Analytics enable management to draw conclusions from data, helping to sense and adapt the business to market conditions. …
… “Total quality management and six-sigma programs trained a generation of production managers to value rigorous application of data. “ …
via Smart Data: Analytics get numbers to tell stories.
Hexion Specialty Chemicals is recognized with a 2009 Global Six Sigma & Business Improvement Award based on its achievement in deploying Six Sigma for enterprise business improvement in the chemical industry. …
… “Six Sigma at Hexion is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects in any business process. It provides various methods and tools to associates to examine processes within the business from the customer’s perspective, and to improve them to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Hexion has implemented Six Sigma programming across its global organization and has made Six Sigma a core process in its business operations. Its award entry documented various business process improvements, savings and service enhancements resulting from embracing Six Sigma methodology as a way of doing business. ” …
Via Hexion Specialty Chemicals: Global Six Sigma & Business Improvement Award
Six Sigma drives Hexion’s plant data reporting and analysis investments (PDF).
Hexion participates in industry efforts in benchmarking and best practice models. …
Instantis Six Sigma Maturity Model (PDF): “The Six Sigma Maturity Model is a good representation of the journey Hexion has gone through so far in our Six Sigma deployment. My prior experience at multiple Fortune 100 companies also coincides with the model, commented Nipesh Shah corporate vice president of Six Sigma at Hexion Specialty Chemicals, the world’s largest producer of binder, adhesive, coating and ink resins for industrial applications. We look forward to participating in this research effort to get a better sense of how our progress stacks up against our peers. “
Here are some insights into their Six Sigma journey. …
Via Aberdeen Group’s Lean Six Sigma Benchmark Report (PDF): “We went after the best. We took plant managers and individuals who managed quality across the North American continent. They became our Black Belts. It takes time, but after 2 years we had a breakthrough. -Jonathan Squire, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. “
GE Fanuc embraces PLC standards that enable continuous improvement through identification and resolution of root causes involving manufacturing events. …
… “Integrating OMAC’s PackML and Packtag standards into an automation solution reduces the burden of handshaking between PLCs on a coordinated line. The result: faster line rates can be maintained, and improved coordination can reduce the need for buffering conveyance and/or accumulators. Furthermore, these control-layer standards can actually reach well beyond the registers in a control system: by reducing the forensic work needed to integrate machines on disparate platforms, PackTags and PackML lay the foundation to easily and consistently interpret the event data that resides in the controllers of packaging lines. And it is this data that powers the root cause analysis needed to identify and engineer out sources of inefficiencies. ” …
Via GE Fanuc: OMAC Make2Pack Standards Accelerate Manufacturing Continuous Improvement Initiatives
HP and PolyVista implement warranty chain management solution for Trane in eight weeks to enable the identification of product quality and warranty-related issues. The solution automates early detection and supports root cause analysis. …
… “HP and PolyVista’s warranty and quality analytics solution worked immediately, allowing us to effectively mine our warranty and production data, said Jerry Brinks, senior quality engineer and Six Sigma Black Belt, Trane. This helps us to identify potential product defects and warranty management challenges, trends and anomalies for faster identification and resolution of product quality and warranty-related problems before we start hearing about it from anywhere else. ” …
Via HP: Trane Warranty Chain Management Early Warning Solution
Healthcare association sees benefits from the application of Six Sigma methods to identify the critical levers for patient care. …
… “In a retrospective study, Ms. Gamerdinger and colleagues from Mercy Medical Center evaluated the outcomes of a Six Sigma performance improvement project focused on compliance with JCAHO CAP Core Measures to ensure that each measure of care was met. Utilizing Six Sigma methodology, researchers identified critical processes and key stakeholders in patient care and utilized specific tools for process flow, cause/effect matrices, and outcomes analysis. The hospital also dedicated several full-time positions to the new methodology and trained more than 100 individuals in the Six Sigma program. When deviations from the Six Sigma protocol occurred, timely feedback was provided to care providers. After program implementation, researchers collected and analyzed data related to core measures, length of stay, and mortality in 1,550 patients with CAP admitted to the hospital during the study period. Results indicated that compliance scores for each JCAHO Core Measure improved from 70% to over 90%. CAP order usage improved from 40 %to 73%, yielding an 82.5% increase. Mean length of stay was reduced from 5.9 days to 5.1 days, a 13.56% reduction, which was associated with over $300,000 in cost savings. By the end of the study period, in-hospital mortality rates also decreased from 6.7% to 3.5%, a 47.8% reduction. ” …
6 Sigma decreases mortality in hospitalized patients
Machine monitoring enables Six Sigma data collection and analysis. …
… “The basis for effective Continuous Improvement programs such as Lean or Six Sigma is the availability and the access to reliable machine data. There are typically two approaches to data collection employed by manufacturers today. The first approach involves manual data collection and analysis – a completely paper based system. The second approach also uses data that is collected manually, but requires machine operators to input data estimates into a PC before it can be analyzed in an external database or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Manufacturers realize that both approaches produce inaccurate data and limit the potential for meaningful analysis and effective decisions. Shoplogix’s patented Plantnode solution eliminates manual processes in production. By fully automating data collection and analysis at the machine level and then presenting data in real-time, Plantnode reports and analytics are based on fact rather than estimate. ” …
Via Shoplogix: Advanced Machine Monitoring System
For companies to reap the value of business intelligence, competence in data analysis is key to success. An enterprise with Six Sigma experience will have a head start due to the data analysis discipline instilled in the DMAIC process. …
… “Most organizations don’t do this, though through the Six Sigma programs that some companies, like GE run, many more people are now being trained in this way. Their use of information in decision making changes dramatically after this type of training. ” …
Via destinationCRM: Business Intelligence
Hospital sees benefits from kaizen approach to continuous improvement, where the workforce is empowered to seek change. …
… “Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ind., focused on changing the culture and environment in its surgical area to improve operations. Practice changes were driven by stringent data analysis, as well some newer methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma and Kaizen. ” …
Via Infection Control Today: Hospital Efficiency
Trane uses HP and PolyVista warranty chain management solution to rapidly identify product quality and warranty-related issues through automated early detection and root cause analysis. …
… “The solution, which was up and running in eight weeks, helps Trane quickly identify product quality and warranty-related issues through automated early detection and root cause analysis. After correcting any current issue detected by the solution, manufacturing teams at Trane can pass the information on to the design or engineering teams to help avoid problems in future products, as well as to vendors and suppliers to help improve long-term product reliability. Through this process, the solution offers reduced warranty costs, improved product development, sourcing and manufacturing processes, and better customer satisfaction. ” …
Via HP: Warranty Chain Management Early Warning System For Defects
Trane uses HP and PolyVista warranty chain management solution to rapidly identify product quality and warranty-related issues through automated early detection and root cause analysis. …
… “The solution, which was up and running in eight weeks, helps Trane quickly identify product quality and warranty-related issues through automated early detection and root cause analysis. After correcting any current issue detected by the solution, manufacturing teams at Trane can pass the information on to the design or engineering teams to help avoid problems in future products, as well as to vendors and suppliers to help improve long-term product reliability. Through this process, the solution offers reduced warranty costs, improved product development, sourcing and manufacturing processes, and better customer satisfaction. ” …
Via HP: Warranty Chain Management Early Warning System For Defects
Minitab launches new software for the Six Sigma professional that supports the project roadmap. …
… “Minitab Inc. announced the release of Quality Companion 2 by Minitab, process improvement software designed specifically to help Six Sigma professionals manage and execute their projects. The new product complements the company’s flagship product, Minitab Statistical Software, which professionals worldwide rely on to tackle the sophisticated statistical data analysis at the heart of every Six Sigma project. Quality Companion 2 simplifies the many other challenges involved in quality improvement, and helps teams plan, execute, document and report on their projects. It brings together three elements critical to Six Sigma success: organization, practical tools, and expert guidance. ” …
Via Minitab: MINITAB LAUNCHES QUALITY COMPANION 2 FOR SIX SIGMA PROFESSIONALS …
Minitab launches new software for the Six Sigma professional that supports the project roadmap. …
… “Minitab Inc. announced the release of Quality Companion 2 by Minitab, process improvement software designed specifically to help Six Sigma professionals manage and execute their projects. The new product complements the company’s flagship product, Minitab Statistical Software, which professionals worldwide rely on to tackle the sophisticated statistical data analysis at the heart of every Six Sigma project. Quality Companion 2 simplifies the many other challenges involved in quality improvement, and helps teams plan, execute, document and report on their projects. It brings together three elements critical to Six Sigma success: organization, practical tools, and expert guidance. ” …
Via Minitab: MINITAB LAUNCHES QUALITY COMPANION 2 FOR SIX SIGMA PROFESSIONALS …
Business development leader named at Hertzler …
… “Tom has proven his commitment to our customers by helping them solve significant problems, said Evan Miller, Hertzler‘s President. Regardless of their business improvement methodology – Six Sigma, Lean, Total Quality Management, ISO – Clients come to us because they need to become data driven. Tom is an essential asset to our team at this exciting period of growth for our business. He will help enable Hertzler to build an even stronger position as the real-time enterprise data acquisition and analysis systems software leader. ” …
Six Sigma Business Development: Via Hertzler Systems: Hertzler Systems appoints Vice President of Business Development …
Incuity extends its reach through new channel partners. …
… “Incuity EMI connects to a variety of off-the-shelf plant floor historian products – such as Wonderware’s IndustrialSQL Server historian, the GE iHistorian, OSIsoft’s PI database, Rockwell Automation’s RS Bizwire Historian and any other OPC HDAcompatible historian – to access archived production data and allow users to manipulate, view, trend and report on it in the appropriate context. More importantly, it connects to multiple types of data sources across all levels of medium and large companies, from plant floor systems to enterprise business applications. It offers sophisticated capabilities for manipulating, viewing and sharing data throughout larger organizations. Incuity can access information over any network, using standard browsers, and process it as requested so users can analyze it from within the application software they already use to do their jobs – whether it’s automation control systems, word processors, spreadsheets, graphics, data mining or other programs. ” …
Incuity Software, based in Mission Viejo, California, is a pioneer in the creation of data management systems for reporting, analysis and business intelligence applications in manufacturing and process companies. More than 45,000 seats of the company’s products have been installed since 1998, in 13 languages and in more than 40 countries. In addition to its headquarters operations in California, Incuity has a regional sales office in Nevada and maintains an advanced solutions development group in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Report explores the evolution of manufacturing intelligence software and the benefits of plant to business integration: visibility. …
… “The ability to unlock the operational data that would empower plant managers and executives to make informed, timely decisions has eluded many companies until relatively recently. However, a new generation of MES (manufacturing execution systems) and manufacturing intelligence systems is enabling the collection, presentation, and analysis of critical, real-time data to decision makers throughout the enterprise and the supply chain. ” …
