Battery Innovation to Spur Manufacturing Transformation

President Obama makes significant investment in the advancement of battery technology as a catalyst to transform the country's transportation to electric vehicles and accelerate the transition of the manufacturing base to new products. ...

... "The $2.4 billion is the single largest investment ever in advanced battery technology for hybrid and electric drive vehicles, and coupled with another $2.4 billion in cost share from the award winners, it will result in the creation of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs that are much needed in places like Elkhart. Places like Elkhart have been hit particularly hard as manufacturing jobs have disappeared, but this new investment provides $39 million for Navistar to create or save hundreds of jobs in Elkhart. " ...

Via The White House: Spurring Innovation, Creating Jobs

Design of Experiments Leads to Better Products

Great reference for design of experiments and Taguchi methods. ...

... "An effective way to improve performance is to optimize the engineering designs of products or processes by experimental means. A structured and economical way to study projects whose performance depends on many factors is to apply the experimental method known as design of experiments ... " ...

Via Quality Digest: A well-run DOE method

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

Innovation Six-Sigma Collision Course

Are Six Sigma and innovation in competition with one another? At some companies, yes. However, Six Sigma brings some tools to the innovation table --- the Voice of the Customer, the House of Quality, DFSS, Design of Experiments (DOE), etc. Let's find an equilibrium to leverage the best of both. ...

... "By its very nature, Six Sigma fosters a very low tolerance for risk because risk increases variation. Innovation, on the other hand, seeks to brave undiscovered, uncertain territory. " ...

Via Business Week: Six Sigma at Odds with Innovation?