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R-square is the square of R. That’s easy. But what does it really mean, and how do I interpret it?

The strategy of continuously improving your organizational processes by setting your goals, identifying deviations from those goals, and then taking appropriate actions to adjust your processes to close the gaps.

Quality improvement takes dedication, time, and resources. With this being the case, many find myriad excuses to hold off on quality improvement efforts until the very end, usually to the detriment of their organization. Being able to offer quality products and services to your customers needs to be a primary focus of your business. When […]

A quality attribute is a characteristic of a system that is used to evaluate the system’s performance from the perspective of the end user.

How do you take your customer’s requirements and drill down through the entire product or service development process? Quality function deployment is a great way to do that. Let’s see how it is done.

A data point taken at random from the universe or population of your process.

Financial business metrics can be jargon-heavy and cumbersome to use. We simplify and demystify return on investment, making this accessible to all and giving you the confidence to use in your daily business life.

If your organization is known for its high-quality products and services, then you should perceive that as a good thing. But did the concept of quality control help you get there? Let’s explore what quality control really means. Quality is often defined as having your products or services meet your customers’ specifications or expectations. Control […]

Inspection of the structures and machinery in manufacturing plants was once done primarily through industry practices that were rooted in health and safety regulations along with prescriptive codes. Unfortunately, this type of inspection did not take into account the risk of failure, environmental conditions, and so forth. A more well-rounded approach to inspection was developed […]

What does it mean when you see the phrase Q1? Using the common phrase of consultants, it depends, the definition of Q1 is dependent upon the context of its use. Let’s examine the possible definitions. While the phrase Q1 seems simple enough to understand, the true meaning will be a function of the context in […]

Also known as discrete data.

Risk based maintenance (RBM) is the result of combining lean management philosophy with conventional risk management. You could also call it “smart maintenance” or “informed maintenance” since it relies heavily on data and planning. It has useful implications in both risk prevention and crisis management. Overview: What is risk based maintenance? Companies that employ a […]

SCAMPER is an acronym for a simple approach to creative brainstorming. The technique uses a series of questions that prompt you to come up with creative ideas for improving products and processes.

Overview: What is a quality dictionary? In the Six Sigma methodology, effective communication is essential to ensure all stakeholders are working towards the same goal. A quality dictionary is a critical tool in establishing a common language and understanding of key terms and concepts related to quality and process improvement, helping to reduce ambiguity and […]

Say what you do and do what you say is a phrase often used to summarize what quality standards like QS-9000 are all about. Although now obsolete, let’s explore what it was and what replaced it.

Keeping records is a necessary part of any business. This extends to everything from business transactions to a company’s quality management system.The proper formatting, cataloging, storage, and maintenance of quality records are all vital facets of an organization’s quality management system. Overview: What is a quality record? A quality record can be defined as the […]

The term “process measurables” is incredibly narrow and also incredibly broad. In the scope of overall business management, it can seem like a pretty narrow and technical concept. However, for process managers, it’s a concept that can describe hundreds of different things in one project alone. Overview: What are process measurables? A measurable is any […]

Having the right processes is integral to the success of your business, but having the right type of practices in your organization helps make sure that the work being done to implement those processes is approached from the right perspective. Getting a task done is necessary, but it is also important to look at how […]

Preventing a problem is better than correcting one. Anticipating and avoiding potential issues before they arise is a hallmark of strong business management.

You can’t be right all the time when making decisions about your process. But, you can manage that risk. Producer’s risk is one of those risks, so let’s learn a little bit more about it.

You are convinced there is a correlation between your X and Y variables. But, you won’t know for sure until you can establish the strength of the correlation. That’s where R comes in. Let’s learn some more about R. R is the symbol used to represent the strength and direction of correlation between continuous variables. […]

Process management, sometimes referred to as Business Process Management (BPM) is a systematic approach to ensure that your organization’s business processes are aligned in an efficient and effective manner, and aligned with your organization’s strategic goals.  Some of the benefits to having a process management system in place are: Overview: What is process management?  The […]

Precision is how companies build systems that enable them to deliver the right solutions to their customers’ problems at the right times, repeatedly. Does your company do that?

In statistics and math there are two types of data: quantitative data and categorical data. A variable that represents quantitative data is called a quantitative variable while a variable representing categorical data is called a categorical variable.  Overview: What is a quantitative variable?  Quantitative data represents values and numbers which can be measured or counted […]

Have you ever waited in a line at the grocery store or bank? The British term for a line is a queue. Queuing theory is the mathematical study of waiting in line. Let’s learn more about this. The British refer to a line as a queue. Queuing theory is the mathematical study of people, objects […]

The term parts per million, or PPM, is used in a number of contexts in engineering, chemistry and process improvement. We will focus on the application in continuous or process improvement.

Have you ever heard someone ask the question, “What’s the odds of that happening?”. Well, that’s the concept of probability. Let’s learn a little more about probability and how it can be used in your organization.  When you start discussing probability with someone else in your organization, you may hear the words deterministic or stochastic. […]

With statistical process charts (SPC), you have a statistical approach that is accessible and allows you to find solutions to system and process problems. One type of chart that falls under the SPC umbrella of tools is the rare event SPC. When rare events occur in your industry, it is necessary to monitor them to […]

Effective scope management keeps your project on track by establishing clear goals, progressive milestones, performance standards, and specific restraints across every stage of the process.

Nothing is perfect, but almost everything can be made better. That’s the basic philosophy behind any optimization strategy. Optimizing is an activity that businesses pursue when they are generally satisfied with the entry criteria and scope of a particular process, but want to further improve the efficiency or reduce output variability. Overview: What is optimization? […]

Is there a real difference between machines? Did what I changed really help? Does a relationship really exist between temperature and pressure? The answers to these questions and others can be provided by the p-value.

For any process you collect data on, there will be a signal and some noise. Unfortunately, if the noise is loud enough, it will drown out your signal. Let’s see what we mean by noise and how we can mitigate its impact.

When you work on a process, there is always a result. These results can be broken down into outputs and outcomes. Whatever you put into your work results in the degree of your output. Your output is dependent on the strength of your input, so it is vitally important to choose the right inputs that […]

Lean Six Sigma prevention cost analysis (PCA) is an important tool that can help businesses prevent costly mistakes and improve their bottom line.

In business, it is vital to have a firm grasp on the maximum amount of expenditures a project can allow. This can mean the difference between being profitable or falling into the red. For every project you undertake that requires funds, you need to know how much you can comfortably spend on it. Beyond that, […]

There are all kinds of procedures for the many things that people do every single day. Every family household has procedures for basic tasks like putting dishes away, assembling for dinner or getting into the car. Likewise, every place of business has procedures for the essential activities they do on a regular basis. Overview: What […]

The purpose of Lean Six Sigma is to identify opportunities for improving organizational processes. One of the challenges is the selection of projects for improvement teams to work on. Let’s learn more about how to select impactful projects. Both Lean and Six Sigma projects are used to improve organizational processes. Improvement teams are formed. DMAIC […]

When you want to replace a part in your car, you should ask whether it is OEM or aftermarket. OEM parts will be the same as the part you are replacing. An aftermarket part may be similar but will not be from the same manufacturer or supplier who originally provided the part. Does it matter? […]

Many organizations claim that safety is Job #1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency in the U.S. Department of Labor which is responsible for ensuring that companies provide safe and healthy work environments for their employees. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is a federal agency of the United […]

The primary metric is a numeric output used to understand your process. It makes the process objective, setting the stage for successful improvements that align with the organization’s strategic goals.

How do you know if your diet is working? You need to start with a baseline and then measure change from that. You should do the same for all your processes. From that process baseline, you can know whether your process is getting better, worse, or not changing. The term “process baseline” typically refers to […]

A paired t-test is a form of a two-sample t-test used in hypothesis testing. It is useful for answering questions about any significant differences for before and after comparisons. 

If you have categorical or descriptive data that has a natural order, sequence, or preference, it would be defined as ordinal data. Since ordinal data is one of four common types of data, you should understand what it is and how you can use it.

When you have categorical data with a natural order or preference, you can call that ordinal data. When you describe data, you must first distinguish whether you are talking about numerical or categorical data. This is important for the proper selection and use of statistical and analytical tools. Categorical data is a type of data that […]

When individuals take ownership, they are more likely to be invested in its success and to work tirelessly to ensure that it runs efficiently, meets its goals, and continuously improves over time. So how can this concept be used in process improvement? Lean Six Sigma is a business improvement methodology used to improve processes and […]

Objective evidence is factual, unbiased data that can be observed and measured. Let’s explore its importance in your Six Sigma practices.

Several statistical tests have underlying assumptions of a specific type of distribution which is required for the test results to be valid. But what if your data distribution does not meet that assumption? A non-parametric test might help. There are several hypothesis tests which assume your data has a specific distribution. For example, a 2-sample […]

If you have worked in customer service long enough, you have likely had that one co-worker that talks way too much to customers, making suggestions that end up creating more work for co-workers regardless of the initial needs of the client. Overview: What is the O’Brien Effect? The O’Brien Effect refers to the waste that […]

Companies love their batch flow processes. But, a one-piece flow might be a more efficient approach to producing your products. Let’s learn a bit more about one-piece flow.

Running a business involves all kinds of expenses. Rent, materials, labor and just keeping the power on all take money, and these costs add up to your total operational expenditures.