In business, a cost-cutting death spiral is something that unfortunately occurs with regularity. It’s a “one bad decision follows another” scenario that starts with executives looking for ways to keep …
The business world has increased its focus on sustainability issues amid harrowing predictions on climate change as well as increased investor concerns about how private enterprises factor the planet’s future …
Written by: Michael Parent Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is entering a new era. The nature of work is changing and has already changed. Workers are remote. Processes no longer just …
Written by: Bryan Christiansen Every opportunity to increase equipment and labor efficiency within a manufacturing facility improves its productivity and revenue. For this reason, companies are continuously implementing and streamlining …
Established by the U.S. Congress in 1987, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) recognizes United States companies that successfully implement quality management systems. The award not only shines a …
Use: The award promotes the sharing of successful performance strategies. To receive the ‘Baldrige Award’, an organization must have a world-class management system that ensures continuous improvement in delivering products …
Even when used outside of manufacturing, process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma typically focus on making operations more efficient and effective. Business leaders seem to rarely apply them …
When problems appear, discipline is vital. Disciplines also help, and the eight disciplines of problem-solving (also referred to as the 8Ds) offer a proven process improvement structure that provides a framework for …
In Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma, poka-yoke (poh-kah yoh-keh) is a tool used to identify steps in a process where an error is likely to occur. This allows companies …
Written by: Bryan Christiansen Lean manufacturing focuses on eliminating wastes during production cycles by combining sets of improvement tools and a culture shift among employees. By practicing Lean manufacturing, companies …
