Predictive Equipment Maintenance

Sikorsky Aircraft, leader in design and manufacture of advanced helicopters, will use SPSS Predictive Analytics software to predict maintenance needs driving customer satisfaction and aircraft safety in its helicopter fleets. ...

... "Sikorsky offers customers various maintenance assurance programs to help improve aircraft availability and operate their fleet at a known cost. Included in this offering is the Total Assurance Program (TAP), covering up to 98 percent of costs related to parts and services. The organization sought a software solution to help identify and predict equipment maintenance for helicopter customers, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction. Sikorsky selected SPSS Predictive Analytics text mining and data mining software and its Predictive Analytics enterprise-wide enabling platform to analyze helicopter and pilot data collected by the aircraft health and usage monitoring system and flight maintenance log records. " ...

Via SPSS: Predictive Analytics

UPDATE 4/28/2008: Here's another example of company that uses service innovation to drive customer differentiation: Rolls Royce. ...

Service Innovation: "Spohrer says he was told at a meeting, don't buy the engines. Instead, they buy a service level agreement and a service, so that every time a plane lands Rolls Royce technicians work to improve the engine's performance from a command centre that knows where all the engines are and at what altitude."

Nordam Group Lean Six Sigma Journey

Nordam Group continues its journey applying Lean Six Sigma by levarging its talent. ...

... "In the last two years, NORDAM has introduced Six Sigma and LEAN principles throughout its businesses to maximize efficiency in manufacturing and repair processes. Since, 13 stakeholders have successfully completed training projects and are now certified Six Sigma black belts. The team of expert problem solvers and process improvement leaders have completed or initiated 50 Six Sigma and LEAN programs companywide. Gardner is the second full-time black belt at NORDAM Transparency. " ...

Via Nordam Group: Six Sigma Coordination Role

Lean Manufacturing Enables Xerium Growth Program

Global manufacturing company, Xerium Tech, supports the paper production industry with products and reports its financial results. It is executing a turnaround plan that includes lean manufacturing to lay the operational efficiency foundation for its strategic growth plan. ...

... "These growth program costs for the year ended December 31, 2007 include expenses incurred for our lean manufacturing initiatives, expansion into Vietnam and other growth programs. " ...

Via Xerium Technologies: Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2007 Results

Six Sigma Pilot Approved

County approves investment in Six Sigma improvement. ...

... "Erie County Control Board's finance committee making recommendations to approve $120,000 for a pilot version of the Six Sigma program. " ...

Via WBEN: Pilot Six Sigma Recommended

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Course Starts February

Forsyth Tech offers Six Sigma Black Belt certification starting in February. ...

... "the college's corporate and continuing education is offering a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Program. Successful completion of this 105-hour program provides a black-belt certification from Forsyth Tech and QMA Inc. " ...

Via Winston-Salem Journal: Business Calendar

Contract Manages Lean Six Sigma Support

Naval Sea Systems Command has extended contract with Alion Science and Technology, to provide acquisition management support to its Program Executive Office, including support of Lean Six Sigma efforts. ...

... "The option, which runs from June 1, 2007 through June 6, 2008, covers ship project directive (SPD) execution planning and financial execution; government furnished equipment (GFE) acquisition, delivery management and production management; configuration management; program management and Lean Six Sigma support; and business and financial planning. The contract runs for a total of five years, including a one-year base period and four, one-year options. The total value of the contract, if all options are exercised, is $33 million. " ...

Via Alion: Contract Option to Support Navy's Program Executive Office

Motorola SixSigma Leader Speaks This Week

Motorola Six Sigma program manager to speak this week. ...

... "Burford will explain how the company improved the new product demand to order conversion with Six Sigma methods. " ...

Via Racine Journal Times: Six Sigma Meeting This Thursday

Workforce Involvement in Lean Six Sigma Program

Army base involves civilian workers in their Lean Six Sigma program. ...

... "The Lean Six Sigma process allows workers to identify paperwork, standard operating procedures and bureaucratic waste that undercuts customer service and makes jobs harder to do, he said. " ...

Via Stars & Stripes: Involving Workers in Eliminating Waste through Lean Six Sigma

Select Continuous Improvement Program to Compete Globally

Embrace continuous improvement to compete effectively in your industry and marketplace. Be prepared to staff a program management office and support the culture change necessary for a lean manufacturing or Six Sigma journey. Business process focus comes first. But, software systems can support change, automation, reduction of manual efforts. ...

... "Six Sigma uses statistical analysis to reduce variation. By reducing variation, the probability of producing a defect is less. " ...

Via IndustryWeek: Which Continuous Improvement Program Is Appropriate For Your Enterprise?