Process Excellence

Factory within Factory Model at Littelfuse

Littelfuse team is recognized by ASQ for its achievements in product performance, quality, handling, process efficiency, and financial results. The team focused resources and floorspace to improving its fuses. ...

... "The American Society for Quality (ASQ), sponsor of the competition, recognized the team for its application of Lean/Six Sigma methodology to eliminate the chance of loose caps in square nano fuses. The Littelfuse team demonstrated how it leveraged its factory within a factory model and applied an arsenal of quality tools to reduce chemical handling, improve cap-retention strength by 166 percent, reduce cycle time by 52 percent and trim manufacturing costs by 9 percent. " ...

Via Littelfuse: ASQ Honors for Lean/Six Sigma

Supplier Quality Recognition

GM recognizes 99 suppliers for their performance. Many are repeat performers. ...

... "The award recognizes the significant contributions of GM's suppliers in 2008 as part of the company's global product and performance achievements. The Supplier of the Year program started in 1992, and each year a global team of purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives determines the winners. The decisions are based on supplier performance in the areas of quality, service, technology and price. " ...

Via GM: Best Global Suppliers

Masco Six Sigma Recognition

Masco leaders discuss the company's operational excellence program and industry recognition for its achievements and talent. ...

... "We have won a Shingo Prize in the past and most recently, the Masco Builder Cabinet Group President Karen Strauss has been named the Sixth Sigma CEO of the year by Global Six Sigma Award and Karen will be accepting that award on June 24th at the Summit in Chicago ... " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Masco Corporation Earnings Call

Jalisco Quality Recognition for Healthcare Mexican Operations

Mexico has awarded Carestream Health's Guadalajara, Mexico operations with a Jalisco Quality Award, the equivalent of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in the United States. ...

... "This prestigious award is the culmination of a rigorous yearlong process in which the company’s Guadalajara-based business practices were intensely reviewed against demanding standards. Criteria for the award include competitiveness, leadership, strategic alliances, business results and sustainability. " ...

Via Carestream Healthcare: Mexico Jalisco Quality Award

JAKKS is Walmart Vendor of the Year

JAKKS Pacific is recognized by Walmart as its Vendor of the Year for a second time. ...

... "Berman continued, The WalMart Vendor of the Year Award is about excellence in all areas of business and we strive to exemplify all the qualities that are key to making our business a success - professionalism in service, on-time shipping, and consistently high quality products. We look forward to working with Wal-Mart for many years to come. " ...

Via JAKKS Pacific: Vendor of the Year by WalMart

Ecolab Lean Six Sigma Leadership

Ecolab is recognized with Lean Six Sigma award for its deployment work. ...

... "Ecolab created significant momentum and sustainability in our Lean Six Sigma deployment, said Jeff Burt, Vice President & Global Deployment Leader for Lean Six Sigma at Ecolab. Extensive upfront planning, combined with a high level of executive engagement has created a successful launch of our LSS program. It has also created strong leadership and talent development opportunities for our associates, as well as a culture that continues to support our efforts to streamline operations while maintaining a strong customer focus. " ...

Via Ecolab: Lean Six Sigma Award for Successful Deployment Efforts

Six Sigma Pros Are Satisfied at Vought

Vought Aircraft's experience with lean strategies and Six Sigma, through its Vought Operating System, creates an environment that satisfies the career needs of Six Sigma professionals. The company is recognized as ranking No. 2 on the Top 10 list of Best Places to Work for Six Sigma pros. ...

... "Companies were ranked by totaling the scores from the two surveys. The greatest weight was given to the employee portion, which asked questions in five main categories: job satisfaction, culture, compensation/rewards and recognition, training and career development, and net promoter score (NPS). Of these categories, job satisfaction was weighted as being the most important. In just two years, 209 Vought employees have completed the Six Sigma green belt training, with 77 receiving certification. Twenty-three employees went on to become black belts. Projected savings of all black and green belt projects combined exceeds $25 million. " ...

Via Vought Aircraft: Second in Nation for Six Sigma Professionals


Vought Corsair ...

Toyota Supplier Performance Award

Toyota recognizes its suppliers to keep quality moving forward constantly. ...

... "Autoliv was awarded with the Superior Performance Award for its continuous efforts in reengineering of existing products and shifting of production to low cost countries. This distinction, the highest of its kind, which Toyota awards to its suppliers, was received by Benoit Marsaud, COO and President of Autoliv Europe, during Toyota Motor Europe's annual supplier conference in Brussels. " ...

Via Autoliv Inc: Superior Performance Award from Toyota

SixSigma Excellence

Satyam BPO is recognized for its performance and commitment to quality and excellence. ...

... "Satyam BPO won two prestigious Six Sigma IQ Excellence Awards. Satyam BPO was honored in the Best Defect Elimination in Service & Transaction and Best Design for Six Sigma categories. The International Quality and Productivity Center established the Six Sigma IQ Excellence Awards to honor, recognize and promote Six Sigma projects that demonstrate true best practices. Satyam BPO was presented the awards at a ceremony held during the 9th Asian Six Sigma Summit in Singapore. " ...

Via Satyam: Six Sigma IQ Excellence Honors

SixSigma Best Project of the Year

Cessna employee is recognized for significant achievement on Six Sigma project. ...

... "Shane Cameron was awarded the 2008 Best Project of the Year Award on June 19 in Orlando, Fla. Shane works for Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., as a Six Sigma Black Belt. ... Shane's idea saved Cessna $10.2 million in one year. " ...

Via Examiner-Enterprise: Cessna

Executive Sponsorship of Six Sigma Education

Company CEO publicly recognizes his employees on their achievements in Six Sigma. ...

... "Batelco Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropoulos congratulated and rewarded 10 employees who have been certified as Six Sigma Black Belts, following their successful completion of the required professional training, through Juran Institute, USA. " ...

Via Batelco: Employee Recognition

Demand Flow Technology

GE exec recognized for his leadership ...

... "One of Noonan's lasting legacies was his focus on Lean Manufacturing, known in the 1990s as Demand Flow Technology. He was particularly adept at championing the implementation of state-of-the-art technology that drove continuous improvements. " ...

Via Eagle Tribune: Business briefs

Six Sigma Manufacturing Excellence Recognized

The Indianapolis, Indiana based plant of General Cable is recognized for its manufacturing excellence across multiple dimensions. The company culture built on a foundation of principles and uses lean and Six Sigma methods to eliminate waste and defects. ...

... "General Cable was chosen out of 32 companies, who were actually chosen out of 165 other facilities across North America who were nominated as leaders in their industries. " ...

Via Terra Haute Tribune Star: Best Plant in America

Safety, Technology, and Lean Differentiates Manufacturing Operation

Secretaria de Economia recognizes Andrew Corporation's Reynosa, Mexico operations with a prestigious Industry of the Year Award for 2007 for its manufacturing leadership based on lean principles. ...

... "Andrew was selected for the strong employment opportunities that it offers the community and the company's ongoing employee training and development initiatives, which exceed government requirements. The company also was cited for its efforts to make Andrew a safe place to work, continued technology advances, and practices such as lean manufacturing that contribute to an efficient and competitive work environment. Andrew opened its Reynosa operations in 2003. Today the facility manufactures a broad range of antenna products that include terrestrial microwave, base station, and earth station antennas, along with variety of cable products. " ...

Via Andrew: Reynosa, Mexico Operations Named 2007 Industry of the Year

Quality Award for Army Center

Army engineering center is recognized for its Lean Six Sigma achievements with a Malcolm Baldrige Award. ...

... "Rowland said ARDEC had competed in the President's Quality Award process and used that as an incentive for implementing management programs like Total Quality Management and Lean Six Sigma. Donelle Denery, who manages ARDEC's performance excellence programs, said the agency was able to promote new management programs by getting almost total participation from managers. " ...

Via Government Executive: Army Quality

Via ARDEC: Malcolm Baldrige Award: "The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center here today became the first Department of Defense organization in history selected to receive the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. President George W. Bush and Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced ARDEC's selection this morning in a joint news release. "

Six Sigma Improves Education Quality

University professors use Six Sigma techniques to improve the math placement process so that first-year math course assignments better match student's abilities. Their efforts have been recognized with an award. ...

... "Math professors Carl Lee and James Angelos presented the Six Sigma project at the National Quality Education Conference in St. Louis held Nov. 10 through 13. Judges evaluated projects using a set of criteria that included analyzing the project's alignment with organizational goals, solution development and implementation, team effectiveness, and the communication and application of project findings. " ...

Via Central Michigan University: Six Sigma Project

Six Sigma Achievement in Process Efficiency is Awarded

ATMI is recognized for its use of Six Sigma to drive growth at the company in its product lifecycle. A number of Six Sigma projects have been deliver with operational efficiency benefits realized. The company was recognized at the Global Six Sigma Awards 2007. ...

... "We are very happy to have our innovative approach to Six Sigma deployment independently validated, as it is a key contributor to continued growth, said Doug Neugold, Chief Executive Officer. This award is based upon our documenting how the tools and methodologies were used to design, develop, and commercialize our RegenSi(tm), AutoClean(tm), and Newmix(r) process efficiency solutions, each of which has the potential to save our customers many millions of dollars by bringing yield, cost, and throughput improvements to their processes, said Tim Carlson, Chief Financial Officer. Since inception, we've completed over 80 internal projects generating more than $20 million of savings for ATMI. " ...

Via ATMI: Best Achievement in Six Sigma

Lean Principles Leadership Culture Empowers Employees

Wisconsin manufacturing company sees success from lean principles. The company's leadership committment creates an empowered culture of continuous improvement. The company will be recognized with a manufacturing award this week. ...

... "Lean manufacturing principles, in combination with our strong leadership culture, have allowed PCMC to flourish. We have created a unique environment based on continuous improvement and employee empowerment ... " ...

Via Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wisconsin Manufacturing Success

Lean Manufacturing Excellence Recognition for Medical Diagnostics Company

Ventana Medical Systems is awarded the National Award for Manufacturing Excellence from the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME). The award is in recognition of the utilization of strategies and techniques that improve competitiveness and profitability. ...

... "We are very proud to be the recipient of this award, which places us as a leader in lean systems methodologies regionally, nationally and within the diagnostics industry. Our lean manufacturing initiatives, which are supported by a culture of continuous improvement, are just one of the many ways we strive every day to constantly improve upon quality, productivity and profitability throughout all levels of our global organization. " ...

Via Ventana Medical Systems: Ventana Medical Systems to Receive National Award for Manufacturing Excellence from the AME

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

SixSigma CEO Recognition Goes To

Cummins CEO ...

... "The Global Six Sigma Awards, organized by WCBF, today announced that Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. has been named the winner of its prestigious Six Sigma CEO of the Year Award. " ...

Tim Solso of Cummins Inc. Wins the 2007 Six Sigma CEO of the Year Award

Manufacturing Excellence Recognition

Oracle customers - Avago Technologies, Batesville Casket and Hologic - are recognized for their manufacturing excellence at the third annual Progressive Manufacturing 50 Awards Program, presented by Managing Automation. ...

... "The Progressive Manufacturing 50 Awards Program recognizes 50 companies that have achieved distinction in at least one of the eight core disciplines defined by Managing Automation as critical to business success in the years ahead. These disciplines include: Business Model Mastery, Customer Mastery, Supply Network Mastery, Data & Integration Mastery, Innovation Mastery, Training & Education Mastery, Leadership (new), and Operational Excellence (new). " ...

Via Oracle: 2007 Progressive Manufacturing 50

Kaizen Medical Performance

The NHS changes the way it works to make sure patients always come first, using kaizen methods to engage and empower their workforce. ...

... "Scores of frontline staff were asked to submit their ideas on improving the way the NHS is run under a new lean management scheme. " ...

Via Scotsman: NHS Recognized For Kaizen Approach

Automotive Quality Leader of the Year

American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Richard E. Dauch is recognized by the American Society for Quality, Automotive Division as its 2007 Quality Leader of the Year. ...

... "Providing our customers with exceptional quality products is a top priority at American Axle & Manufacturing. Since AAM was founded in 1994, we have emphasized continuous improvement in our operations utilizing Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and Total Quality Management Systems. Today, we are proud to say that we have achieved an industry-leading 9 PPM as measured by our largest customer. " ...

Via American Axle: Richard E. Dauch Receives Quality Leader Award from ASQ Automotive Division

Toyota Recognizes Kaizen Suppliers

J.B. Hunt is recognized by Toyota as its Large Carrier of the Year for 2006. ...

... "In addition, Toyota scores each carrier on its ability to embrace and culturally implement Kaizen, Toyota's methodology for continuous improvement. J.B. Hunt has taken significant steps to eliminate waste from its own operations and further improve Toyota's supply chain processes by ensuring the production facilities receive the right amount of product at the right time. This is accomplished by utilizing a unique blend of intermodal and traditional truckload movements that provide Toyota with an on-time percentage greater than 99%. " ...

Via Toyota: Toyota Recognizes J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. with the Prestigious 2006 Large Carrier of the Year Award

Award Recognizes Leader of Lean Organization

Company president recognized for lean manufacturing achievements. ...

... "I attribute this recognition to the many Ariens employees who have embraced lean manufacturing in creating a culture of continuous improvement, says Ariens. In the process they have driven the company's annual productivity gains. " ...

Via Lawn & Landscape: Manufacturing Award

Minitab Recognized For Six Sigma in Manufacturing

Minitab is recognized by Frost and Sullivan with its Award for Customer Value Leadership of the Year in the quality compliance, manufacturing productivity and statistical process control market. ...

... "Using the Minitab packages, customers have been able to achieve a greater degree of standardization in their quality improvement projects, which in turn has made these projects easy to supervise and manage. This has minimized the amount of resources required to complete individual projects and saved companies time and money at the overall project level. In addition to reducing costs, Minitab software has enabled project leaders to easily access more information at various crucial stages of a project, allowing them to make more informed decisions. Minitab's wide set of customer services and allied support activities are other competitive advantages that differentiate it from other participants. The company boasts of a strong technical support suite that provides free assistance to its users and helps identify customers' most recent requirements, thereby obtaining their confidence. Minitab's recently released Minitab(R) 15 Statistical Software includes very useful enhancements, such as probability distribution plots, broader Gage R&R capabilities, the ability to attach formulas to columns in the worksheet and the latest reliability methods for forecasting future warranty claims. " ...

Via Frost & Sullivan: Frost & Sullivan Extols Minitab Inc. for Its Ability in Assisting Customers to Make Optimum Utilization of their Resources

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

Moto Malaysia Recognized Six Sigma Knowledge Work

Motorola Technology Sdn Bhd is awarded the Penang Chief Minister's K-ICT Award 2007 for best practices in developing knowledge workers at its manufacturing operations. The Malaysian site has built its workforce on a foundation of Six Sigma quality principles, enabling its employees to transform into knowledge work. ...

... "Through the Knowledge Worker Development Award, Motorola was recognized for its initiatives in promoting effective use of ICT as a tool for its communications and training programmes so as to accomplish key organizational action plans and needs, and develop its employees' potential to achieve the company's objectives. Motorola was able to clinch the prestigious award based on its successful implementation of the Motorola Digital Six Sigma / Quality IQ initiative from 2001 - 2006. Some of the significant results achieved by the implementation of the Motorola Digital Six Sigma/Quality program were the strengthening of its competitiveness, improvements to the overall quality of its business operations, and the transformation of manual labor to become a more knowledge based workforce. In addition, Motorola recorded savings of approximately USD30 million over 230 engineering based projects implemented since 2001. The implementation of Motorola Digital Six Sigma/Quality program has also progressively increased the number of its knowledge workers at various levels from 20% to 46% and generated over 2,300 internal engineering patent submissions that were solutions made in Malaysia.
" ...

Via Motorola Malaysia: Motorola Receives the Prestigious Penang Chief Minister K-ICT Award 2007

Arizona Manufacturers Think Lean

Arizona manufacturing base retools for efficiency, using lean principles to compete globally. Manufacturing leaders are recognized for their performance. ...

... "As a result, many Arizona manufacturers are working on retooling both their staffs and machinery, he said. Now they're thinking in lean manufacturing terms, he said. Is your supply chain moving things efficiently? " ...

Via EastValleyTribune: Arizona Manufacturing

Manufacturing Excellence: Pierce Recognized

Pierce, an Oshkosh subsidiary, is recognized with Wisconsin manufacturer of year award ...

... "In 2006, Pierce opened an $18 million, 130,000-square-foot production facility expansion. The expansion was spurred by strong growth in the fire, rescue and homeland security apparatus industry. The development provides Pierce with additional capacity to meet this growing demand, help enhance quality, reduce lead times for customers, and streamline manufacturing processes in line with the company's lean manufacturing initiative. It also positions the company for future growth opportunities. " ...

Oshkosh Truck Subsidiary, Pierce Manufacturing, Named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year

Boeing Lean Recognition: Continuous Improvement Performance

Boeing's Space and Intelligence Systems division receives California Award for Performance Excellence, Gold Level award in recognition of its high performance in continuous improvement efforts. ...

... "Howard Chambers, S&IS vice president and general manager: S&IS is comprised of several organizations obtained through mergers and acquisitions, and we've made it a priority to merge processes and procedures in order to improve competitiveness and leverage lean manufacturing, six sigma and other initiatives. The Gold award validates that we are on the right path toward overall business excellence and symbolizes our commitment to flawless program execution. " ...

Via Boeing: Boeing Receives Top Award for California Performance Excellence

Leader Recognized: LeanSixSigma Powerful Results

Lean Six Sigma leader recognized for his contributions to quality in the Asia Pacific region. ...

... "Chuck Aubrey, Vice President of Process Management and Lean Six Sigma for Anderson Packaging, Inc., was awarded the prestigious Harrington-Ishikawa Medal at the 12th Annual Asia Pacific Quality Organization Conference held October 17th - 20th in Sydney, Australia. This award was presented to Chuck in recognition of his contribution to the development of quality in the economies of countries in Asia and the Pacific Rim through writing, teaching, and consulting. Chuck was also a keynote speaker at the event. His presentation, Packaging Lean and Six Sigma Together for Powerful Results, highlights how both Anderson Packaging, Inc. and its customers have benefited from a successful Lean Six Sigma program. " ...

Via Anderson Packaging: ANDERSON 100th MEMBER OF CONTRACT PACKAGING ASSOCIATION ...

Government Kaizen Initiative

Local authority uses kaizen methods to improve services and their success is recognized. ...

... "Following recognition at national level, Aberdeenshire Council's Kaizen initiative is now a beacon of excellence across Europe after taking an international award for continuous improvement.

The Aberdeenshire approach on this theme is based on the Kaizen model. Kaizen is a Japanese expression meaning making something as good as it can be and the process engages teams of employees in concentrated blitzes to identify more efficient ways of working. The exercise has been driven by Chief Executive Alan Campbell and his Senior Management Team since 2004, and is supported by facilitators in all of the council services and Kaizen Champion Pat Browne. For each blitz undertaken, a team leader is appointed and in turn selects a team of between 10 and 14 people who are close to the process to be improved. " ...

Via Aberdeenshire Council: Aberdeenshire Blitzes competition to take European award ...

Online Six Sigma Certification ...

Villanova offers online Six Sigma certification. ...

... "Students who complete Villanova University's online Six Sigma program can now earn industry-recognized certification from the university. A comprehensive exam - available for Green Belt, Lean Sensei or Black Belt certification -- is administered completely online, with results available immediately. Villanova is the first university to offer Six Sigma certification online. Certified professionals enjoy instant recognition, credibility and respect for their accomplishment, notes George Eckes, the best-selling Six Sigma author and consultant who teaches the online courses. " ...

Via Villanova University: Villanova University Launches Industry's First Online Six Sigma Certification ...

Lean Manufacturing Medical Firm: Recognized Best Place to Work ...

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. is recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the 2006 Best Places to Work, for creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions and company culture. ...

... "This recognition from the Boston Business Journal is one of four notable awards Aspect Medical has received in 2006. In May, Aspect Medical was named one of the Boston Globe's Top 100 Companies. The Globe 100 ranks the best-performing publicly traded Massachusetts-based corporations using criteria including sales growth, profit, and positive returns for shareholders during 2005. In April, Aspect Medical was awarded the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, hailed as the Nobel Prize for manufacturing by BusinessWeek magazine. Aspect Medical also received the 2006 HR Medallion award in recognition of outstanding human resource practices that support lean manufacturing. One Shingo Prize winner is awarded the HR Medallion each year. Aspect Medical was chosen by demonstrating human resources strategies and programs that improve retention. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Medical Firm: Recognized Best Place to Work: Via Aspect Medical Systems: Aspect Medical Systems Recognized as One of the 2006 Best Places to Work by the Boston Business Journal; Award Follows Recognition as one of Boston Globe's Top 100 Companies ...

SixSigma Recognition: FreudenburgNOK by Ford ...

Freudenburg NOK is recognized by Ford for its innovative use of DFSS Design for Six Sigma in the pre-production process of automotive component manufacturing. ...

... "In honor of the Technology Specialist's quality efforts, Freudenberg-NOK recently received a Recognition of Achievement Award from Ford Motor Co. for its consumer-driven Six Sigma accomplishments. The award is part of the automaker's World Excellence Awards program, which recognizes suppliers who not only achieve the highest levels of cost, quality and delivery, but who also embrace the vision to build Ford's legacy and drive innovation to new heights. The Recognition of Achievement Award, earned by only nine suppliers in 2005, honors suppliers who impact customer satisfaction by providing significant contributions in key designated areas including: environmental leadership, consumer-focused technology and consumer-driven Six Sigma.

Freudenberg-NOK's Advanced Vibration and Acoustics (AVA) group was charged with optimizing the sealing isolation system and the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics for a cam cover design. AVA has developed techniques to synergize sealing and NVH, which are typically opposing phenomena. Utilizing Design for Six Sigma techniques, the Freudenberg-NOK engineering team improved the product pre-production, also optimizing cost savings and increasing customer value. Six Sigma, which focuses on measuring quality and allowing for no more than 3.4 defects per million parts, is one of the pillars of Freudenberg-NOK's Growtth program focused on superior quality, service and productivity. Freudenberg-NOK has 61 Six Sigma black belts on staff and has completed 155 Six Sigma projects to drive superior quality, enhance reliability and help automakers and tier one customers to reduce costs. " ...

Six Sigma Recognition: FreudenburgNOK by Ford: Via Freudenberg-NOK: Freudenberg-NOK Recognized for Six Sigma Achievement by Ford Motor Co ...

Lean Manufacturing: Printer Manufacturer Achieves Success ...

Z Corporation achieves industry recognition for its lean manufacturing implementation. ...

... "Dubbed the Nobel Prize of Manufacturing by BusinessWeek, the Shingo Prize is recognized as one of the premier manufacturing awards and recognition programs in North America for the practice of lean manufacturing, a process that eliminates waste wherever possible. Z Corp. is one of four 2006 Northeast Shingo Prize recipients. Z Corp. employs lean manufacturing tools and techniques such as single-piece flow, customer-driven production, standardized work, kanban systems, and a quality at the source approach to drive improvement efforts. Since 2003, Z Corp.'s lean manufacturing processes have enabled the company to increase factory output by 300 percent, employee productivity by more than 45 percent, and inventory turns by more than 50 percent while maintaining an on-time delivery rate of more than 95 percent.

Z Corp. practices lean manufacturing on multiple levels – first, through our internal achievements and second, by enabling our customers to streamline their own manufacturing cycles, said Mike Vogel, director of operations, Z Corporation. Our lean manufacturing commitment is an integral part of our commitment to helping companies bring better products more quickly to market. Bruce Hamilton, president of GBMP and administrator of the Northeast Shingo Prize, called Z Corp. a model for continuous improvement and world-class results. We congratulate the employees of Z Corp. for making the company a strong, world-class manufacturer in Massachusetts and on a job well done. " ...

Lean Manufacturing: Printer Manufacturer Achieves Success: Via Z Corp: Z Corporation Recognized for Exemplary Lean Manufacturing Achievements ...

Lean Manufacturing Shingo Prize: Raytheon ...

Raytheon units continue their tradition of lean manufacturing excellence through achievement of the Shingo Prize. ...

... "Raytheon Company's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) has demonstrated continued success in manufacturing excellence as two business centers were announced as recipients of the prestigious regional Shingo Prize for excellence in lean manufacturing. Dubbed the Nobel prize of Manufacturing by Business Week, the Shingo Prize is recognized as the premier manufacturing award and recognition program in North America and honors companies that demonstrate a commitment to lean through the implementation and execution of lean manufacturing strategies to drive superior quality, value and enterprise-wide results. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Shingo Prize: Raytheon: Via Raytheon: Two Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Centers Receive Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence ...

TQM Automotive Industry: Deming Recognition ...

TQM Automotive Industry: Deming Recognition: RANE CARVES SUCCESS WITH TQM TOOL (the implementation of TQM has led to 3 companies of the Rane group winning the coveted Deming Prize till now) ...

... "The implementation of TQM has led to 3 companies of the group winning the Deming Prize till now. Rane Brake Lining was the first company in the group to get the Deming Prize in 2003. " ...

Six Sigma IT Organization Recognized ...

Volt's IT organization receives recongnition for application of Six Sigma in the IT organization to drive alignment to company strategy. ...

Six Sigma IT Organization Recognized: Via Volt.com: Volt Information Sciences, Inc. Selected for the InformationWeek 500; Innovative Technology Practices Earn Volt's Place on Listing ...

... "Volt Information Sciences, Inc. and its associated divisions and subsidiaries achieved recognition for Corporate technology initiatives, including successful deployments of multiple HR-XML-based web service interfaces that support real-time data exchange between Volt, its customers, and suppliers. The use of this technology has contributed to significant improvements in the efficiency of Volt's front office operations. In addition, the IT Organization continued implementation of Six Sigma methodologies for alignment of its project portfolio with the Corporation's vision, mission and goals. " ...

Lean Six Sigma: DOD Award Recognition ...

Lean Six Sigma: DOD Award Recognition: Via DC Military: Depot North Island captures first-ever DoD CPI Award

... "Winning the award recognizes and encourages the application of best practices including Lean, Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints to improve production velocity, reduce waste, improve quality and reduce our cost of operation, said North Island commanding officer Capt. Tim Trainer. " ...

Deming First, Lean Manufacturing Second ...

S Krishnakumar, president, talks to V Jagannathan about the Deming recognition, where the focus was: Deming first and lean manufacturing second. ...

Deming First, Lean Manufacturing Second: Via domain-B: Perot Systmes BPO gets security certification ...

... "When did you start implementing concepts like TQM, total productivity maintenance (TPM), lean manufacturing, etc, in your plants? The Deming Award is only a milestone in our TQM journey. We were extremely careful not to bring in new initiatives as we believed they would only confuse our employees. TPM was introduced on a need basis selectively under the umbrella of TQM. " ...

Lean Manufacturing: Supply Chain Innovation ...

ERP software (Glovia) is compatible with lean manufacturing kanban systems for costing and material usage transactions. The ERP software synthesizes digitized business process and lean manufacturing processes with clear lean checkpoints for visibility on the shop floor. This support innovative business models in the supply chain, as the following recognition highlights ...

Lean Manufacturing: Supply Chain Innovation: Via Fujitsu Glovia: Supply Chain Systems Magazine Honors Glovia International With Supply Chain Innovator Award: Annual Award Recognizes Glovia's Success in Supporting OPW Fueling Component's Lean Manufacturing Initiatives ...

... "Glovia International, a subsidiary of Fujitsu and a leading provider of extended ERP solutions for engineer-to-order and high volume manufacturers, announced the company was selected as a recipient of Supply Chain Systems magazine's annual Supply Chain Innovator award. The award was given to Glovia for its success in supporting OPW Fueling Component's supply chain including their lean manufacturing initiatives. OPW has seen a 79 percent reduction in cycle time from when it first started to implement lean manufacturing. " ...

Lean Manufacturing: Manage Supply Risk

Lean manufacturers are exposed to supply risks and must implement mitigation to be able to sense and respond to supplier events.

Lean Manufacturing: Manage Supply Risk: Via Open Ratings: Open Ratings Defines Best Practices in Reducing Supply Risk: Lean Initiatives and Globalization Leave Many Manufacturers Exposed to Supplier Instability: 3 Keys Ensure that Operations Stay Up and Running ...

... "Manufacturers that have embraced lean manufacturing, supplier rationalization and global outsourcing initiatives have seen significant cost benefits in recent years, but even as efficiencies increase, there's growing awareness of the downside: a tightened supply chain increases dependencies on suppliers and reduces the ability to respond quickly to disruptions. " ...

Open Ratings Inc. helps companies make better, more profitable decisions with data fusion solutions that provide business performance insights. Its pattern recognition technology aggregates business data from inside and outside the enterprise, cleans and unifies this data, and applies proprietary analytics to deliver actionable intelligence on the performance, financial opportunities, and risks presented by trading partners. Its customers include many of the world's leaders in aerospace, automotive, and industrial equipment manufacturing. The machine learning technology behind Open Ratings' solutions is the result of cutting-edge research started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's world-renowned Media Labs.

Lean Techniques: Depot Receives Shingo ...

Letterkenny depot receives Shingo prize for performance achieved through adoption of lean techniques ...

Lean Techniques: Depot Receives Shingo: Via Chambersburg PA Public Opinion: Depot gets award for missile work ...

... "... depot Commander Col. Robert A. Swenson in a prepared statement. Today's recognition is not a conclusion. It is really just a beginning as the depot continues to find ways to work smarter and more efficiently through the application of Lean techniques. " ...

Best Plant: SPS LeanKaizen SixSigma Principles

Best Plant: SPS LeanKaizen SixSigma Principles: Via Solectron: Solectron Receives 2005 IndustryWeek Best Plants Award: Annual Award Program Recognizes the 10 Best Manufacturing Facilities in North America ...

Solectron wins best plant recognition leveraging lean kaizen and six sigma principles ...

... "This world class performance is a direct result of empowered people applying the Solectron Production System(TM) (SPS) -- our own winning combination of Lean kaizen and Six Sigma principles, said Marc Onetto, executive vice president, Operations. In our view, what makes Solectron stand out as a winner is our dedication to meeting and even exceeding our customers' expectations. Through the total transformation of our factory using SPS, Solectron has benefited our customers in faster delivery, flexibility to changes, world class competitiveness and higher quality. " ...

Solectron provides a full range of global manufacturing and supply-chain management services to the world's premier high-tech companies. Solectron's offerings include new-product design and introduction services, materials management, product manufacturing, and product warranty and end-of-life support. The company is based in Milpitas, Calif., and had sales from continuing operations of $11.64 billion in fiscal 2004.

Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing Recognition: General Cable ...

Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing Recognition: General Cable: Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing Recognition: General Cable Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results and Declares Dividend on Preferred Stock ...

General Cable recognized for its dedication to lean six sigma manufacturing implementations ...

... "Our focus on continuous improvement also resulted in three General Cable plants being recently selected as finalists for IndustryWeek's North American 2005 Best Plants award, added Kenny. This recognition, which is not specific to any one industry or line of business, is a testimony to the hard work and dedication our North American Manufacturing team, under the leadership of Larry Fast, has to Lean Manufacturing and the utilization of Six-Sigma quality improvement tools. " ...

General Cable (NYSE:BGC), headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets.

Six Sigma Market Leadership Customer Satisfaction ...

Six Sigma Market Leadership Customer Satisfaction: CyMed Beacon Award Win 2005

... "... commented Robert Lynch, CyMed's President and CEO ... Since AHIMA, MGMA and AAMT represent our clients and employees respectively; we feel their recognition of us as MTIA's top transcription service provider brings credibility to our Six Sigma approach and confirms our market leadership with respect to customer satisfaction. " ...

CyMed provides economical outsourced medical transcription and records management services through proprietary processes based on Six Sigma quality management principles and applied industry leading technology. Health care providers rely on the company to cost-effectively convert recorded free-form medical dictation into electronically formatted patient records. Headquartered in Richmond , VA , CyMed is a portfolio company of Hagerty Peterson & Company, LLC.

Baldridge Examiner SixSigma Experience

Baldridge Examiner SixSigma Experience: NMETRIC VICE PRESIDENT JASON P. PREMO APPOINTED EXAMINER FOR MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD: Jason P. Premo will serve on 2005 Board of Examiners to review and evaluate applications for highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive ...

... "I am honored to be a part of such a prestigious award and am excited about working with the Board of Examiners for the upcoming year, states Jason Premo, nMetric VP of Sales and Marketing. As a previous manufacturing engineer, manager and executive over the past 10 years, I can attest to the bottom line benefits achieved at my own factories, having leveraged many areas of the Baldrige Criteria to define systems, processes and measures to achieve my Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma goals. Premo adds, Companies that are looking to develop their own roadmap for world class performance should seriously consider learning and incorporating the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria. " ...

nMetric® provides manufacturers with Lean Production Management Software that picks up where traditional ERP business systems end…to address the challenges of today’s demanddriven manufacturing environment. Our patented 4C@SITE® solution is a collaborative, scalable and completely integrated platform that provides Lean Manufacturers with the tools needed to balance, schedule, visualize, execute, track, analyze and improve the real-time activities of the factory floor, while building a better link to the enterprise and supply chain. The solution is web-engineered from the ground up using the latest Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) architecture, is 100% thin client, and is completely platform independent to work with virtually any operation system, database, commercial or legacy ERP, and factory floor application.

Information about the Baldrige National Quality Program and the application process is available from the Baldrige National Quality Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Administration Bldg., Room A600, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1020. Telephone: 301-975-2036. For further information about the Baldrige Award, reporters can contact Jan Kosko, NIST Public and Business Affairs.

Lean Manufacturing Excellence Recognition ...

Lean Manufacturing Excellence Recognition: Thermo Electron Corporation’s Compliance Test Solutions Business Wins Shingo Prize Award for Excellence in Manufacturing ...

ThermoElectron recognized for its excellence in lean manufacturing ...

... "Thermo Electron Corporation’s Compliance Test Solutions business (formerly doing business as Thermo KeyTek) was named a 2005 Northeast Shingo Prize Award recipient for Excellence in Manufacturing for the Northeast region. The prize, described by Business Week magazine as the Nobel Prize of manufacturing, recognizes lean manufacturing and exemplary business practices and processes that result in world-class performance and the ability to compete globally. Thermo’s Compliance Test Solutions business is one of only three businesses in the Northeast region recognized with the Shingo Prize for achieving a world-class level of quality, cost, delivery, and business results. " ...

A world leader in high-tech instruments, Thermo Electron Corporation helps life science, laboratory, and industrial customers advance scientific knowledge, enable drug discovery, improve manufacturing processes, and protect people and the environment with instruments, scientific equipment, services and software solutions. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Thermo Electron has revenues of more than $2 billion, and employs approximately 11,000 people in 30 countries worldwide.

Continuous Quality Improvement Recognition

Arkansas Science and Technology Authority - News Releases - Network receives Arkansas Quality Commitment Award

... "The program's goals have been to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, and to provide education and recognition to these organizations. Based on the broad representation attending the October 7th celebration, the program has met with statewide acceptance by organizations who understand the value of quality in today's workplace. The AQA, which provides a framework for achieving quality excellence, was created as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating learning opportunities that foster the application of continuous quality improvement. " ...

Lean Manufacturing Just-In-sequence Production

Lean Manufacturing Just-In-sequence Production: Brose presented with SAP Innovator Award 2005 ...

... "The award was presented in recognition of the exemplary collaboration during the worldwide introduction of the standard software SAP/R3 as well as the development of an innovative software solution designed to regulate the just-in-sequence production of door systems, now acclaimed as a standard in the automotive industry. " ...

Six Sigma ITIL Framework ...

Six Sigma ITIL Framework: ACS Achieves High-Level Industry Recognition With Prestigious BS 15000 Certification ...

ACS achieves BS15000 certification, built on a framework of ITIL and Six Sigma best practices ...

... Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., (NYSE: ACS), a premier provider of business process and information technology outsourcing solutions, announced today that it has just received British Standard 15000 (BS 15000) certification. This achievement makes ACS the only information technology and business process outsourcing services provider in the United States with a data center certified BS 15000. ... BS 15000 certification is one component of the ACS quality management system (ACS QMS). ACS QMS is an industry-leading approach to delivering IT best practices, improving internal controls, delivering world-class services, and implementing continuous process improvement. It is based on adopting the ITIL best practice framework, validating performance through 3rd party certifications (e.g. ISO, SCP, CMMI, SAS 70, and BS 15000), and utilizing the Lean Thinking and Six Sigma principles to eliminate waste and mistake-proof operations. ...

ACS, a FORTUNE 500 company with more than 47,000 people supporting client operations in nearly 100 countries, provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS". ACS makes technology work.

World-Class Lean Manufacturing Practices ...

World-Class Lean Manufacturing Practices: Lean Manufacturers Recognized for Excellence

Shingo Prize winnners are announced and recognized for achievements in world-class lean manufacturing practices ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... employee involvement and a high performance work team environment, the Apache program is recognized as a leader in world-class lean manufacturing practices. ...

... Manufacturers of coronary stents, helicopters, circuit boards, fireplaces, laser guided bomb kits, airbag initiators, seat belts, injection molding, automotive seals, among others, are 2005 Recipients of the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. Dubbed the Nobel prize of Manufacturing by Business Week, the Shingo Prize is recognized as the premier manufacturing award and recognition program in North America. ...

The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, for manufacturers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is administered by the College of Business, Utah State University. Awards for the Recipients and Finalists will be presented at the 17th Annual Shingo Prize Conference and Awards Ceremony to be held April 21, 2005, at the Grand Rapids Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Speakers will include James Albaugh, President and CEO, Boeing's Integrated Defense System; Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President -- Manufacturing, Chrysler Group; Mohsen Sohi, President and CEO, Freudenberg NOK; Harold Simons, Executive Vice President, O.C. Tanner; and Jeffrey Liker, Professor, University of Michigan, among others.

Apply Theory of Constraints in Healthcare ...

Applying the theory of constraints in health care: Part 1--The philosophy ...

Breen AM, Burton-Houle T, Aron DC write ...

... "The imperative to improve both technical and service quality while simultaneously reducing costs is quite clear. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is an emerging philosophy that rests on two assumptions: (1) systems thinking and (2) if a constraint 'is anything that limits a system from achieving higher performance versus its goal,' then every system must have at least one (and at most no more than a few) constraints or limiting factors. A constraint is neither good nor bad in itself. Rather, it just is. In fact, recognition of the existence of constraints represents an excellent opportunity for improvement because it allows one to focus ones efforts in the most productive area--identifying and managing the constraints." ...

Lean Manufacturing Drives Change to Improve Efficiency ...

Lean Manufacturing Drives Change to Improve Efficiency: HEI Earns Supplier Excellence Award

HEI began a manufacturing transformation which leverages the lean manufacturing methodology, which focuses on eliminating waste and drives significant efficiencies ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... HEI began implementing changes to its manufacturing processes through lean manufacturing, a methodology that focuses on improving efficiency and eliminating ...

... HEI, Inc. (Nasdaq: HEII) has received the first Supplier Excellence Award from ETHICON Inc., in recognition of its work as a manufacturer and supplier for the ETHICON GYNECARE THERMACHOICE Uterine Balloon Therapy System and Motor Drive Unit. HEI exceeded the ETHICON award criteria, which require meeting the ETHICON standards three out of four quarters in a calendar year. In 2004, HEI met the ETHICON guidelines in all four quarters. ...

HEI, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures microelectronics, subsystems, systems, connectivity and software solutions for OEMs engaged in the medical equipment and medical device, hearing, communications and RFID industries. HEI provides its customers with a single point of contact that can take an idea from inception to a fully functional, cost effective and manufacturability product utilizing innovative design solutions and by the application of state-of-the-art materials, processes and manufacturing capabilities.

Supplier Performance: Executive Summary

From DFARS ...

... "A long-standing practice of the automotive industry is the recognition and encouragement of business mentoring relationships among smaller organizations. The industry established a tier level business-mentoring program as a means of encouraging business opportunities with smaller businesses. Through this program, automotive matchmaking activities take place to identify suppliers among small and small disadvantaged businesses. A primary goal of the program is to enhance supplier performance in the automotive industry. " ...

Kanban Techniques ...

From Leonard Neely - Y2K's Impact on the Economy - October 25, 1999 - Senate Y2K ...

... "With the advent of JIT manufacturing, electronic data interchange, e-commerce, and e-business, our technological integration is exploding at the speed of business. This approach, developed by the Japanese, was introduced in US manufacturing companies in the early 1980s as the concept of zero inventories. Currently, most modern manufacturing organizations use at least some elements of JIT in their production systems. Organizations have implemented JIT methods across three stages of increasing maturity: 1) Kanban; 2) production planning; and 3) global management philosophies. Y2K dependencies and risk increase with each level of sophistication of the JIT implementation. As of last year, 80% of the United States warehouses were equipped with electronic management systems that track products through barcodes, optical recognition equipment, and database systems." ...

What are Biometrics? ...

From DOD Biometrics ...

... "Biometrics are measurable physical characteristics or personal behavioral traits used to recognize the identity or verify the claimed identity of an individual. A biometric system is an automated tool for measuring and evaluating these characteristics or traits for the purpose of human recognition." ...

Biometrics

From Bureau of Consular Affairs ...

... "What is a Biometric? A biometric or biometric identifier is an objective measurement of a physical characteristic of an individual which, when captured in a database, can be used to verify the identity or check against other entries in the database. The best known biometric is the fingerprint, but others include facial recognition and iris scans. The use of these identifiers is an important link in U.S. national security, because fingerprints taken will be compared with similarly collected fingerprints at US ports of entry under the US-VISIT program. This will verify identity to reduce use of stolen and counterfeit visas, and protect against possible use by terrorists or others who might represent a security risk to the U.S. " ...

The Executive Branch and Congress have constitutional responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy, and within the Executive Branch, the Department of State (DoS) is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency. DoS plays the primary role in leading interagency coordination in developing and implementing foreign policy; manages foreign affairs resources; leads and coordinates U.S. representation abroad; conducts negotiations and concludes agreements and treaties on issues ranging from trade to nuclear weapons; and coordinates and supports international activities of other U.S. agencies and officials. The Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) is situated within the Management office.

Hand Geometry Technology: Port of Rotterdam Relies on Recognition Systems Biometric ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Application Market Penetration Leadership Award for access control and time and attendance applications in Frost & Sullivan's study, World Biometrics Market. ...

... Recognition Systems, the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand's (IR) Security & Safety's Electronic Control Systems, announced today that the Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands), an international center of trade, transshipment, industry and distribution, is using hand geometry technology in conjunction with a smart chip card to verify that truck drivers entering and exiting the port are who they say they are. Fraud is virtually impossible by using the biometric hand scan in combination with the CargoCard. The Port of Rotterdam system is a predecessor application to the "Transportation Worker Identity Program (TWIC)" now being developed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which could ultimately involve 6 million workers at U.S. seaports, airports, railways and other transportation facilities. ...

With over 80,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of hands each day, Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand recognition technology used in access control, time and attendance and identification applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell, Calif. The Port of Rotterdam is Europe's largest container port and plays a very important role in the European import and export market. In 2002 some 322 million tons of cargo passed through the Port of Rotterdam. The excellent hinterland connections by water, road, rail and pipeline make Rotterdam an outstanding logistic hub. The port and adjacent industrial area spans forty kilometers and runs from the city center to the North Sea. Most of the transshipment entails bulk goods such as oil, chemicals, coal and ores.

TRIZ Innovation Software: Invention Machine and Korean Item Development Enter Into Strategic ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... Korean Item Development (KID) is a TRIZ consulting and engineering company specializing in new products development. Leveraging ...

... Invention Machine Corporation (www.invention-machine.com), the leading provider of software that accelerates innovation and brings a structured process to inventive problem-solving, today announced the appointment of Korean Item Development as a reseller of Invention Machine products in the Korean market. Korean Item Development (KID) is a TRIZ consulting and engineering company specializing in new products development. Leveraging the TRIZ methodology, KID has developed a number of innovations that have received wide praise and recognition both domestically and internationally. ...

Invention Machine Corporation is the leading provider of software that optimizes and accelerates the process of innovation. For more than a decade, over 1,000 companies worldwide have leveraged Invention Machine's solutions to drive top-line growth, reduce costs and expedite time-to-market by improving process efficiencies and more rapidly fueling product pipelines with competitive and higher-quality products.

Manufacturing Excellence Committment: General Cable and Panduit Announce Alliance and Introduce PanGen ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... "With our joint commitment to research and development, manufacturing excellence, customer satisfaction and ongoing industry leadership, we believe we bring ...

... General Cable Corporation (NYSE:BGC), a global manufacturer of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable, and Panduit, a world leader in network and electrical solutions, today announced a new alliance and the introduction of the PanGen(TM) Structured Cabling Solutions designed to meet diverse network infrastructure requirements. The new General Cable and Panduit alliance brings together two respected leaders in cable and connectivity to provide a comprehensive line of structured cabling solutions. The strength of this new alliance includes research and product development along with extensive joint marketing and sales programs, which will bring enhanced customer-focused products and services to the market. ...

PANDUIT is a global leader in wiring and communication products, delivering end-to-end solutions in support of demanding electrical and networking requirements. The PANDUIT solution is built on a foundation of quality and durability to ensure maximum reliability and performance. Continually focused on market needs, research and development enables PANDUIT to provide innovative products that meet today's applications and environments. This provides leading-edge solutions that allow businesses to move forward with their strategic objectives.

GENERAL CABLE, headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets. The Company offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Industrial and Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, mining, industrial automation, marine, military and aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other key industrial segments. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications.

Six Sigma Continuous Improvement: Graphic Packaging Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2004 Results

From Yahoo News (press release) ... We continue to take embedded costs out of the system through our Six Sigma and other Continuous Improvement programs coupled with the recognition of merger ...

... Graphic Packaging Corporation (NYSE: GPK - News) today reported net income for third quarter 2004 of $5.5 million or $0.03 per diluted share, based upon 203.1 million shares. Results for the quarter compare to a third quarter 2003 net loss of $52.8 million, or $(0.32) per diluted share, based upon 163.8 million shares. ...

Graphic Packaging Corporation was formed in August 2003 as a result of the merger of Riverwood Holding, Inc. and Graphic Packaging International Corporation. Graphic Packaging is a leading provider of paperboard packaging solutions to the beverage, food and consumer product industries. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products is available on the Company's web site at http://www.graphicpkg.com.

Kaizen Technique: United Electric Controls - Watertown, MA:Design Kaizen

From The Office of Naval Research's Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program ...

... "UEs Design Kaizen follows the Japanese Kaizen method for continuous improvement in its engineering design operations. The Kaizen methodology teaches that higher levels of performance can be achieved through an ongoing process of continuous improvement; supportive management: 100% participation; simple but reliable solutions; multi-functional teams; employee rewards and recognition; and applicability to all operational areas. The main thrust of the Kaizen process focuses on allowing the employee to be an effective contributor to the ongoing processes of the company." ...

The Office of Naval Research's Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program was created in 1985 to help businesses identify, research, and promote exceptional manufacturing practices, methods, and procedures. Its objective is to empower defense and commercial customers to operate at a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness. The mission of the Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence (BMPCOE) is to provide a national resource to foster the identification and sharing of best practices being used in industry, government, and academia, and to coordinate a cooperative effort to strengthen the U.S. industrial base for global competition. The BMPCOE staff can assist projects with systems engineering best practices throughout a product's life cycle using process-based solutions to reduce risk and eliminate surprises.

United Electric Controls is a privately held corporation that has been in operation since 1931. Headquartered in Watertown, MA, UE is a leader in the design, manufacturing and application of Threshold Detection and Switching™ technology. The products protect people, valuable equipment, the environment and processes in a wide variety of industrial applications by monitoring pressure or temperature conditions and performing critical alarm, control and shutdown functions of equipment or processes according to the customer’s needs.

Alarm Management: PAS Announces Polymers NLC(TM)

From Yahoo News (press release) ... Since 1993, PAS has developed advanced technology solutions for asset management, alarm management & critical condition management, and advanced process ...

... PAS today announced Polymers NLC, a non- linear advanced control and optimization solution for polymer process applications. The core NLC® controller and optimizer in Polymers NLC has been installed at nearly 30 polymer lines worldwide including polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polyolefins and specialty polymers. This is the first new release of this product since PAS acquired the NLC technology as a result of the merger with DOT Products last year. PAS has extended the name to Polymers NLC in recognition of the significant enhancements added to the product providing a much broader market application including expanded polyolefins process technologies as well as other thermoplastics, and specialty polymers applications. ...

PAS is a leading supplier of people and asset solutions to the process industries worldwide. Since 1993, PAS has developed advanced technology solutions for asset management, alarm management & critical condition management, and advanced process control & optimization.

Lean Manufacturing Forecast: SYSPRO Unveils Forecasting Module

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... larger firms. Inventory Optimization is also fundamental to implementing the demand-driven, lean manufacturing model. The complete ...

Decreasing the amount of demand forecasting variability can permit a shift to a more demand-driven, lean manufacturing model of operation which will drive operational efficiency through the supply chain ...

... SYSPRO, a leading producer of enterprise software, has announced a new Forecasting module, the first of three that will make up the complete, soon-to-be-released SYSPRO Inventory Optimization solution. The new Forecasting module performs forecasting at the item/warehouse level as well as aggregations of forecasting to higher levels as defined by Groupings and Families. It enables the use of a variety of forecasting algorithms, including predefined algorithms or a competition method where the system will use the mathematical formula best suited to an item's historical sales. ...

SYSPRO, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, is a world leader in providing manufacturing, distribution and financial accounting software solutions with thousands of installations in more than 60 countries. SYSPRO is one of the world's most honored software companies. Milestones include: 2004 Software Company of the Year (Software Council of Southern California); 2004 Microsoft ISV of the Year (SA); top ranking in the 2004 K2 Enterprises Accounting Software Survey in Small to Medium Enterprise Software category for the third year in a row; and selection as one of the Top 100 Logistics Companies in 2004 by Inbound Logistics Magazine. Other recent SYSPRO honors include: State of California Certificate of Recognition (2003); The K2 Quality Award for "Installation Channel/Methodology" for the SYSPRO STARS Implementation Methodology in 2002, 2003 and 2004; recipient of Start Magazine's First Annual Vision Award and "Hottest Company" designation for last 5 years; runner-up for Developer of the Year (2002) by Software Council of Southern California; ranking among World's Top Software Companies in 2003 by iSource Magazine, MSI Magazine (1995 through 2003) and Software Magazine (2003 and 2004); and highest ratings in accounting and manufacturing software reviews by CPA Software News/CPA Technology Advisor for 10 consecutive years. SYSPRO software is marketed worldwide through offices in the United States, Canada, Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Six Sigma Methodology in IT: Volt Information Sciences, Inc. Selected for the InformationWeek ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... In addition, the IT Organization implemented Six Sigma methodologies for coordination and alignment of its project portfolio with the Corporation's vision ...

... Volt Information Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: VOL) announced that it has been named to CMP Media LLC's InformationWeek 500, a prestigious listing of the most innovative users of information technology in the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year that Volt has been named to the InformationWeek 500. In 2004, Volt achieved recognition for the technology initiatives of its Corporate IT Organization. These included successful implementation of real-time, XML-based web services capabilities enabling Volt's staffing organization, Volt Services Group, to connect with customers and suppliers utilizing a flexible IT infrastructure that supports real-time business transactions. ...

Volt Information Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: VOL) is a leading national provider of Staffing Services and Telecommunications and Information Solutions for its Fortune 100 customer base. Operating through a network of over 300 Volt Services Group locations, the Staffing Services segment fulfills IT and other technical, commercial, and industrial placement requirements of its customers, on both a temporary and permanent basis. The Telecommunications and Information Solutions businesses provide complete telephone directory production and directory publishing; a full spectrum of telecommunications construction, installation and engineering services; and advanced information and operator services systems for telephone companies.

TQEM Total Quality Environmental Management: STMicroelectronics Ranked By Innovest Strategic Value Advisors As World’s Only “AAA” Eco-Efficient Semiconductor Company ...

From Social Funds ... ST Ranked First in Total Quality Environmental Management Among 14 Semiconductor Companies ...

... ST has been widely recognized for its leadership in total quality and environmental management (TQEM). In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded ST with its Climate Protection Award for its achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, ST was ranked as the world’s leading semiconductor company for integration of sustainability into a comprehensive Total Quality Management System by the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Indexes (DJSGI). ST has also received a number of quality awards. In addition to ST’s previous honors for quality over the last few years, which include the Malaysian Prime Minister Quality Award, the Malta Quality Award and the European Quality Award, in 1999, its U.S. subsidiary, STMicroelectronics, Inc. received the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the most prestigious recognition for quality that a U.S. company can receive. And STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific received the 1999 Singapore Quality Award for Business Excellence. Most recently, in February 2000, ST’s Moroccan operations received the Morocco National Quality Award. ...

STMicroelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company and is a leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivaled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence trends. ST is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies. In 2003, ST's net revenues were US$7.24 billion and net earnings were US$253 million. For the first half of 2004, ST's net revenue's were US$4.2 billion and net earnings were US$225 million. The Company's products are manufactured and designed using a broad range of fabrication processes and proprietary design methods. To complement this depth and diversity of process and design technology, the Company also possesses a broad intellectual property portfolio that it has used to enter into cross-licensing agreements with many other leading semiconductor manufacturers.

ST is committed to the principles of Total Quality and Environmental Management, or TQEM ...

ST's commitment to environmental responsibility has resulted in substantial reductions in the consumption of energy, water, paper and hazardous chemicals, increased recycling of waste products and a significant cut in CO2 emissions. In 1999, ST received the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Protection Award for its outstanding accomplishments in protecting the Earth's climate. In 2000, ST was ranked first in environmental management among 14 semiconductor companies by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors and received the only AAA ranking in eco-efficiency. Also in 2002, ST received the Seal of Sustainability from the Sustainable Business Institute and ST's back-end Malta plant received the Management Award for Sustainable Development as part of the European Awards for the Environment 2002, organized by the European Commission Directorate-General Environment. And most recently, ST was awarded the 'Best Industrial Renewable Energy Partnership' as part of the European Commission's Campaign for Take-Off for Renewable Energy Awards 2003'.

Lean Manufacturing Practices: Composite Technology Announces Agreement With General Cable

From Yahoo News (press release) ... As a large player in the utility cable industry for over a century, General Cable's Lean manufacturing practices and engineering expertise complements the ...

... enterprise alliance in the utility industry leverages the lean manufacturing strengths of General Cable and marries them with the technology capabilities of Composite Technology Corporation. More evidence that lean manufacturing provides a competitive advantage in the merketplace and can help shape markets in the future ...

... Composite Technology Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CPTC), a leading developer of high-performance composite core for electric transmission and distribution cables, today announced the execution of Manufacturing and Distribution Agreements between CTC Cable Corporation, a fully owned subsidiary, (CTC) and General Cable Industries, Inc., principal US operating subsidiary of General Cable Corporation (General Cable) (NYSE: BGC), a recognized leader in the utility cable market. Under the Manufacturing Agreement, General Cable has the right to exclusively manufacture finished ACCC(TM) cable utilizing the CTC proprietary composite core through 2007 for applications in the United States and Canada. ...

Composite Technology Corporation, through its subsidiary CTC Cable Corporation, located in Irvine, California, produces high performance advanced composite core conductor cables for electric transmission and distribution lines. The proprietary new ACCC cable can transmit two times more power than comparably sized conventional cables in use today. ACCC can solve high-temperature line sag problems, can effect energy savings through less line losses, has reduced corona and electromagnetic fields, and can easily be retrofitted on existing towers to upgrade energy throughput in a grid system. ACCC cables allow transmission owners, utility companies, and power producers to easily replace transmission lines without modification to the towers using standard installation techniques and equipment, thereby avoiding the deployment of new towers and establishment of new rights-of-way that are costly, time consuming, controversial and may impact the environment. CTC has established strategic relationships with existing cable manufacturers to expand production and facilitate deployment to end users worldwide.

Like many manufacturing companies, General Cable leverage lean manufacturing techniques to drive operational efficiency and manufacturing excellence...

General Cable, headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets. The Company offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Industrial and Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, mining, industrial automation, marine, military and aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other key industrial segments. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications.

Manufacturing Excellence Recognition: Collins & Aikman Earns IndustryWeek's Annual 10 Best North ...

From Yahoo News (press release) ... "It is an honor to be recognized for setting and exceeding the standards in manufacturing excellence, not only for the competitive automotive industry, but for ...

... Collins & Aikman Corporation (NYSE: CKC - News) announced today that its Williamston, Michigan operations have been honored by IndustryWeek, a leading manufacturing management magazine, as a winning facility in the publication's fifteenth annual 10 Best Plants competition. This is the seventh Collins & Aikman facility to earn this prestigious award in the last four years. ...

... impressive recognition at Collins & Aikman for manufacturing excellence.

Collins & Aikman Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global leader in cockpit modules and automotive floor and acoustic systems and is a leading supplier of instrument panels, automotive fabric, plastic-based trim, and convertible top systems. The Company's current operations span the globe through 16 countries, more than 100 facilities and nearly 24,000 employees who are committed to achieving total excellence. Collins & Aikman's high-quality products combine superior design, styling and manufacturing capabilities with NVH "quiet" technologies that are among the most effective in the industry.

Global Headquarters:
Collins & Aikman
250 Stephenson Hwy.
Troy, MI 48083
USA

Millard King is President – Global Soft Trim, responsible for the global coordination and manufacturing integration for all of the company’s carpet and acoustics, automotive fabric and convertible roof operations worldwide. King began his career with Collins & Aikman in 1971, and has moved up the ranks to his current position. King is a proven leader in lean manufacturing practices. Customers continuously recognize the manufacturing sites under his direction for their achievements in the areas of quality, service and delivery. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s of business administration from East Carolina University.

Performance Metrics: What Gets Measured Gets Managed: Human Resources Performance ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... According to Best Practices, LLC research, leading human resources managers find that key HR performance measures are critical to reliable decision ...

... According to Best Practices, LLC research, leading human resources managers find that key HR performance measures are critical to reliable decision making and that effective measurement leads to performance improvement. A study from the benchmarking firm, Developing Human Resources Performance Measures, online at http://www3.best-in-class.com/rr427.htm , reveals the measures leading companies use to effectively manage employee development, rewards and recognition, recruitment and selection, and employee satisfaction and morale. ...

Best Practices, LLC conducts work based on the principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class organizations.

Six Sigma Solutions: TALX to Provide Ford Motor Credit Company With the Work Number for ...

From Market Wire (press release) ... It's a true reflection on the quality of our service when a company such as Ford Credit, which is utilizing a Six Sigma approach to implement the nationwide ...

... TALX Corporation (NASDAQ: TALX), announced today that its industry-leading service for automated income and employment verification, The Work Number, will be used by Ford Credit. In all branches nationwide, Ford Credit will use The Work Number to verify employment and income for financing automobile purchases. With thousands of transactions each month, Ford Credit will benefit from faster, more accurate, and more secure verifications while gaining significant cost savings from an automated process. ...

TALX Corporation is a leading business process outsourcer of payroll-related and human resource services. TALX holds a leadership position in two key employment-related services -- automated employment and income verification services via The Work Number® services and unemployment cost management services via UC eXpress®. TALX also provides paperless payroll services, W-2 services and automated time entry and approval services. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, TALX empowers users to complete transactions independently utilizing available multimedia including Web, interactive voice response, speech recognition, fax and e-mail. The company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol TALX. For more information about TALX Corporation, call 314-214-7000 or access the company's Web site at www.talx.com.

Biometrics: MPs warn of gaps in ID card plans

From Computeractive, United Kingdom ... Trials to test the widespread use of biometrics, such as iris scans and facial recognition, are currently underway to see which are most suitable for inclusion ...

" ... MPs have criticised government plans for identity cards, warning that while the scheme has the potential to reduce crime, the details are too thin and there are potential risks to personal freedom. ... "

Six Sigma Conference: From the May 28, 2004 print edition

From Phoenix Business Journal, AZ ... Free. 602-745-7280. International Society of Six Sigma Professionals, “Leadership Conference,” through June 4, Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale. ...

ISSSP is committed to promoting the adoption, advancement and integration of Six Sigma in business. Our community supports this mission through advocacy and awareness efforts; professional recognition and development; and by serving as an information and referral source. ISSSP charges its members to take an active role in the Sharing of Experiences and Information for the betterment of the practice of Six Sigma, its implementation, its application, as a profession, and as a positive influence on the impact it can make on an individual's growth.

Kaizen Principles: South Carolina Tech Show To Focus on a State of Transition

From Local Tech Wire, SC ... One keynote from Japan, Masaaki Imai, wrote the book on Kaizen principles (the standard in manufacturing process improvement and is now being used in the IT ...

Masaaki Imai is Chairman of the KAIZEN Institute, which was established in 1986 to help companies to introduce KAIZEN concepts, systems, and tools. The Institute has offices in Europe, North and South Americas, and Africa, Asia and Pacific Regions. Mr. Imai is renowned globally as the author of the book “KAIZEN, The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success” published in New York in November 1986. It has been translated into 16 languages and has sold well over 300,000 copies. In May, 1997 “Gemba KAIZEN, A Commonsense, Low-cost Approach to Management”, a sequel to “KAIZEN” was published by McGraw-Hill in New York and has been published in French, Dutch, Portuguese German Spanish, Indonesian, and Chinese. He has held lectures on KAIZEN and Japanese management in Europe, the US and more recently in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Dubai, South Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and India. Mr. Imai has consulted with many companies outside of Japan and assisted them in their process of introducing change and continual improvement. He has received many international awards including the Asia-Pacific Human Resource Development Award from the ARTDO (Asian Regional Training & Development Organization) “in recognition of his immense contribution to business efficiency and productivity through the application of the philosophy of step-by-step improvement, and in grateful appreciation of the positive and revolutionary impact that his best seller books – KAIZEN and Gemba KAIZEN – have made on the lives of millions of people around the world.” In 1999 his book Gemba KAIZEN received the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Prize. Prior to the establishment of the Institute, Mr. Imai was Chairman of the Cambridge Corporation, an international management consulting and executive recruiting firm that he founded in 1962. Mr. Imai has personally assisted more than 200 foreign and joint venture companies in Japan. He was President of the Japan Federation of Recruiting and Employment Agency Associations between 1976 and 1986. Mr. Imai was born in Tokyo in 1930. After receiving his BA from the University of Tokyo in 1955, he stayed on at his alma mater to do graduate work in international relations.

Six Sigma Activities: Ford Recognizes Johnson Controls and Its Joint-Venture Operations ...

From Yahoo News (press release) ... prizes. Johnson Controls received a Recognition of Achievement Award for its outstanding consumer-driven, Six Sigma activities. ...

Based on its success elsewhere - and at Johnson Controls - Six Sigma is unique because of the results it produces. Savings are greater and the impact to our customers is greater than under other initiatives. That's because three features make Six Sigma different: First, Six Sigma demands a breakthrough philosophy from the whole team. Second, we commit the work of more than 700 full-time, specially trained employees throughout our organization - called "black belts" - to the task. Third, Six Sigma provides a complete set of tools to help the black belts do their jobs.

Six Sigma follows a six-step process that relies heavily on leadership involvement, on the collection and analysis of statistical data and on the development of "out-of-the-box" breakthrough improvements.

Lear Honored with Ford's 2003 World Excellence Awards

From Yahoo News (press release) ... Additionally, Lear won a Recognition of Achievement for consumer-driven Six Sigma efforts improvements in headrest production. The ...

...Lear received three Gold Awards for excellence in quality, cost and delivery for interior soft trim produced at our Hermosillo, Mexico facility; seats from our Atlanta, Ga. facility; and textiles from Lear in Sheboygan, Wis. Additionally, Lear won a Recognition of Achievement for consumer-driven Six Sigma efforts improvements in headrest production. The Six Sigma recognition of Achievement is awarded to suppliers that had a Black Belt lead a project that had a direct impact on Ford customer satisfaction...

In an increasingly impersonal world, consumers are craving individual expression more than ever. Lear Corporation lets consumers express themselves through its Common Architecture Strategy and makes it possible for automotive manufacturers to offer their customers the ability to personalize the interior of their vehicle.

The success of Lear is a result of our dedication to serving our customers, understanding their customers: the consumer and continuously improving our process and product quality through the latest technologies. All of this is reflected in Lear’s exclusive People-Vehicle-Interface Methodology™. By utilizing the PVI Method, Lear employs an innovation development discipline that turns market opportunities into the products that consumers want and customers need in their vehicles.

Lear is also a leader among the automotive industry in the Six Sigma application area. Our objective is to maximize manufacturing efficiency and continually raise the bar on customer satisfaction levels to further expand our position as a world-leading supplier of complete automotive interior systems.

Lear Corporation, a FORTUNE 500® company headquartered in Southfield, Mich., USA, focuses on integrating complete automotive interiors, including seat systems, interior trim and electrical systems. With annual net sales of $15.7 billion in 2003, Lear is the world’s largest automotive interior systems supplier. The company’s world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by more than 110,000 employees at 280 facilities located in 34 countries.

Six Sigma DFSS Success: Seagate Earns Six Sigma Excellence Award From sixsigmaIQ

Disc Drive Leader Named Winner, Best DFSS Project Award

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Seagate Technology (NYSE: STX - News), the world's leading disc drive company, has earned sixsigmaIQ's annual Six Sigma Excellence Award for the Best Design For Six Sigma Project. Seagate received the award for its project, "Deployment of Design for Six Sigma in Seagate's U Series Disc Drive." Other finalists for the award included projects from Ford Motor Company and Raytheon. A panel of experts from Motorola, Johnson and Johnson, ABB, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin considered the entries.

The sixsigmaIQ award is designed to reward best practices and spotlight exceptional innovation. According to a statement released by the organization, "The sixsigmaIQ excellence awards have been established to honor, recognize and promote Six Sigma projects that demonstrate true best practices and to expand and increase the uptake of Six Sigma methodology globally. Celebrating the highest achieving individuals, teams and projects in Six Sigma, these awards credit the hard work and dedication devoted by many to Six Sigma and the great results associated."

"Seagate's continuous focus on process, design and manufacturing improvements are helping us deliver what our customers want," said Steve Genheimer, Seagate vice president of Six Sigma. "Our continued investment in Six Sigma design, supply chain and manufacturing flexibility, and customer-focused business processes have solidified Seagate's position as a storage category leader. Seagate's greatest strength is its ability to respond quickly and intelligently to the change that is inherent across the industry."

"We're proud that Seagate's groundbreaking deployment of Six Sigma processes over the last several years has earned this recognition, and has had a positive impact on our ability to design products more effectively and deploy them more efficiently than ever before in the hard drive industry," said Dave Wickersham, Seagate executive vice president of Global Disc Storage Operations. "This highly acclaimed award, judged by and chosen from among some of the world's best companies, is a testimony to the ground-breaking DFSS effort, outstanding teamwork and leadership qualities exhibited by our research, design and deployment teams."

The award was presented at the Annual Six Sigma summit in Miami last month. An independent division of IQPC (International Quality & Productivity Center), sixsigmaIQ launched the awards program to recognize the real-world achievements that are resulting from Six Sigma implementation all over the world. It is the only Six Sigma awards program where industry judges industry.

The world's leading provider of six sigma conferences and summits, sixsigmaIQ is devoted to the promotion of Six Sigma improvement methodology through dialogue, meetings, exchange of best practice, original practitioner articles and project diaries.

Seagate is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of hard disc drives, providing products for a wide range of Enterprise, PC, Notebook and Consumer Electronics applications. The Company is committed to delivering award-winning products, customer support and reliability, to meet the world's growing demand for information storage. Seagate can be found around the globe and at www.seagate.com.

Lean Manufacturing: Trade, Terrorism discussed at candidates forum

From San Jose Mercury News, CA ... So anyone who is promising to bring back manufacturing jobs doesn't understand lean manufacturing continues quality improvement.". ...

...2004 Recipients of the 2004 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. Dubbed the "Nobel prize of Manufacturing" by Business Week, the Shingo Prize is increasingly being recognized as the premier manufacturing award and recognition program in North America. Nine state-level awards and a public-sector category, primarily for Military Depots doing re-manufacturing, have been implemented in recent months.

Three notable achievements of the 2004 recipients include: one, 7 of the 12 achieved product quality of less than 10 "returned parts per million opportunities" from the customer; two, 7 of the 12 have inventory turns of more than 25 per year (compared to a U.S. average of 8); and three, premium freight as a percent of production costs averaged 0.12 percent. These data cover the full-year of 2003 and are all clear indicators of world-class manufacturing achievements.

"Once again the recipients of the Shingo Prize demonstrate that they are prepared to weather economic uncertainty by not wasting precious manufacturing and business resources, "said Ross Robson, Shingo Prize executive director. "Shingo Prize recipients and lean manufacturers clearly stand out among the manufacturers of North America in terms of quality, cost, delivery and business results."

This year's Shingo Prize Recipients are:

ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems Gladstone plant, Columbus, Ind. -- This facility proudly manufactures complete exhaust systems and components for today's leading car manufacturers. Through an engaged workforce of more than 700 people who are trained in lean principles, team building and employee involvement practices, substantial quality and productivity improvements have been made. Most notably, those improvements have included a decrease in customer PPMs of 72 percent since 2000, a decrease in supplier PPMs of 99 percent since 2000, a 54-percent decrease in the cost of non-quality since 2000, and an on-time delivery average of 99.9 percent since 1999.

Delphi Corporation, Delphi Electronics and Safety, Delnosa 5 & 6 Operations, Reynosa, Mexico -- Delnosa 5 & 6 manufactures over 24,000 vehicle electronics products daily for 72 customer locations in 11 countries for Delphi Corporation (NYSE: DPH - News). Delnosa's product line includes Audio, Mobile Multimedia, Telematics (interactive satellite technology), Navigation Radios, and Antenna Electronics. Delnosa also produces over 16 million molded and decorated plastic parts and assemblies each month that are used in Delphi facilities globally. In the last three years, Delnosa has increased productivity by 41%, increased inventory turns by 70%, improved first time quality by 76%, and increased asset utilization by 40%. Delnosa's 2,500 employees reached 200% participation in the employee suggestion program in 2003 and have currently worked over 22 million hours without a lost workday accident.

Delphi Electronics & Safety, Kokomo Operations, Plants 7 & 9, Kokomo, Indiana -- Kokomo Operations, Plants 7 & 9 is a vehicle electronics manufacturing facility employing over 1,100 people. These employees, represented by UAW Local 292, produce approximately 12 million units annually across four major product lines: audio components, power train controllers, inflatable restraint system electronics and electronic climate controllers. Applying the lean manufacturing concepts in the Delphi Manufacturing System, the facility has been able to achieve a third straight year of double-digit manufacturing performance, a 24% reduction in inventory, a 51% improvement in first time quality and has reached an annual shipping compliance rate approaching 100%.

Delphi Corporation, Energy & Chassis Systems, Empresas Ca-Le de Tlaxcala, Mexico -- Ca-Le is a battery manufacturing plant of 1,291,669 square feet, founded in February 1990 and located in Tetla, Tlaxcala, Mexico. Operating in a world-wide market, CALE produces two different automotive battery technologies: Hybrid (Antimony -- Calcium) and Maintenance-Free (Calcium-Calcium). Our productive headcount of 575 persons -- through the implementation of lean concepts and techniques -- work daily on EXCEEDING OUR CUSTOMERS' EXPECTATIONS. Our business results, customer satisfaction and quality of our products reflect our commitment with our employees, society and stakeholders.

Delphi Sistemas de Energia S.A. de C.V., Plt. 57; Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico -- Located in Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico since 1986 and serving 55 customers in 12 countries, Delphi Sistemas de Energia is a top of the line manufacturing organization. Here the combination of people who love their jobs, together with strong leadership, applying continuous learning and lean concepts, along with variation reduction, and defect prevention methods, have all contributed to superior satisfaction levels for customers, stakeholders and employees, creating a positive impact to the community and to the global environment.

Delphi Corporation, Packard Electric Systems. Plant 50, Del Parral Chihuahua, Mexico

Delphi's Packard Electric facility opened in February of 1998 in Hidalgo del Parral (more commonly referred to as Parral) in the southern part of Chihuahua, Mexico. The plant has 141,575 square feet of manufacturing floor space and 2,200 employees. These dedicated employees manufacture 13 families of products in 18 production lines, for 10 different General Motors assembly plants. The Parral plant produces power and signal distribution systems for the automotive industry, more commonly known as wiring harnesses. The motto at this facility is "Our people make the difference." Managers and supervisors say empowering employees and giving them opportunities make things happen. The success of this Delphi facility is attributed to its people.

Delphi Corporation, Packard Electric Systems. Plant 58, Meoqui, Chih. Mexico

The Meoqui Plant is located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico and has been a part of Delphi Packard Electric's manufacturing footprint since 1987. The 1,800 employees at the 151,000-square-foot facility produce more than three million of wiring systems annually for several General Motors assembly plants in the United States and Canada. Employee commitment and a comprehensive implementation of the Lean-driven concepts within the Delphi Manufacturing System (DMS) have been able to drive operational improvements in cost, quality, delivery and productivity. Some of those improvements include: 20% reduction in customer complaints in 2003; 17% improvement in total cost compared to 2002; scrap reduction of 50% since 2000; first-time quality improvement 72% since 2001; and productivity increase of 35% compared to 2000.

Delphi Packard, Plant 98

Delphi Corporation, Packard Electric Systems, Centro Tecnico Herramental S.A de C.V, Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila.

With a wide variety of products and processes, CENTEC employees are flexible and skillful in successfully delivering parts to nearly 40 customers around the world. The majority of customers are in the US and Mexico, but several are also located in Europe, South America and Asia. The Delphi Manufacturing system drives the 470 CENTEC employees to continuous lean improvements. Elimination of waste, a 75-percent reduction in scrap and the Industria Limpia certification from the Mexican government for being environmentally sound are all part of the accomplishments of which CENTEC employees are very proud. Employees assemble wiring harnesses and their components and electric and electronic connectors. CENTEC now has a 0 IPM (incidents per million) on-time shipping record and have seen FTQ improve 87 percent since 1999. Continuous training of employees at all levels in daily skills and in lean implementation has led to the high quality at CENTEC.

Delphi Packard, Plant 51, Nuevo Casas Grandes Chihuahua, Mexico

Located in the PAQUIME area in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, Nuevo Casas Grandes began operations in March 1985. With strong customer-focused strategies and lean-driven concepts, this 165,000-square-foot plant builds and ships approximately 10,000,000 wiring systems annually to several General Motors vehicle assembly plants in the United States and Canada. The Casas Grandes Plant, which carries the slogan "The Best Plant by its People," has utilized the lean principles within the Delphi Manufacturing System to become one of the most successful plants in Delphi Packard's Mexico West Operations, with zero lost work days, over 80% reduction in RPPM (Rejected Parts Per Million), more than 50% reduction in Customer Complains, and 20% reduction in cost per shipped hour.

Maytag Jackson Dishwashing Products, Jackson, Tenn. -- Maytag Corporation's dishwasher plant is the first appliance manufacturer to earn the Shingo Prize. Associates belong to empowered High Performance Work Teams producing more than 100 dishwasher models daily, with brands including Maytag®, Jenn-Air® and Amana®. The Maytag LeanSigma® philosophy, which combines lean manufacturing methods with Six Sigma tools, was the path for transformation that began in 1999 and achieved significant improvements in Safety, Quality, Cost and Delivery, including a 64% reduction in OSHA recordable injury rate and 84% improvement in first pass quality yield. A very flexible single assembly line with capability to produce "any model/any day" was transformed into 8 single-piece-flow assembly cells with ability to produce "any model/any hour."

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson Operations, Tucson, Ariz. -- The employees at Raytheon Missile Systems proudly equip U.S. and allied warfighters with the latest technology to protect world freedom, including the Tomahawk Cruise Missile and Paveway(TM) laser guided bomb. Many of the company's products saw extensive use in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Raytheon's lean efforts have resulted in significant value improvements in product performance, stronger relationships and robust solutions for customers. Raytheon is committed to continue this journey to become a lean enterprise -- with speed, reliability and affordability -- and receiving the Shingo Prize has validated the firm's progress along the path to improvement.

TI Automotive, Cartersville, GA -- The plant produces more than 7.4 million brake and fuel bundles for Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz plants in both the United States and Canada. Cartersville team members operate by TI Automotive's own lean system of Common Sense Manufacturing, which is a passionate belief that there is always a simpler, better way. The plant has achieved single-digit ppm, 100 percent on time delivery and a 30 percent reduction in inventory levels. As the world's leading supplier of fluid storage, transfer and delivery systems, TI Automotive's more than 20,000 employees at 130 facilities worldwide are all dedicated to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Finalists

In addition to the Recipients listed, other finalists included Aspect Medical Systems, Newton, MA.; Delphi Lansing Cockpit Plant, Lansing, Mich.; Delphi Energy & Chassis, Saginaw, MI; Delphi Steering Plant 7, Saginaw, Mich.; GDX Automotive, Vehicle Sealing Products, Batesville, AR; GDX Automotive, New Haven, MO; Maytag-Searcy Laundry Products, Searcy, AR; Nemak Corporation of Canada-Windsor Aluminum Plant, Windsor, Ontario, Canada; TI Automotive, Brake Tube Assemblies, Greenville, TN. "Each of these plants are also outstanding in their manufacturing processes," according to Robson.

The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, for manufacturers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is administered by the College of Business, Utah State University. Awards for the Recipients and Finalists will be presented at the 16th Annual Shingo Prize Conference and Awards Ceremony to be held May 20, 2004, at the Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY. Speakers will include Gary Convis, President, Toyota Motor, Georgetown, KY and Masaaki Imai, Founder and Chairman, Kaizen, Institute, Tokyo, Japan, among others. For more information, go to www.shingoprize.org.

Lean Six Sigma: Solectron "outperform"

From New Ratings ... Solectron has recently introduced the Lean Six Sigma program, aimed at reducing labor and overhead transformation costs, the analyst says. ...

We are dedicated to ensuring our customers’ products move smoothly from design to production.

Through our design for Six Sigma Lean and manufacturability services, we ensure that volume production is achieved at the lowest total cost and highest quality possible. We integrate design for Six Sigma Lean practices at the outset of product development to drive out design defects and accelerate the design cycle by eliminating processes or items that cause waste. This includes the use of components from suppliers qualified for Six Sigma Lean practices. The result is increased product quality and reduced lead times, ensuring better delivery and flexibility for our customers’ end-users.

When designing for manufacturability, we take into account all aspects important to the manufacturing process – including components, test, line layout, speed and scheduling. All of this is done to lower production costs, increase yield and ensure customer products reach the market on time and on budget.

From PDAs to complex telecommunications and wafer fabrication equipment, we can build the range of final products and subsystems our customers require. Further, backed by Six Sigma Lean quality processes, we can produce it faster, with greater flexibility, lower costs and at the highest quality possible.

We put together all the pieces that make our customers’ products a reality. We assemble and connect the printed circuit boards and backplanes that form the heart of the system. We ensure the mechanicals mesh together, and create the enclosure that protects and houses it all.

Our build-to-order and configure-to-order services assemble a product according to the needs of the individual end-customer. And we integrate the hardware and software – as well as provide functional testing and reliability analysis – to ensure it works for that end-customer right out of the box.

Across our ISO-certified network of manufacturing sites, we work with customers to develop custom assembly and test processes that will meet their specific production needs. We utilize customized manufacturing control systems to assure reliable and repeatable high-quality processes.

Solectron Corporation Fact Sheet
Headquarters Milpitas, Calif. U.S.A.
Founded 1977
Business As a leading electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company, we provide a full range of global manufacturing and integrated supply chain services to the world's premier high tech electronics companies.
Services Product Design and Launch Support
Collaborative design
Design for Six Sigma and manufacturability
Product launch
Supply chain planning
Lean Manufacturing and Fulfillment

Printed circuit board assembly and subsystem manufacturing
Systems assembly and test
Product fulfillment and logistics
Global network for lowest landed cost
After-Market Services

Repair
End-of-life support
Process loops for design and manufacturing improvement

Customers Partnerships with many of the strongest companies in high-tech electronics, including Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Motorola, Nortel Networks, Sony and Sun Microsystems.
Markets Core Markets:
Communications - cellular infrastructure equipment, optical DWDM and SONET equipment, and telephone switching and PBX equipment

Computing and storage - mainframe computers, PCs and notebooks, point-of-sale systems, servers, storage systems and workstations

Networking - core and edge routers, core and edge Ethernet switches, DSL and cable broadband equipment and NICs
Strategic Growth Markets:

Automotive - ABS and airbag control modules, car audio and navigation systems, engine and ignition control modules and body electronics

Consumer products - cellular handsets, game consoles, PDAs, personal video recorders and set-top boxes

Industrial - home appliance electronic controls, process automation equipment, security control systems, semiconductor fabrication equipment controls, surveying handhelds, test and measurement instruments and ATE

Medical - X-ray equipment, ultrasound fetal monitors, MRI scanners, blood analyzers and surgical robotic systems

Stock Info Solectron is a publicly traded company on the NYSE, under the symbol SLR.
Revenue Revenues from continuing operations for fiscal year 2003, ended Aug. 31, 2003, were US$9.8 billion.
Locations Solectron spans five continents and is in more than 20 countries.
Awards Solectron has received more than 450 quality and service awards from its customers in addition to winning two Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards. Solectron has also recently received customer recognition for its implementation of Six Sigma Lean quality standards.
Contact Solectron Media Relations Tel: (408) 957-2772

Six Sigma Conference: ISSSP 2004 Leadership Conference Draws Largest Attendance of Six ...

From Business Wire (press release) - USA Join the largest assembly of recognized Six Sigma leaders at the Fifth Annual Leadership Conference of The International Society of Six Sigma Professionals ...

About ISSSP: Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals (ISSSP; www.isssp.com), is committed to promoting the adoption, advancement and integration of Six Sigma in business. The ISSSP worldwide community of individual, corporate, affiliate and partner organizations from a wide range of industries supports this mission through advocacy and awareness efforts, professional recognition and development, and as an information and referral resource.