Liam Frady

What Is Accuracy? Accuracy is the difference between a measured value compared to its true value. Since no measurement can be 100% exact, there needs to be a degree of inaccuracy allowed in the measurement. This degree of inaccuracy depends on the amount of error you can accept and is denoted by a […]

You may need to be able to determine if your processes are acceptable and capable. Thankfully, there are capability and performance indicators such as Cp, Pp, Cpk, and Ppk that can help you make that determination.

In business, you always want to think of your customer and you should be doing everything you can to add value to your service. There are some things, however, required to run your business that will have no inherent value to your customer.

What is Value Added? The most important thing to understand about value concepts is that they always revolve around the customer. Customers are the ones who set the standard for value, which means it’s based on whether the customer believes the product or service will address their specific needs. Increasing appeal by adding […]

What Are the Exit Criteria? Exit criteria are conditions that must be met before closing out one project stage and advancing to the next stage. When project management teams use exit criteria, they break down the project into multiple steps. Therefore, each stage will have its own set of conditions (exit criteria) that […]

When performing statistical data analyses, quality professionals are always challenged to maintain data integrity. When should you round up the answer; when should you round down? How many significant figures are appropriate for the data set that has been taken? Below is a set of simple rules that should help you traverse the […]

When defects happen in the manufacturing process, it’s important to correct them as quickly as possible and take action so they don’t occur again. Initiating a Corrective Action Report, or CAR, helps a project manager document the issue and define steps to avoid repeating it.

A machine capability index is an index that can be utilized as an effective measure of machine improvement. Therefore, it is an important term to be aware of so that you can be sure that the changes you have made to improve how the machines in your business are actually working!

How do you choose between a standard operating procedure and work instructions? When you’re onboarding employees, it helps to have the right sort of documentation in place. Today, we’re looking at the differences between both of these concepts and where they apply within your organization. What is Standard Operating Procedure? Most established companies […]

Steps in Constructing a p-Chart: p Charts can be used when the subgroups are not of equal size. This guide shows you the steps involved in constructing a p Chart.

What Is a Customer Journey Map? A customer journey map is a diagram that visually represents the various steps a customer goes through in engagement with your company. This can be with a product, service, online and in-person interaction, or a combination. The Benefits of a Customer Journey Map A customer journey map […]

When a product or service fails to meet quality standards, there are costs associated called Costs of Non-Conformance, or CONC. Find out more about this SixSigma concept.

One of the most confusing issues associated with someone saying “I’m using Six Sigma” has to do with what methodology they are using. A majority of the time they are using the DMAIC methodology because they have existing processes that are wasting resources (hence the big savings you’ve heard about at GE, Honeywell, […]

It is important to have a procedure in place to finalize a project. That is where a PSO (process sign off) procedure comes in.

What ethical challenges does AI pose? Anywhere you look now, there is no shortage of artificial intelligence systems in workplaces around the world. For some companies, this comes down to multiple systems working in concert with one another to achieve goals. Many industries have embraced AI, but that doesn’t mean it is a […]

There are times when you may encounter the need to analyze non-normal distribution. Having another option other than the ANOVA test in these types of situations is critical.

Voice of the Process vs. Voice of the Customer isn’t a debate necessarily. In Six Sigma, many voices communicate concepts, ideas, and progress that any organization should pay attention to. Some, like VOP, can inform you of the progress of a process. However, others like VOC, serve as a beacon into the minds […]

In the Six Sigma quality methodology, process performance is reported to the organization as a sigma level. The higher the sigma level, the better the process is performing. Another way to report process capability and process performance is through the statistical measurements of Cp, Cpk, Pp, and Ppk. This article will present definitions, […]

Remote work has been around for years now. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic showed the flexibility of working from home for some of your team members. With that in mind, we’re going to take a deeper look at remote work, some of the current trends driving it, and the benefits and drawbacks it […]

When it comes to getting a task accomplished, having an operations process greatly increases the probability of success.

Repeatability vs. precision, how do they apply to your workflow? Six Sigma is filled with different tools, terms, and methodologies applied across the production line. Today, we’re looking at two core concepts that deal with the accuracy of your processes. What Is Repeatability? Repeatability is the typical variation that occurs when a person […]

Lead time vs. cycle time, which do you choose? Improving your processes is a nuanced and complicated thing. Understanding the difference between the various measurements of time can only benefit your workflow. So, let’s dive into what this means and how it applies to your production. What is Lead Time? Lead time is […]

Out-of-control Action Plans (OCAPS) are a piece of the Lean Six Sigma methodology that is often overlooked. Though they have been phased out in some organizations, it is important to understand their purpose and how they can help a company improve its processes.

Cycle time vs. throughput time, do you know the difference? Typically, when we look at the steps of our workflow, you’ll want metrics to gauge effectiveness and efficiency. Depending on the scenario, you’ll want to use one of these two metrics while looking at the work time needed to complete a deliverable. What […]