Lean Six Sigma: What Are Six Sigma and Lean Thinking, and Why Should I Care?
Six Sigma continues to be a hot topic for many companies. In fact, many professionals may already be involved in or are thinking about Six Sigma. In addition, a new concept called Lean Thinking is emerging—but what are Six Sigma and Lean Thinking? Are they separate ideas or can they be combined? What are the latest ideas in deploying these concepts, and what can you do to immediately apply them at your job?
James A. Stahley, Ph.D., is chairman of business and management, School of Management, Walden University. In this capacity, he is responsible for directing the undergraduate business administration, M.B.A., and select doctoral programs at Walden University. Stahley is an acknowledged expert in total quality, business excellence, leadership, and organizational change, and has spoken on these concepts with audiences around the world. He is a past co-chairman of the National Performance Excellence Council of the Conference Board and is a senior member of the American Society of Quality. Stahley earned a Ph.D. in applied management and decision science from Walden University, an M.S. in engineering from the University of Alabama, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
Founded in 1944, the CPCU Society’s mission is to "meet the career development needs of a diverse membership of professionals who have earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designation, so that they may serve others in a competent and ethical manner." CPCUs who join the Society take their commitment to ethical behavior one step further by agreeing to be bound to an enforceable Code of Ethics and pledging the CPCU Society Creed. CPCUs also join the Society to take advantage of continuing education, networking, and other skill development opportunities, such as leadership training, public speaking, job enhancement, change management, and career building. CPCUs also work to spread the message about the value of the CPCU designation to the industry and the public through consumer education efforts and campaigns. Members may also interact on a local level by joining one of 154 chapters, or network with other CPCUs who share their same area of professional expertise by joining one of 14 special interest sections. Located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, the CPCU Society is governed by volunteer leadership, including a board of 36 governors, five executive committee members, and two ex officio members. Staff resources include more than 30 association professionals in the areas of administration, communications and marketing services, continuing education, finance, meeting services, member and professional services, and the member resource center.
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