Articles

six sigma project champion

The Importance of the Project Charter

The quest of Six Sigma is to get as close to perfection as possible, which is 99.99966%. So to achieve this level of perfection, we take a detailed, specific and data-driven approach to tasks.  There are great tools to help achieve this. These tools help lay out the groundwork by forming a nice template to […]

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Critical to Quality (CTQ) is in the Six Sigma DNA

Critical to Quality, or CTQ, is a very important tool when designing a new product or service for your business. CTQs are the measurable data that is needed on a product or service that your customers have specified as being a very important requirement. The reason for this? CTQs will dictate the processes involved, the […]

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6sigma.us root cause analysis online training

Getting to the Root of the Cause in Six Sigma

When we have a problem or issue, we need to get to the root of that problem, otherwise that problem won’t go away. The specific problem will keep happening, because like a bad weed, it will keep popping its ugly, annoying head up and cause the same issue. Root cause analysis (RCA) is a specific technique […]

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six sigma human resources

Human Resources Can Create a Successful Six Sigma Environment

Since Six Sigma is an all out team effort, it is extremely important to have the right candidates creating those teams. Let’s assume that we have an excellent staff already, but we need to increase our manpower due to turnover. This is when the duties of human resources become extremely important to get the company […]

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total quality management

Six Sigma Improvement of Total Quality Management (TQM)

The origin of Total Quality Management (TQM) had many forefathers in its inception, but was generic in nature. Meaning you could plug the works of Ishikawa, Juran and Deming (just to name a few) into any business and you’d get results — just not the best results for your specific business. Six Sigma has some […]

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christmas six sigma

A Christmas Wish From 6Sigma.us

Christmas Time is oh so near Children so excited you can hear them cheer Enthusiasm and excitement fill the air And people show love in how they care. Take the time to enjoy the season And be thankful for the reason. Catherine Pulisfer From All of Us at 6Sigma.us!

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product design DFM six sigma

DFM: Designing with Simplicity in Mind

The primary goal of Six Sigma is to improve what already exists. We want to work more efficiently and effectively, by eliminating waste, increasing customer satisfaction, which will ultimately generate more profits. So what if you want to design a product that has cost effectiveness already built in?  Here is an interesting statistic — about […]

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dmaic clean house

DMAIC For Home Use

The way our mind thinks is one of the main reasons we need to use Six Sigma’s DMAIC template. At work, there is a natural order in which our processes are done. The reasons that things are done in a certain order is because it is efficient, takes up less time (which makes us more […]

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six sigma branding

Branding Is the Essence of Your Business

Establishing a strong brand is one of the most important things you can do for your business. But what is branding? By definition, it is the practice of creating a name, symbol or logo that for a product or service, creating an image in the consumer’s mind. A strong brand should differentiate a product or service […]

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Taking Legal Action with Six Sigma

In the worst scenarios, illegitimate practitioners will try to copy your organization and even steal your employees. Equally, business fraud of any kind almost always requires you to take legal action. It’s an unfortunate fact that Six Sigma does not have its own governing body, which means that anyone can get away with anything. For […]

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Six Sigma and Business Analytics: Detecting Fraud

Six Sigma’s usefulness goes well beyond process improvement. It’s also a powerful tool for detecting fraud in accounting data. You should always remain vigilant, as it is often unexpected and difficult to identify. Are you worried about your organization being compromised by fraud? Six Sigma can help. Once you know what to look for, you […]

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Six Sigma and KPIs: Customer Complaints

Your customers are the most important factor for generating revenue. Think about it. Without customers to pay for your products and services, you have no revenue, which means no profit. Plain and simple. Without customers, your business can’t exist. Make sure you know and understand what your customers want. Understanding customer demand is essential to […]

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xerox six sigma

Xerox and Six Sigma: A Great Partnership

Xerox implemented Lean Six Sigma back in 2003, and needless to say (but we will say it anyway) with great success. The ripple effect that using Six Sigma as well as Lean strategies has had on all who do business with Xerox is startling. We want to first bring up the fact that all of […]

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How to Manage Difficult Team Members

Let’s face it; we all have to deal with difficult team members from time to time. Whether it’s little issues, such as not showing up to work on time, or bigger ones, like failing to complete tasks on time, it’s important to effectively manage the situation. Six Sigma focuses on providing innovative improvement methods for […]

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Practicing Due Diligence: Signs of a Legitimate Professional

When searching for your first, or next, Six Sigma course, it’s important to be on the lookout for illegitimate practitioners. These practitioners may talk you in to paying more for a course than you should, falsely advertise their program, or fall through on their certification promises. Regardless of the reason, there will always be a […]

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uber

Six Sigma Leadership Profile: Uber

At 6sigma.us, we like to analyze a variety of companies in our ‘Leadership Profile’ articles to showcase how they use Six Sigma. These companies exhibit innovative and resourceful skills that help further progress their organization’s success. Whether you’re a non-profit organization or an industry-leading manufacturing company, there’s always a use for Six Sigma methodologies. In […]

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Six Sigma Case Study: Whole Foods

It’s impossible to avoid the growing footprint of Whole Foods across the United States. Since the company’s creation in the late 1970’s, the grocery store chain has become a household name. Seen as a premium brand, its business model focuses on a set of strict criteria and a specific customer base. However, with its strict […]

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Practicing Due Diligence: Checking In

Whenever you work on a project, apply for a new career, or order something online, you like to check its status. How far along your project has come, when your next interview will be, and where your package is, are all questions you ask when checking the progress. Six Sigma is no different. When you […]

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How to Avoid Illegitimate Practitioners

There’s never been a better or more appropriate time for professionals to seek Six Sigma certification. From advancing careers to understanding the complexity of business processes, Six Sigma certification is an excellent achievement for anyone. Decades ago when Six Sigma methodologies were first introduced by Motorola and GE, there were few practitioners offering training and […]

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Practicing Due Diligence: How to Save Yourself Time & Money

As a professional seeking Six Sigma certification, your time and money are extremely valuable. Unlike those who are not currently working or without day time commitments, it’s more difficult for you to devote your free time to a course that you’re unsure about. While there are pros and cons to every Six Sigma program, one […]

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