Category: Concepts

Calibration is the act of testing the accuracy of measurement equipment and adjusting it to conform to an independent standard.

Fisher’s 1-way ANOVA is a classic analysis of variance utilized in statistics to determine if there are statistical differences between the means of two or more unrelated groups.

Fits are another term for fitted values. A fitted value is a prediction in a statistical model of a mean response value.

Have you ever noticed that, when you observe people doing their job, they may alter the way they work if they know you are looking? That sums up the essence of the Hawthorne Effect.

Change management is defined as the methodological approach a company takes in the implemental change of its internal and external processes.

For every action we take, there is an effect. Some actions may have only one or a few effects, while others can have a multitude. Having an understanding of the effects of actions, as well as what exactly causes them, helps us be mindful of which actions to take.

You might be familiar with a continuous random variable where you can measure something with an infinite number of possible values. But what if your data has only two possible values; good or bad? Maybe we can answer that with a discussion of a binomial random variable.

Knowing when your methods are not the most efficient is an important realization to have. Being willing to improve upon your processes and make them more efficient can be a deciding factor on whether your business is going to survive and thrive. Manufacturers may begin with processes that utilize a more Datsu Chaku method, but should always be working towards a more Chaku Chaku-focused mode of operations.

A collection of educational and research material that outlines a systemic model for companies delivering IT services.

Black noise is a phenomenon that occurs during Lean Six Sigma projects. It often causes confusion and frustration for project managers and team members alike, but understanding black noise can make your projects run more smoothly and efficiently.

Sometimes you have to break something down into the smallest possible pieces before you can make it right. Process mapping is one of the first major steps when adopting six sigma, so it’s something business leaders should learn to love. Depicting workflow and processes in a visual format sets the stage for defining, understanding and […]

Overview: What is a whisker? We need to do a quick review of a box plot before discussing a whisker. The box plot, also referred to as a box and whiskers plot, was introduced in 1970 by American statistician, Dr. John Tukey.  A box plot consists of two parts, a box, and a set of […]

You just did some statistical analysis, but your results don’t make sense to you. Did you capture all the variables you needed or is there something you missed? Maybe there is a lurking variable.

There are three measures of central tendency for data. One is the mean or x-bar, the others are the median and mode. Let’s take a closer look at the mean or x-bar. Overview: What is x-bar? In statistics, the Latin small letter x is used to represent a variable in a set of sample data. […]

The three descriptors that can be used to describe the variation or dispersion of your data are the standard deviation, variance and range. The range is the easiest to calculate, but not the most useful in describing the variation of your data.

You have probably heard of the Pareto Principle and used a Pareto Chart. Since it is one of the 7 QC Tools, let’s explore this topic in a little more detail.

The median strip in the road runs down the middle so half the road is on one side and the other half on the other side. Does the statistical median do the same thing? 

If you wanted to improve the gas mileage of your car, what factors would you look at to do that? How would you measure the impact or effect of those factors? Computing the main effect could answer your question.

One of the important statistical descriptors of your data is its central tendency. Central tendency can be described using the mean, median and mode of the data. The mean is described as the mathematical center of your data. The median is the physical center of your data, and the mode is the most frequently occurring value in your data.

What is Lead Time? Lead time is the amount of time that it takes to get a product or service completed for a customer, from the time of ordering until completion of delivery. A lot of factors can figure into the amount of lead time. Some factors include supplier back-up, other orders that need fulfilling, […]

Buffers are basic protection for businesses, but going too big can be a major source of waste.

What is Process Time? Process time describes the interval required for a product or service to progress through a specific development stage. The exact scope of a “development stage” depends on the context. In industry or manufacturing, each stage is usually confined to a particular physical location with a workstation and equipment. Understanding and improving […]

D-MAGICS is a sub-methodology within Lean Six Sigma for improving processes. It aims to make the DMAIC tool easier to successfully execute by emphasizing the importance of grasping the existence of the problems and realistically sustaining the corrections.

If you have an ordered list and the numbers need to be ranked, having ties can make things difficult. Thankfully, there is a simple solution for addressing this.