Lori Kinney

When a product is purchased by an end-user, it is generally sold individually. However, when the product is initially delivered to a distributor by a supplier or sold wholesale, it is usually grouped into a large quantity and sold as a lot. When your business expands, it is almost guaranteed that you will be dealing […]

Almost every product requires physical materials, even services or solutions that don’t include a final physical deliverable. Any type of resource, component or supply needed to produce a particular product is considered a material. Material requirements planning (MRP) is a method for gaining greater control over internal logistics and turning it to the company’s advantage. […]

Management plays a critical role in the successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies within organizations. It provides the foundation for driving process improvement, achieving operational excellence, and delivering superior customer value. In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations strive for efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement to stay ahead. In pursuit of these goals, Lean […]

MTTR can refer to Mean Time to Repair as well as Mean Time to Resolution, Mean Time to Resolve, and Mean Time to Recovery. These all mean the same general thing, but on this definition page, whenever we reference MTTR, it is in regard to Mean Time to Repair. Overview: What is Mean Time to […]

Understanding mean time between failures (MTBF) is a way of expecting the unexpected. Every kind of physical tool, machine or device will eventually fail. Friction of physical parts rubbing against each other, degradation of certain materials or misalignment between different components can all contribute to system failures. That’s why every active car needs tune-ups and […]

Having a metricationist on your team opens up your organization to a wide range of possibilities. The use of metrics can mean the difference between an average company and a great one. A metricationist can help take your company to an optimal level of quality. Overview: What is a metricationist? A metricationist is a person […]

Management by knowledge is imperative to the success of your process improvement initiatives. Discover how to harness this tactic in your Six Sigma processes to enhance performance, promote collaboration, and maximize staff potential. What is Management by Knowledge in Six Sigma? Six Sigma serves as a powerful tool to drive efficiency and customer satisfaction. With […]

Having a reliable method to account for your inventory is vital for reporting your financials to stakeholders as well as having the appropriate information for your business taxes. There are three popular methods for this, and they are the FIFO, LIFO, and average cost methods. If you are running a business, you are looking for […]

Six Sigma is a method for process improvement that aims to minimize variation. Organizations with multiple departments such as finance, manufacturing, and sales with different definitions of a defect can use these universal metrics to identify processes that are not operating at a Six Sigma level. Overview: What is an L1 Spreadsheet? An L1 spreadsheet is […]

When it comes to process capability, the more tools you have, the better. An L2 spreadsheet can help to make working with your capabilities a simpler endeavor. L2 Spreadsheet An L2 spreadsheet is just one of many spreadsheets that can help you be more knowledgeable about the ins and outs of your business. Overview: What […]

You may remember seeing or having a Jack in the Box toy when you were a child. It looked much like a box and would have a crank on its side that you could turn. It would play a little song, and suddenly the top would fly open and the head of a clown (or […]

Sometimes we need the input of others in order to make a process easier. We also often could use someone who can bring a group together when working toward a goal. When this is done, that person is someone who facilitates. In a meeting, it can be easy for a group to lose direction. Having […]

Goals are pretty simple. In sports, reaching the goal adds points to the scoreboard. In business, reaching the goal means doing what you set out to do. In your personal life, it’s finding a sense of purpose, belonging and completion. Overview: What is a goal? Even though the concept is easy to define and understand, […]

Having a clear comprehension of all the costs you incur when creating a product is integral to running a successful business. This includes both your direct and indirect costs. When making a product or providing a service, it may be obvious what your direct costs are since you are paying for parts, labor, and so […]

Marketing is crucial for most organizations in their efforts to acquire new customers and maintain their relationships with their existing ones. There are many factors involved in developing proper marketing strategies. One of them is the collection and proper analysis of interactional data. Interactional data is not used to its full potential by many organizations […]

Instant pudding may make a great snack, but it’s a terrible approach to managing quality and productivity in business. Unlike the average domestic kitchen, there are very few things that you can simply whip together in the business world. Overview: What is instant pudding? In the context of business and process management, the term “instant […]

Virtually every business decision is a matter of investment and success is based on how companies deploy resources like employee time, capital and brand image. The authority to make independent decisions is also a type of resource that can and should be invested by delegating it to team members. Overview: What is empowerment? Employee empowerment […]

The landscape of how business is done is ever-evolving. The way that businesses interact with customers and how those customers purchase goods and services is unrecognizable from how things were done just a couple of decades ago. A big component of these changes is the rise of information communication technology. Any time you make a […]

The pursuit of knowledge is not relegated solely to the individual. Businesses regularly gather staff and other stakeholders with the intent of working together to gain knowledge that can assist in the goals of the organization. When an organization puts together a knowledge-based community, it shows that it is not only invested in the advancement […]

Key business requirements are everything. They are the measure by which your product, process or company lives or dies, so ignorance is not an option.

The concept of “erroneous” in Six Sigma emphasizes the importance of accuracy and reliability in data collection and analysis. Erroneous data can lead to incorrect conclusions, poor decision-making, and negative business outcomes. To address erroneous data, organizations can implement best practices such as defining what constitutes erroneous data, implementing robust data validation processes, using statistical […]

Overview: What is FMEA? When it comes to risk assessment in Lean Six Sigma, one of the most useful tools you can use is FMEA. FMEA stands for Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. It’s a tool used to identify and prioritize potential failures of a product or process through a systematic approach that involves identifying […]

It is necessary to have data organized in a systematic and uniform manner. This keeps information tidy and easy to interpret. One part of keeping data together in this way is by using an established form/format system. Can you imagine doing a major business deal and just being handed a blank sheet of paper to […]

With most major corporations, in order to get their products into your hands inexpensively, the work does not all happen in one place. More often than not, various aspects involved in the manufacturing process occur across more than one country. This would be very difficult to achieve if not for the advancement of globalization.Globalization plays […]