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There are two broad categories of data in statistics: quantitative data and categorical data. Quantitative data is something you measure or count while categorical data presents data in categories or groups rather than the actual values themselves.  Overview: What is quantitative data?  Quantitative data describe values and numbers which are measured or counted and can […]

ISO 9000 is a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It defines, establishes, and maintains an effective quality management system for manufacturing and service industries. Overview: What is the ISO 9000 series?  ISO 9000 is a series of individual standards. The core standards contained within the series are: […]

In the context of Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement, a root cause is defined as an issue or factor that causes a nonconformance or defect which, if eliminated, will improve the process. The root cause is the base issue which sets a cause-and-effect reaction in motion eventually resulting in a problem. Overview: What is root […]

Delaying quality improvement measures until the very end of a process.

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.

Six Sigma without variables is like a recipe without ingredients. Understanding how variables align with Six Sigma is paramount to the success of any business. Learn how variables can highlight your process’ capabilities and limitations. What are Variables in Six Sigma? Variables are essential to Six Sigma. By measuring, analyzing, and controlling the variables that […]

The degree of impact that measurable changes in input variables have on the output.

Randomly select factors, measurements, or variables to eliminate the effects of bias or chance.

Queuing theory is the mathematical study of waiting in line.

A rare event is an occurrence that happens at such a low frequency that it cannot be monitored with traditional control charts. A rare event statistical process control chart is a tool for charting these events successfully.

Tests that do not require a specific distribution to be valid.

The difference between the first and third quartiles.

A frequency plot is a graphical representation of the distribution of continuous data based on how often a particular value occurs.

A term used to describe CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, and other senior executives within an organization.

When determining how to apply Six Sigma methodology to your business, you do not need to reinvent the wheel. A lot of research, testing, and work has already been put in to sort out some common best practices that are proven to work for most organizations. In any industry, there are others that have come […]

Honeywell was a company that had been utilizing the Six Sigma methodology for years. Distracted by a merger and other factors, however, the organization had begun to slip. With a revitalized stake in the Six Sigma process, the organization was able to turn itself around and become even stronger than before. DMAIC and Y=f(x) Helped […]

A statistical tool which allows you to predict, with varying degrees of accuracy, your output based on the values of your input. 

A statistical tool for describing a causal relationship between variables using controlled experiments.

A graph that represents quantified data in the form of discrete rectangular shapes.

Quantitative data represents values and numbers which can be measured or counted and used in mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

A document that lists details for new product designs or modifications being proposed to current products.

The 5Z process uses the Genba (Gemba) Kanri principles to maintain, evaluate, promote, and improve control of your process.

The random fluctuations around the regression line that show as variation. This type of variation is the sum of squared differences between each ordered pair’s y-value and the predicted corresponding y-value. It is the error portion of the regression equation.

The union between conventional customer relations and integrated software solutions.

An aspect of a work assignment or designated responsibility that is so vital that a less-than-satisfactory showing on that aspect would be deemed unacceptable.

In 2008, Starbucks was taking a major hit from the financial crisis, losing customers to competitors, and having to close hundreds of stores. Despite having its back against the wall, some decisions made around key Six Sigma principles helped Starbucks bounce back better than ever. How Giving Quality and a Better Experience To Employees and […]

A Japanese word that can be defined as unreasonableness or going beyond one’s power.

A group comprised of trade industry representatives, retailers, and manufacturers worldwide who collaboratively establish best standards and practices in order to improve the international supply chain of goods for consumers.

MRP is an integrated logistics plan that encompasses supply chain, storage and availability for particular processes within the scope of the company’s operations.

This major beverage manufacturer was spending millions of dollars per year to replace recyclable plastic shells to transport 2-liter bottles from the plant to their customers. Where did all the plastic shells go? Let’s find out. The process of retrieving delivered plastic shells from the customer should have been easy, but apparently it wasn’t. The […]

Process management is a structured process for assuring that all your processes are aligned to ensure you can attain the organization’s strategic goals.

As a recently promoted Vice President, Chuck needed to quickly understand what all his people were doing. Chuck, a longtime employee of a major utility company, had been recently promoted to Vice President to take over the leadership of a wide range of different functions than what he had been managing. As a result of […]

A method of prioritizing maintenance needs of various components or systems based on the severity of the risk of failure.

The average time to repair a machine back to acceptable operating conditions.

Eliminating the cause of an error in order to keep the error from happening again.

Jack in the Box can be defined as a variable that appears randomly in response to factors that are not readily apparent.

ELT (Extract, Load, Transfer) is a data management method that transfers raw data from a source server to a target server and prepares the data for downstream use.

Frequently committed errors (FCE) are anomalies in a particular process that have a negative impact on the outcome.

Business metrics are metrics that are quantifiable and utilized to assess the performance or status of a business function.

Have you ever been on an improvement team that just doesn’t work as well as you expected? Was it because people weren’t trying or was the mix of personalities and perspectives not conducive to working together for a solution? Let’s see how one company handled this problem. Using the Six Thinking Hats helped this company […]

A U chart is one of four quality control charts that engineers use to track variation in a manufacturing process.

Mean Time Between Failure is a basic metric that describes the frequency of problems in physical equipment or systems that disrupt production uptime.

The Box-Cox transformation can be used for converting the data to a normal distribution, which then allows the process capability to be easily determined.

An operation cost target is the maximum expenditure allowed for all costs that are associated with a project, including overhead, materials, labor, outsourcing, and other costs.

While Motorola had been an industry leader for decades, by the 1970s, many of its products were seen as potentially unreliable by consumers. The company addressed this issue by embarking aggressively on an innovative program of continuous improvement that has come to be known as Six Sigma. How Continuous Improvement Changed Consumer Perception Of Motorola […]

Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future.

An established framework for the ongoing improvement of software development and implementation practices.

DPMO, Sigma Level and Cpk are three metrics you can use to measure how well your process is performing.

Subject matter refers to all things related to your company’s products, services, or customers.

Mura is a Japanese word meaning unevenness, non-uniformity, and irregularity.