Operational Turnaround through Six Sigma Excellence

Vertis Communications reports its fiscal results and describes its turnaround plan which includes the use of lean and Six Sigma methods to drive operational excellence. ...

... "The Company implemented a turnaround plan in early 2007 involving new management and a multi-faceted turnaround strategy that includes:

1) gaining a better understanding of customer's expectations and a commitment to exceed those expectations via our Customers Delight Initiatives;

2) establishing a platform of operational excellence driving improved quality, service and efficiency via a re-engineered manufacturing system based on lean and six sigma; and

3) enhancing management processes throughout the Company.

The turnaround initiatives are beginning to show results ... " ...

Via Vertis Communications: Vertis Reports 2007 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results

Leansigma Customer Focus

Lean and Six Sigma hybrid methods are synthesized to differentiate in the eyes of the customer. Global consulting firm provides training in these methods. ...

... "head of the $53-million turnover firm said he provided advice to manufacturing and service companies on LeanSigma -- a hybrid of lean manufacturing principles and six sigma principles. " ...

Via Sify: Listen to customer

Jack Welch on Six Sigma Customer-focused Company

Jack Welch offers his perspective on how Six Sigma will make the enterprise more customer focused. ...

Lean Customer Perspective

Lean quote of the day ...

... "Lean manufacturing is don't do anything that your customer isn't willing to pay for, said Kevin Gingerich ... " ...

Via Design News: Lean Engineering

Leverage Information Technology in the Lean Manufacturing Environment

Information technology has role in the lean manufacturing enterprise of the future. ...

... "New competitive threats have emerged in Asia, and ahead-of-the curve manufacturers are leveraging IT not only to help establish partnerships in places like China, but to extract more out of their lean-manufacturing strategies, optimize business processes, enable growth, and learn more about their customers. " ...

Via Wisconsin Technology: Manufacturing IT

When Six Sigma Loses Customer Focus Nardelli-Style

Six Sigma as practiced at Home Depot, under the tenure of Bob Nardelli, lost its focus on the customer and became a number-crunching exercise. No methodology should make an enterprise lose sight of customer needs. ...

... "Six Sigma was used to streamline the check-out process and strategically place vacuum-cleaner displays, for example. ... The bottom line on Nardelli's tenure: Profitability soared, but worker morale drooped, and so did consumer sentiment. " ...

Six Sigma Gone-Bad