are developed and delivered. Six Sigma employs methods, tools and measurements to achieve near-elimination of defects from processes and products. This program has proven its value at several major companies, and Ceridian will be no exception."

Lean Kaizen: New LEI Workbook Tackles Lean Production Control and System ...

From PRNewswire (press release) ... This is a new step towards 'system kaizen' that is not yet well ... Or they focus on "flow kaizen" that improves the entire value stream for one product family. ...

... Creating Level Pull, the new workbook from the Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI), shows readers how to advance a lean transformation from a focus on isolated improvements to improving the entire plantwide production system by implementing a lean production control system.

"The workbook is unique because it is a step-by-step case study on how to implement a level, pull-based production control system," said author Art Smalley. "This is a new step towards 'system kaizen' that is not yet well understood outside of Toyota."

The lean efforts at most companies focus on "point kaizen" (e.g., reducing setup times, implementing 5S, etc.) that improves a small portion of the value stream running from raw materials to finished products. Or they focus on "flow kaizen" that improves the entire value stream for one product family.

Creating Level Pull shows how companies can make the leap to "system kaizen" by introducing a lean production control system that ties together the flows of information and materials supporting every product family in a facility.

With this system implemented, each production activity requests precisely the materials it needs from the previous activity and demand from the customer is leveled to smooth production activities throughout the plant...

Sixth Sigma Success Story: Applying Six Sigma Methodology to Energy-Saving Projects

From The Texas Technology Showcase ... In 1998 Dow chose to implement Six Sigma methodology to accelerate the company’s rate of improvement in quality and productivity. A trial of Six Sigma in two of Dow’s global businesses convinced management that the value proposition was well worth the effort, and in September 1999 the company launched a corporate-wide program to incorporate the Six Sigma methodology into all of its businesses
and functions.

The company’s 1999 annual report stated that by the end of 2003, Dow expected its Six Sigma implementation to deliver revenue growth, cost reductions, and asset utilization totaling $1.5 billion in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). At the close of 2002, Dow achieved its $1.5 billion
cumulative financial goal—a full year ahead of schedule. This case study presents four examples of Six Sigma implementation for projects at Dow facilities in Texas and Louisiana:

• Steam Trap Improvement
• Polycarbonate Unit Energy Reduction
• Styrene Unit Energy Envelope
• Angus Site Energy Reduction

The Dow Chemical Company is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic, and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $27 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and
medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of Sustainable Development, Dow and its approximately 50,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental,
and social responsibilities.