ITT Six Sigma Process Efficiency Focus

ITT CEO perspective on economy, hiring, and efficiency via WSJ: "We are not expecting the economic restoration in 2010 to give us at-capacity rates in all of our businesses," he says. He's also using the Six Sigma quality-improvement process to improve efficiency." http://bit.ly/a65PWB

NASA Lean Six Sigma Experiences

NASA is challenged to to realize higher efficiency within its internal processes and is applying Lean Six Sigma as the method of choice to streamline. http://bit.ly/dpaFwr (PDF).

Lean Clean Supply Footprint

McNeil-PPC integrates lean and clean to drive efficiency and sustainability. ...

... "teamed up with the Green Suppliers Network to explore opportunities for helping its suppliers improve product quality and to reduce the environmental footprint of its supply chain through the Network's hallmark—the Lean and Clean Advantage. McNeil first began investigating lean manufacturing concepts after the facility was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in late 2006. " ...

Via Green Suppliers Nework: http://bit.ly/a9eQUs

PolyOne Accelerates Six Sigma Catching Up to Competition

Polyone leadership reviews the year's results which were positive despite the economic circumstances. Management is rapidly implementing Lean Six Sigma to drive its performance and avoid the adoption barriers experienced by its competition. ...

... "This substantial improvement in our financial position resulted from a company wide effect to cut costs, prune on profitable or high credit-risk business and expand margins of reduced working capital. These improvements were facilitated and accelerated by our newly launched Lean Six Sigma efforts. You follow many companies out there and you frequently hear them reference Lean Six Sigma principles and initiatives they employ to reduce waves and improve efficiency across their business prosthesis. Many do this very well and have been reaping benefits for years. Admittedly PolyOne was late to the game in adopting this framework, but we are off to a really terrific start. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: PolyOne Corp 4Q09 Earnings Discussion by Management

Manufacturing Reinvention

Company Info: With more than 5,000 team members worldwide and revenues of $1.2 billion, Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc. has leveraged strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives to succeed.

Photovoltaic Manufacturing Techniques Lower Costs

Costs are decreasing and efficiency is increasing in the solar photovoltaic space. ...

... "he’s impressed that the price of photovoltaics is dropping while their efficiency is rising, thanks to new materials and manufacturing techniques. " ...

Via The Energy Collective: Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis

Hexion Disciplined Six Sigma Improves Business Process

Hexion Specialty Chemicals is recognized with a 2009 Global Six Sigma & Business Improvement Award based on its achievement in deploying Six Sigma for enterprise business improvement in the chemical industry. ...

... "Six Sigma at Hexion is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects in any business process. It provides various methods and tools to associates to examine processes within the business from the customer's perspective, and to improve them to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Hexion has implemented Six Sigma programming across its global organization and has made Six Sigma a core process in its business operations. Its award entry documented various business process improvements, savings and service enhancements resulting from embracing Six Sigma methodology as a way of doing business. " ...

Via Hexion Specialty Chemicals: Global Six Sigma & Business Improvement Award

Six Sigma drives Hexion's plant data reporting and analysis investments (PDF).

Hexion participates in industry efforts in benchmarking and best practice models. ...

Instantis Six Sigma Maturity Model (PDF): "The Six Sigma Maturity Model is a good representation of the journey Hexion has gone through so far in our Six Sigma deployment. My prior experience at multiple Fortune 100 companies also coincides with the model, commented Nipesh Shah corporate vice president of Six Sigma at Hexion Specialty Chemicals, the world’s largest producer of binder, adhesive, coating and ink resins for industrial applications. We look forward to participating in this research effort to get a better sense of how our progress stacks up against our peers. "

Here are some insights into their Six Sigma journey. ...

Via Aberdeen Group's Lean Six Sigma Benchmark Report (PDF): "We went after the best. We took plant managers and individuals who managed quality across the North American continent. They became our Black Belts. It takes time, but after 2 years we had a breakthrough. -Jonathan Squire, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. "

Ford India Lean Manufacturing Techniques

Ford transforms its India operations in preparation for production of a new car. The plant has been retrofit and will leverage lean techniques for success. ...

... "The transformed Maraimalai Nagar Ford plant is built around an array of new lean manufacturing techniques to make it ultra-efficient and its products cost-competitive even in the hotly contested sub-B segment in India and other growth markets. " ...

Via Paddock Talk: Ford Investment In India

Hospital Lean Six Sigma Drive Savings

Massachusetts hospitals struggle with high costs and use Lean Six Sigma to streamline operations. Even with efficiency savings, the workforce is affected. ...

... "Southcoast has been attentive to the management of costs, effectively flexing our expenses as volumes and our average daily census decreased. We also introduced new tools, such as Lean and Six Sigma, that helped us save several million dollars this year. " ...

Via SouthCoastToday: Hospital restructuring

McCoy Corp Lean Manufacturing Implementation

McCoy Corporation weathers the business cycle, implementing lean manufacturing as its competitive advantage in ts markets. ...

... "The Corporation's continued implementation of lean manufacturing processes was a major success factor in 2008 and will continue to be so in 2009 and beyond as this implementation is expected to continue to show positive results. The Corporation is committed to continuously improving efficiencies and moving closer to a goal of having its operations become centres of excellence for manufacturing and being the low cost provider while maintaining high quality standards. The Corporation has established a lean consortium group representative of all of McCoy's business segments. The Corporation believes its experience with lean implementations will be an advantage in any manufacturing businesses that McCoy may acquire. " ...

Via McCoy Corporation: Second Quarter 2009 Results

Span America Lean Manufacturing Concepts

Span America sees modest reduction in revenue and sustains profitability by reducing expenses and accelerating efficiency in its manufacturing operations. ...

... "The gross profit and gross margin performance in the third quarter benefited from declines in labor and manufacturing overhead costs as we continue to achieve efficiency improvements from implementing lean manufacturing concepts. " ...

Via Span America Medical Systems: THIRD QUARTER

Toyota Kaizen Challenge Winner

Toyota North American Parts Organization recognizes YRC Worldwide with its Kaizen Challenge Award for continuous improvement. Toyota leverages kaizen practices among its suppliers as part of the company's production system, TPS.

... "The 2008 Kaizen Challenge award recognizes YRC Worldwide for developing a plan to improve delivery efficiency for oversized and heavy parts such as truck beds, truck frames, drive trains, transmissions and engines from parts distribution centers and vendors to Toyota dealers throughout the country. Plan elements included nationwide implementation of a standard process for equipment placement and material handling and a customer service process to coordinate delivery service with dealers. As a result of this process, damage claims and injuries were virtually eliminated. " ...

Via YRC Worldwide: Honor from Toyota NAPO

Lean Maintenance Process

Maintenance business processes are an opportunity to apply lean techniques to drive efficiency gains. Material receipt and handling from MRO suppliers can be made more efficient. In addition, proactive and reactive maintenance work flows can be streamlined to increase asset utilization rates. ...

... "To help streamline your maintenance department, group related actions into steps to help make the process as efficient as possible. This helps managers identify inefficiencies more clearly ... " ...

Via Plant Services: Maintenance processes

Growing with Lean

Daktronics experiences organic growth while integrating lean manufacturing in order to navigate the business cycle. The company prides itself on well-designed work cells and an organized factory layout. ...

... "The company, which has been in a continual growth mode since its infancy, has reduced staffing at its manufacturing plants in Brookings, Sioux Falls and Redwood Falls, MN, through attrition, by hiring less part-time college students and focusing more on lean manufacturing. " ...

Via Prairie Business: Daktronics

Green Belt Seminar

Seminar on Six Sigma green belt program is presented this week. ...

... "Wednesday -- The Manufacturer & Business Association will present Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and Implementation, a daylong seminar that focuses on teamwork strategies designed to increase business efficiency. " ...

Via GoErie: Seminars

Ingersoll-Rand Lean Six Sigma Operational Excellence

Ingersoll-Rand has been challenged by the economic downturn with exposure to the construction market and the need to service a higher debt load related to acquisitions. Yet, the company is positioned in the HVAC market for infrastructure investments and has expanded geographically into Asian markets, where growth is expected. ...

... "IR has been using Lean Six Sigma for years, and will continue to rely on it to achieve operational excellence, which reflects IR's clear and constant awareness of efficiency and cost. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Ingersoll-Rand Excellence

Operational excellence is a key lever for the company in 2009. ...

Ingersoll Rand via Reuters: "We are realizing the synergies from the recent acquisition of Trane and from our initiatives in purchasing and Lean Six Sigma, which will produce even greater benefits in 2009. "

The company has invested in training programs. ...

Ingersoll Rand Lean Six Sigma Training Series.

IR has expanded its lean methods globally. ...

China Lean: "Ms. Zhang Dong is currently the Lean six sigma manager of Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technology Air Solutions, Asia Pacific. She has more than 14 years working experience in Engineering, Operations, Marketing and Service. "

Ingersoll Rand employees have had successful careers in industry, helping manufacturers become successful with Lean Six Sigma. ...

Mark Beffel Bio via APICS: "Mark has over 35 years experience in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations management with John Deere, Pentair, Lozier, Ingersoll Rand and Manitowoc. "

IR leaders are published in the field. ...

Leaning Into Six Sigma Book by Barbara Wheat via Barnes & Noble: "Barbara Wheat is the Director of Six Sigma for Ingersoll-Rand Tool and Hoist Division, where she brings the tools and techniques of both Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma together to institutionalize a world-class system of continuous improvement. "

Locomotive Lean Manufacturing at GE

GE Lean Manufacturing leader shares his experience with implementing lean in the company's transportation business. The process of locomotive assembly offered opportunity for lean methods to reduce waste and improve cycle times. Driving adoption of lean principle in the workforce has been the primary challenge. ...

... "The idea is to create greater value with less effort by identifying and creating efficiencies. The principle has the chance to restore America to innovative and competitive leadership around the world, and the recession might give it an advantage, McDonnell said. " ...

Via Charleston Regional Business: GE Lean

GE moves beyond Six Sigma to embrace lean manufacturing. ...

GE Locomotive Lean in Transportation Division: "To meet global customer demand and streamline the entire manufacturing process, GE Transportation is studying Toyota and other Lean manufacturing leaders to develop its own production system to manufacture products with less waste, higher quality and higher value to customers than if produced by traditional means. "

GE Locomotive Factory discusses lean adoption.

GE has embedded lean techniques in many business process, including its ecomagination initiative. ...

ecomagination Report (PDF): "GE’s GHG avoidance work at GE Aviation’s outdoor aircraft engine test facility in Peebles, Ohio, where the production team used Lean manufacturing techniques to change its processes to reduce GHG emissions per engine test conducted. "


Talent recruiting and hiring at GE has placed an emphasis on lean experience and implementation. ...

GE Lean Manufacturing Engineer job: "The engineer will work with the manufacturing team to implement strategic changes to the design of locomotive cooling systems. These changes will be necessary to facilitate Lean and Standarization ... "

Point Blank Lean Manufacturing

Point Blank reviews quarterly performance where revenue increases and profitability is challenged. The company is implementing lean manufacturing through its production footprint to drive efficiency and expand margins. ...

... "We're working quickly to streamline our cost structure, implement lean manufacturing throughout our production facilities and become more efficient in what we do. There are a number of large body armor awards anticipated in the second half of the year and we're positioned as well as anyone in the industry, but we have to manage our business in the event there are downturns within any market segment, and further diversify our sales. " ...

Via Point Blank Solutions: First Quarter Results

Dr. Pepper Snapple Lean Six Sigma through Productivity Office

President and CEO Larry Young discusses the company's performance and the impact achieved from Lean Six Sigma at the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. ...

... "Our productivity office and Lean Six Sigma initiatives are providing the funding and process to implement ongoing efficiency programs, and new packaging technology is allowing us to get more out of the same assets. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Earnings Call

Business Process Improvement through Collaboration and Information

IBM sees opportunity to transform business processes and create a more agile, dynamic enterprise through workforce collaboration and responsive business intelligence. It has aligned a set of its products and services to enable clients to close these gaps in business performance. ...

... "By improving collaboration between people and transforming business processes that are critical to success, organizations can become more agile and responsive to rapidly changing market conditions and better able to pursue new revenue opportunities. Inefficient business processes and barriers to collaboration can hamper business success, especially in a challenging economic environment. " ...

Via IBM: Leadership in Business Process Transformation

Six Sigma Solution Center Improves Process Variance

Supportsoft management discusses quarterly results and provides insight into the company's internal effort, including the use of Six Sigma to reduce variability in service processes provided to clients from their solution centers. ...

... "In the solution center, key improvements included the following: Establishment of a dual crew of agents who intervene to resolve long calls and identify common issues that lengthen handle times; implementation of skill-based driving to ensure services are directed to properly skilled agents, and launch of a Six Sigma style initiative to identify and resolve process variances and inefficiencies. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: SupportSoft Earnings Call

Intricon Lean Six Sigma Efficiency Program

IntriCon Corporation reports its quarterly results which have eroded due to the challenging business cycle. The company is committed to leveraging lean manufacturing and Six Sigma to drive efficiencies and improve margins. ...

... "Company wide, 2009 first-quarter gross margins were 17.8 percent, compared to 23.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. The decline was primarily due to lower sales levels combined with a lower-margin product mix. While medical sales carry a higher margin, increases were not enough to offset lower volumes in other businesses. To improve efficiency, IntriCon continues to introduce Six Sigma lean manufacturing methods across its business - successfully rolling it out in various medical and hearing health product lines. " ...

Via Intricon: Quarterly Results

Peavey Lean Manufacturing Initiative

Peavey Electronics initiates a company-wide Lean initiative that will drive operational efficiency across 33 facilities and strengthen the company's competitive position globally. The initiative will be staffed by an internal team that will address waste in the company's business processes and streamline the flow of work. ...

... "Lean manufacturing is a philosophy of maximizing efficiency within an organization. Although the movement first gained traction under the term Lean in the 1990s, the roots of Lean date to Henry Ford, and later, Toyota. Courtland Gray, Chief Operating Officer of Peavey Electronics, said that Peavey must refine its business model in order to position the company for continued growth. Peavey's Lean program is part of a massive, multi-million dollar reinvestment that Peavey Electronics has made in its infrastructure just since 2008, including a new ERP computer network to streamline the flow of information, enhance communication and unify its global affiliates. With this next phase, Gray said that Peavey employees hold the key to the company's future. " ...

Via Peavey: Lean Manufacturing Initiative Launched

Lean Manufacturing Requires Shop Floor Visibility

In order to operate in a lean mode, factories of the future will rely on automated data collection and shop floor visibility to sense and respond effectively to events that could lead to inefficiency or waste. ...

... "Any Lean manufacturer in order to realize wasteful use of resources and to create more value for the customer, needs an in-depth knowledge of various activities on the shop floor. " ...

Via PCQuest: Factory Future State Vision

Sensors Decrease Logistics Bottlenecks

Ringnes, Norway brewer, implements IBM sensor technology to improve visibility in its logistics processes to lower bottlenecks and increase operational efficiency. ...

... "The IBM system is helping Ringnes to reduce costs and make more timely deliveries. Employees in the Ringnes Oslo facility are now able to access a complete view of the trucks and containers inside the shipping and receiving terminal, as well as their load status. Ringnes can quickly determine whether a trailer or container is on or off site, how long it was parked at the facility, and when it was loaded, unloaded, and driven away. In addition, the brewery can quickly spot and resolve bottlenecks in its logistics operations and address them in order to speed deliveries. " ...

Via IBM: Norway Brewery Reduces Bottlenecks in Logistics Operations

Cardinal Health Lean Value Stream

Cardinal Health introduces new products and services that will improve patient safety and operational efficiency in hospital operating rooms, including lean six sigma consulting services for customers. ...

... "The new Value Stream Mapping service uses Lean Six Sigma methodology to help guide hospitals toward increased efficiency by identifying bottle necks within their current processes, material and information flows. Through collaborative communication and systematic evaluation, hospitals can visualize and analyze areas with costly waste and delays, and create blueprints for process improvements using additional Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques. Cardinal Health helps facilitate these process improvements leading to reduced costs, streamlined workflows, diminished cycle times, increased revenue streams and improved patient and employee satisfaction. " ...

Via Cardinal Health: The Operating Room

Clariant Lean Six Sigma Excellence

Clariant confronts its decline in demand and profitability with a program based on Lean and Six Sigma methods to drive margin improvements. ...

... "former Hoechst man Kottmann, who took up the reins four months ago, highlighted further cost saving efforts to be initiated under the Clariant Excellence banner. This will focus on a Lean Sigma regime, a combination, he explained, of Six Sigma statistical process control and Japanese influenced lean manufacturing techniques. " ...

Via Plastics and Rubber Weekly: Clariant Efficiency Program

Six Sigma Market Differentiation

Competitors jockey for market position in the real estate market as leaders tout Six Sigma methods as a talent differentiator. ...

... "In addition, we have added a consulting department of Six Sigma black belts from places like FedEx, and they augment the strategy in the areas of workplace efficiency and utilization plus logistics. " ...

Via New York Observer: Market Performance

Lean Is Easy to Grasp

While the concept of lean is easy to grasp, implementing it is a journey. Industry has yet to fully leverage its benefits. ...

... "At its most fundamental level, a lean approach to manufacturing entails just what you'd expect: stripping away the excess. Going lean means cutting costs and boosting efficiency at every stage of the manufacturing process. " ...

Via DC Velocity: Lean up your act

NBC Six Sigma Retooling

NBC is using Six Sigma to improve its processes in the TV network space and has positioned itself for a transformation versus its peers. ...

... "they are clearly retooling NBC in the Six Sigma spirit that parent General Electric pioneered - streamlining, cutting costs, and maximizing efficiency in every minute aspect of their production and distribution processes. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: TV Networks

Lean Six Sigma Integration

Paper industry stalwart adopts Lean and Six Sigma to transform its performance as it navigates challenging business conditions. ...

... "As part of its integration, NewPage announced in January it would adopt Lean Six Sigma manufacturing techniques, designed to incorporate both efficiency and quality." ...

Via Wausau Daily Herald: Company Change in Paper Industry

Government Efficiency throughSix Sigma

Vernon County looks to Six Sigma in an effort to create efficiency and improve local government services. ...

... "Local efficiency consultant Joel Turino has made presentations to the committee and the human services department about how the Six Sigma process has been used by various units of government to become more efficient. " ...

Via Vernon Broadcaster: County savings

Google Six Sigma Efficiency

Google embraces efficiency strategies to leverage its maturing growth rates to the bottom line. New CFO bring Six Sigma mentality to the process. ...

... "Google recently hired a new chief financial officer, Patrick Pichette. Trained in Six Sigma management practices -- a rigid quality-control system designed to eliminate waste -- Mr. Pichette is looking to reduce inefficiencies and delay spending when possible. " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Google Plans for Tough Times

Flexible Manufacturing with Efficient Parts Consolidation

New Honda facility in Indiana incorporates flexible manufacturing and efficiency capabilities on day one. ...

... "Yuzo Uenohara, president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, was joined in driving the first Honda Civic off the HMIN assembly line by three Honda associates: Daphna Tubbs of Greensburg, Willard Jones of Indianapolis, and Pam Manis of Sunman. The Greensburg facility reflects Honda's growing reputation for flexible and efficient auto manufacturing. It is Honda's fifth U.S. plant designed as a zero waste-to-landfill facility and will be the first Honda facility to feature an on-site parts consolidation center that is helping increase efficiency while reducing vehicle emissions and costs related to transportation and parts handling. " ...

Via Honda: Indiana Auto Plant

Efficient Manufacturing Cell with Automation

Dell Lean Discussed

Lean Manufacturing in Health Care

Healthcare challenges are taking a back seat to economic problems. Meanwhile, exemplars in the healthcare industry are embracing improvement methods, such as lean manufacturing, to drive competitive advantage. ...

... "Weller admires initiatives implemented by ThedaCare to take lean manufacturing methods, which stress efficiency, to reduce costs. In about six years, through streamlining and adopting a model of continuous improvement, ThedaCare has saved $27 million the past three years and a 5 percent improvement in productivity. " ...

Via Appleton Post-Crescent: Health care fixes

Six Sigma Sustainability Impact

Caterpillar's Six Sigma competence is leveraged to drive sustainability goals. ...

... "Projects implemented by Six Sigma teams focused on heating efficiency, more efficient lighting and control of equipment and can be replicated across the globe at Caterpillar facilities ... " ...

Via Reliable Plant: Six Sigma at Caterpillar

Why Do Six Sigma?: "Caterpillar, a Fortune 100 company located in Peoria, had adopted Six Sigma in 2001 and introduced it to its vendors. "

Six Sigma Benefits Exceed Expectations

Benefits are accelerating in Six Sigma government implementation. ...

... "Deputy County Executive Al Hammonds said the program will have met that goal, and then some, by years-end. " ...

Via wgrz Buffalo: Erie County Six Sigma

Erie County: "Al Hammonds is currently the Director of Six Sigma, a position that was created in January through an efficiency grant from New York State. The key initiative of the Collins' administration, Six Sigma is being implemented in county departments to help cut waste and drive efficiency. "

Lean Supply Chain Presentation

Local presentation will explore the use of lean principles and Six Sigma discipline in the supply chain to drive improvements that increase customer service and improve efficiencies. ...

... "Robert Burke will present Lean Six Sigma in the Supply Chain, a program on how to use supply chain management, lean manufacturing, and six sigma methodologies to deliver superior customer service. " ...

Via Nashuatelegraph: Business Calendar

Six Sigma Project

Town implements efficiency improvements using Six Sigma ...

... "After a Six Sigma Project, which was led by a citizen volunteer, a new business system was added that mechanized purchase order placement, integrates the town systems and provides timely financial reports. " ...

Via Stoneham Sun: New System

IBM Lean Six Sigma is Green

IBM synthesizes lean principles into its energy efficiency services to create Green Sigma consulting. ...

... "IBM's Green Sigma consulting offering is based on Lean Six Sigma, a business strategy for carefully analyzing operations to improve overall efficiency, lower costs, increase quality, and add, change or eliminate activities and processes to improve overall performance. IBM's Green Sigma consulting offering is based on Lean Six Sigma, a business strategy for carefully analyzing operations to improve overall efficiency, lower costs, increase quality, and add, change or eliminate activities and processes to improve overall performance. " ...

Via IBM: A Measured Approach to Going Green: IBM Green Sigma Consulting Offering to Help Clients Reduce Energy and Water Usage

Kaizen Lean Energy Practice

Consulting firm, TBM Consulting, offers services in Lean Energy Efficiency, that leverage kaizen events to identify sources of energy waste to drive savings. ...

... "The $51 million (Rs 200 crore) revenue company monitors energy flows and holds kaizen events to spot waste and change processes to cut energy costs, Sharma said. Lean energy practices are different from what energy audit companies do, he said. " ...

Via Sify: TBM Consulting launches lean energy practice

Lean 5S in Workplace

Sportscar manufacturer adopts lean principles to improve quality and efficiency. ...

... "The programme began earlier this year with a consultant-run workshop on using the 5S principles in the workplace. " ...

Via Works Management: Westfield Embraces Lean

Department of Defense Lean Six Sigma Software Enabler

The U.S. military standardizes on Minitab statistical software to support its implementation of quality improvement methods using Lean Six Sigma. ...

... "Since the U.S. Army deployed Lean Six Sigma in 2005, nearly 2,000 personnel have been trained, more than 1,000 projects have been completed, and more than 1,600 remain active. The Army credits these projects with achieving nearly $2 billion in savings so far. The Department of the Navy has trained more than 5,000 sailors and Marines as Six Sigma green or black belts since 2006. The Navy estimates savings from its projects for 2006 and 2007 to be $450 million, a 4-to-1 return on investment. The U.S. Air Force has trained more than 500 Six Sigma belts, and its Air Logistics Centers received two Shingo Prizes for quality improvement last year. The Air Force has committed to a 40,000-manpower reduction without impairing its operational capabilities due in part to efficiencies gained from its initiatives. " ...

Via Minitab: Minitab quality improvement software

Six Sigma Energy Savings

Six Sigma projects focused on energy reduction deliver operational cost savings and reduces an enterprise's carbon footprint. ...

... "Project recommendations from a Six Sigma study demonstrated that the overall costs of using demineralized water could be cut significantly. The study points to detection and repair of faults associated with steam and water analysis systems, problem valves, vacuum pump overflow, and other issues. " ...

Via Science Daily: Save Energy

Huttig Lean Manufacturing Initiative

Huttig Building Products reports net loss of $9.8 million for the 2008 first quarter compared to a net loss of $3.4 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Net sales also declined by 25%, as the company adjusts its business strategy to seek efficiencies and conserve capital through lean methods. ...

... "Looking ahead, Huttig is implementing a LEAN manufacturing initiative to identify additional opportunities to improve production and operational efficiencies. The Company is also intensifying its efforts to sell slower moving inventory to free up capital and reduce debt. " ...

Via Huttig Building Products: First Quarter 2008 Results

Laboratory Six Sigma

Hospital laboratory uses Six Sigma to drive its efficiency initiative. Cycle times for testing are decreasing. ...

... "The lab is also using the principles of Six Sigma, a system meant to help companies eliminate defects that has been embraced by General Electric and other manufacturers. " ...

Via The StarPhoenix: Saskatoon Health Region

Lean Facility Design

New Atlanta manufacturing facility incorporates a lean design for streamlined workflow. ...

... "At 52,500 square feet, the site will accommodate solvent, water and paste manufacturing. The Lean Manufacturing design ensures an efficient workflow and maximized quality control. " ...

Via Graphics Art Online: Flint Group Invests $2 million in New Inks Facility

Global Competition through Lean Manufacturing

Small manufacturing firs turn to lean techniques to increase their global competitiveness. ...

... "Quabaug and Mar-Lee, which each compete against lower-cost areas like China, streamlined their methods of operation to become more efficient and handle changing customer needs. Their use of so-called lean manufacturing and innovation puts them on the forefront of next-generation manufacturing ... " ...

Via Worcester Telegram: Next Gen Manufacturing Competes Globally

Healthcare Delivery Uses Lean Manufacturing Techniques

Medical center stays relevant in its industry through leadership commitment and management techniques, such as lean manufacturing. ...

... "For about four years, ThedaCare has incorporated methods based on lean manufacturing or efficiency principles into its care delivery procedures. " ...

Via Oshkosh Northwestern: Medical Center

Six Sigma Military Efficiency is Financially Tangible

Six Sigma project targets military travel and reduces the processing cycle time. ...

... "Nguyen and Atkison-Clark said the plan to decrease travel voucher paperwork was initiated under the Lean Six Sigma program to improve fiscal military efficiency. " ...

Via Leavenworth Lamp: Travel Streamlined

Lean SixSigma Military Career Path

Military commander brings Lean Six Sigma background to new assignment. ...

... "While serving as the wing maintenance officer, he developed and implemented the Consolidated Maintenance Organization (CMO) Pilot Demonstration, consolidating all squadron, maintenance and squadron aircraft under CPRW-11 while implementing Lean/Six Sigma practices within Wing Organizational Level Aircraft Maintenance. " ...

Via Dowagiac Daily News: Commander

S&OP Smooths Out Lean

The case is made for pairing sales and operations planning, or S&OP, with lean manufacturing processes, such that efficient process can respond quickly and flexibly to dynamic demand in the supply chain. ...

... "They want exactly what they ordered and they want it now. Thus these producers need the very best process they can get to identify shifts in demand quickly and to realign production volumes with those shifts. " ...

Via Supply Chain Digest: S&OP and Lean Manufacturing

Aerospace Lean Six Sigma

Aerospace company satisfies its customers' expectations using a foundation of Lean Six Sigma to enable it to deliver. ...

... "Rouleau has also implemented the Lean Six Sigma system, which in the business world means the company looks to improve efficiency, reduce cost and improve customer relations. " ...

Via Hudson Star-Observer: Airworthy Aerospace

Six Sigma Reward System Scales With Benefits

Fort Leavenworth responds to Six Sigma adoption barriers with a scalable reward system. ...

... "So, the Garrison's Lean Six Sigma Tiger Team formulated a reward system for civilian, military and contract employees. The reward corresponds with the success of the idea. " ...

Via Leavenworth Lamp: Incentives

Six Sigma Differentiation for Bank

Kenneth Lewis, Bank of America CEO, uses Six Sigma methodology to drive efficiencies and improve customer service. ...

... "He stepped up an unorthodox plan to implement the Six Sigma methodology that manufacturers use to minimize errors. Over his tenure, Bank of America's annual revenue has more than doubled to more than $74 billion. " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Bank CEO Perspectives

Travel Management Efficiency Through Six Sigma

Travel manager uses Six Sigma to drive efficiencies in the travel management process and reduce overall travel costs. ...

... "Using the Six Sigma analytical process, Kelliher determined that these cancellations and exchanges were significantly bulking up Dominion's air costs. " ...

Via Business Travel News: 2007 Travel Manager Of The Year

Lean Minimizes Capital for Automation

Lean principles are discussed to maximize the efficiency of complex manufacturing processes. ...

... "Lean techniques are also worthy of investigation because they eliminate large capital outlays for dedicated machinery until automation becomes absolutely necessary. " ...

Via Electronics Supply & Manufacturing: Principles of lean manufacturing

Healthcare Cost Efficiency Using Lean Six Sigma

Hospitals see Lean methods as answer to rising costs. ...

... "We have a process called Lean Six Sigma, she said. Basically we look at hospital processes to see where we can improve quality by becoming more efficient. " ...

Via Cumberland Times: Hospital Costs

Boeing Dreamliner Lean Process

Boeing San Antonio will support the Dreamliner after launch with modification. ...

... "We've become successful in eliminating waste through lean manufacturing processes, she says. We've implemented a lot of procedures to make it efficient or cost-efficient (to keep planes operational). " ...

Via San Antonio Business Journal: Boeing Dreamliner

SixSigma Political Platform For Government Efficiency

Prospective government leaders see sustaining Six Sigma as part of their platform. ...

... "He said he would continue business practices started by Richard, including Six Sigma, and will be able to help the many city departments run efficiently. " ...

Via Fort Wayne Indiana Journal Gazette: City Politics

Value Engineering Award to Northrop Grumman For Lean Principles

Northrop Grumman is selected by U.S. Department of Defense to receive its Value Engineering Achievement award for innovative productivity improvements, that leverage the principles of Lean Six Sigma. ...

... "Value Engineering, developed in the 1940s at General Electric Co., is a systematic process widely used in government and industry to identify actions that improve performance, reliability, quality, safety and life cycle costs. The Defense Department said a total of 3,473 government and contractor-initiated proposals were accepted during fiscal year 2006 with projected savings/cost avoidance in excess of $1.6 billion. Northrop Grumman was nominated for its Value Engineering Achievement award by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), which cited the implementation of Six Sigma and Lean principles at the company's Integrated Systems sector. According to the DCMA nomination, Northrop Grumman's implementation of these initiatives has been increasingly reducing costs, improving quality, enhancing effectiveness and increasing efficiency throughout the enterprise and on Defense Department weapon system acquisition contracts and services. The 2006 Defense Department Value Engineering awards will be presented May 16, 2007 at the Pentagon. " ...

Via Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman to Receive U.S. Department of Defense Value Engineering Award for Improving Productivity