Follow Me On:
Combining the Harada Method with Other Techniques (Kaizen, Lean, SMART, etc.)
Published:In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, achieving sustainable growth and high performance requires more than just setting goals. It requires a systematic approach that not only clarifies objectives but also refines skills, improves processes, and fosters continuous improvement. The Harada Method is an effective personal development system that emphasizes self-reliance, skill-building, and disciplined […]
Read moreHow Takashi Harada Created The Harada Method To Elevate Athletes, and Business
Published:In the fields of sports and business, achieving peak performance requires more than just technical skills and hard work. It involves cultivating the right mindset, creating structured goals, and following a path of continuous improvement. Takashi Harada, a former Japanese track and field coach, developed a unique method to help individuals achieve excellence […]
Read moreHow AI Can Be Used in the DMAIC Process
Published:The DMAIC methodology (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is a structured, data-driven approach central to Six Sigma practices and quality improvement efforts across various industries. By clearly outlining steps to understand, address, and control quality issues, DMAIC drives process efficiency, product quality, and customer satisfaction. With artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, DMAIC’s potential is […]
Read moreWhat AI Tools Can be Used in Lean Six Sigma Projects?
Published:Lean Six Sigma is a powerful methodology used to improve processes, reduce waste, and enhance quality. It incorporates data-driven decision-making and focuses on optimizing workflows using structured frameworks like DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify). With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the potential of Lean […]
Read moreThe Hidden Factory: Understanding the Unseen
Published:You claim your process yield is 98%. Are you sure? Have you considered your hidden factory? Let’s find out why you should.
Read moreRandom Sampling: Key to Reducing Bias and Increasing Accuracy
Published:Random sampling is a statistical method of selecting a sample of data from a larger set in such a way that each data point has an equal chance of being selected so that the sample represents the population from which it was drawn. What Is Random Sampling? Random sampling is a method of […]
Read moreSpan: Catching Variation in Your Data
Published:Span is a descriptor of the spread or variation of your data. It is a simple calculation that eliminates the impact of any outliers or unusually high or low values in your data set.
Read moreA Better Inventory Management Strategy Saved This Company $900,000 (and Improved Safety)
Published:Background At Apex Tools (fictional name), a mid-sized supplier of specialized mechanical components, inventory management and safety concerns had long been interwoven issues. As demand surged, materials flowed continuously into the warehouse, often in excessive amounts, cluttering aisles and creating unsafe conditions. This surplus inventory led to various issues: obsolescence, shrinkage, and frequent safety hazards […]
Read moreTrend Charts in Quality Management: Enhancing Process Monitoring
Published:You can learn a lot about your process by monitoring its change over time. There are different trend charts which will allow you to do that. Let’s look at a few.
Read moreThe Psychology Behind the Likert Scale
Published:What if you were asked to rate this article on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being you didn’t like it and 5 being you loved it. That’s an example of a Likert Scale.
Read moreVariable Data: Seeing the Change in Your Data
Published:Data is just data, right? Hardly! We hear about discrete data, attribute data, continuous data, and variable data. Let’s unravel some of the confusion.
Read moreIdentify, Design, Optimize, Validate: A Proven Approach to Designing High-Quality Products
Published:Incremental and continuous improvements are great. When appropriate, breakthrough improvement is even better. IDOV (identify, design, optimize, validate) is one tool for accomplishing this. Let’s see how.
Read moreInteraction: See the Effects on Your DOE
Published:The phrase “it depends” sums up the concept of interaction in the context of Design of Experiments. Interaction is when the effect of one factor on a response variable depends on the level or setting of another factor.
Read moreHow to Identify and Manage Stakeholders in Your Six Sigma Projects
Published:Your Six Sigma project will usually focus on a process with customers who directly receive the output of your process. But there are also others who will be impacted and have a stake in the outcome of your project. They are called stakeholders, and you need to understand them.
Read moreSorting, Configuring, and Cleaning: The Three Core Principles of 5C
Published:5C is the formal activity of organizing the workplace, and it serves as the foundation of any continuous improvement effort. Explore the 5C framework, and learn how to implement it in your organization.
Read moreZ-Score: A Handy Tool for Detecting Outliers in Data
Published:Some say that Z is the sign of Zorro (Spanish for fox), the fictional sword-wielding masked vigilante who defended and helped the poor. In statistics, it is something different. In statistics, z usually refers to the standardized score or z-score of a data point in a normal distribution. The z-score measures the number […]
Read moreExploring the Benefits of Autocorrelation in Time Series Analysis
Published:To optimize the benefit of your forecasting, you would like your time series values to be independent. Unfortunately, sometimes your values are correlated. This autocorrelation will have an impact on your ability to interpret what the data is telling you. Autocorrelation refers to the correlation between a time series variable and its lagged […]
Read moreSkewness in Data: What It Is and How to Interpret It
Published:When someone says your data is skewed, do you get upset? Skewness can be a natural state of your data. Let’s find out more about skewness and what it means.
Read moreCan AI Replace Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts?
Published:Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries worldwide, reshaping everything from customer service to manufacturing, and sparking questions about its potential to replace skilled professionals. Within quality management, particularly Lean Six Sigma (LSS), many wonder if AI could ultimately replace the role of a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB). As the highest […]
Read moreCan AI Be Used to Replace Six Sigma Statistical Software?
Published:Key Concepts Six Sigma is a well-established, data-driven methodology designed to improve processes by identifying and eliminating defects in manufacturing and business processes. One of the key components of Six Sigma is statistical analysis, which helps organizations identify problems and implement solutions. To perform this analysis, Six Sigma practitioners traditionally rely on specialized statistical software, […]
Read moreHow to Use Entitlement to Drive Process Improvement
Published:Entitlement is defined as the best performance you can reasonably achieve with the existing process.
Read moreInsights from COPIS for Improved Efficiency
Published:What does your process look like from 30,000 feet? Your extended process view can be described using COPIS, or customer, output, process, input, and supplier. Let’s get in our balloon and go up.
Read moreThe FabChip Caster Challenge: A Lean Six Sigma Journey To $3,000,000
Published:Background FabChip (fictitious name) was a leader in the global semiconductor industry, known for its cutting-edge wafer-fabrication equipment. With the semiconductor sector at the core of everything from smartphones to medical devices, FabChip’s role in supplying this vital technology was crucial. The equipment FabChip manufactured, however, was often large and complex. When it arrived at […]
Read moreAssessing Process Stability: Techniques and Tools
Published:Have you ever wondered why your doctor may keep you waiting in the waiting room or why you have to fast before doing a blood test? Let’s see if Lean Six Sigma can give you an answer.
Read more