Well-run Process Improvement Teams a Key to Success
One of the key success factors of Six Sigma is the ability to set up and run an interdisciplinary, multi-skilled and management-supported process improvement team. A Six Sigma project team – like any...
View ArticleY = f(x) Roadmap: Telling the DMAIC Story Using Xs and Ys
With its DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) roadmap, the Six Sigma methodology provides a structured and systematic approach to solve business and process problems. The related toolkit...
View ArticleMaking Sense of Mann-Whitney Test for Median Comparison
When conducting the 2-sample t-test to compare the average of two groups, the data in both groups must be sampled from a normally distributed population. If that assumption does not hold, the...
View ArticleUsing the 1-Sample Sign Test for Paired Data
The paired t-test is used to check whether the average differences between two samples are significant or due only to random chance. In contrast with the “normal” t-test, the samples from the two...
View ArticleDFSS Study: Develop Software to Track Drug Side Effects
Integrating Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), IDOV (identify, design, optimize, validate) roadmap and selected DFSS tools in the information technology (IT) system development methodology can strengthen the...
View ArticleUnderstanding the Uses for Mood’s Median Test
When comparing the average of two or more groups with the help of hypothesis tests, the assumption is that the data is a sample from a normally distributed population. That is why hypothesis tests such...
View ArticleA System for Colleague Consulting Among Black Belts
Most of the difficult situations Black Belts face in their day-to-day work are not related to the application of a specific Six Sigma tool, but rather to change or project management issues. For...
View ArticleCost of Quality: Not Only Failure Costs
When calculating the business case for a Six Sigma project, the cost of poor quality (COPQ), which is the cost caused through producing defects, is a commonly used concept. Within the total amount of...
View ArticleReaching Excellence in Black Belt Performance
Beyond technical know-how and project execution, outstanding Six Sigma Black Belts know how to get in the "flow" – that level of performance that comes when competence and challenge are aligned. The...
View ArticleHow to Effectively Coach Green Belts and Black Belts
Green Belt and Black Belt coaching has for many organizations become an integral part of Lean Six Sigma implementation and critical to the success of improvement projects. However, standards and best...
View ArticleCreating a Recruiting Process: DFSS for Process Design
The following case study illustrates how a pharmaceutical company applied selected DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) tools to develop a new recruiting process for sales representatives. Tools and activities...
View ArticleDealing with Non-normal Data: Strategies and Tools
Normally distributed data is a commonly misunderstood concept in Six Sigma. Some people believe that all data collected and used for analysis must be distributed normally. But normal distribution does...
View ArticleMaking Data Normal Using Box-Cox Power Transformation
Normally distributed data is needed to use a number of statistical analysis tools, such as individuals control charts, Cp/Cpk analysis, t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). When data is not...
View ArticlePreventing Conflicts Through Stakeholder Management
A stakeholder of a Six Sigma project is anyone associated with the project either directly or indirectly. Examples of stakeholders are supervisors providing resources, team members, department heads...
View ArticleUse a Modified FMEA to Mitigate Project Risks
Every project faces a number of elements that risk its success. For instance, a lack of team-member availability, qualified resources, customer information, data, proven technologies, a clear scope –...
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