Six Sigma Shift Happens

WSJ article confronts the challenge of implementing Six Sigma without a continuous improvement culture. Shift happens. Which usually results in back-slide of performance. A robust control phase, in the DMAIC process, should work to sustain the achieved performance level and proactively identify shifts before its impacts the process. ...

... "one aerospace company that implemented more than 100 improvement projects, only to determine less than two years later that more than half had failed to generate lasting gains. " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Six Sigma Failure

Lean Six Sigma Project Challenges

Six Sigma discipline takes time to adopt and perfect. A more holistic approach to process improvement may be needed to position Six Sigma and lean properly. ...

... "There is rising concern across multiple industry sectors regarding the failure of many internally led 6s / lean projects, so much so that we must explore why so many initiatives do not reach their desired results ... " ...

Via Supply and Demand Chain: What Went Wrong?

Failure Analysis in Six Sigma Methods

Dyadem enables Maidstone to analyze its failure modes, eliminate root causes, improve quality, and operate efficiently.

... "Maidstone has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars through the use of Six Sigma methodology and Dyadem's FMEA Pro-7 Risk Management Software -- commonly used to improve quality in manufacturing but rarely seen in the consumer products sector. Maidstone produces more than 60 million donuts per week and wanted to ensure top quality while making sure its production operations were as efficient as possible. Dyadem has helped Maidstone significantly reduce costs while improving quality at its 400,000 square foot facility in Brantford, Ontario. " ...

Via Dyadem: Product Failure Analysis Software

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

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