Blog

The Bullwhip Effect

Alex Sugimoto — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:23:01 +0000

Is your organization supply chain being bullwhipped? The Bullwhip Effect is a common issue in many organizations where supply chains are driven by product forecast versus product demand. The increased inventory variation amplifies upstream away from customer towards raw material vendors and services.

Designed Experiment Homework Assignment

Alex Sugimoto — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:37:35 +0000

This simple Designed Experiement Homework assignment provides a nice refresher of full factorial analysis in an introductory Green Belt or Black Belt course. It provides just the right mental stretch after a full day Lean Six Sigma Training. Minitab statistical software is best suited for the example analysis however any seasoned instructor will be able to utilize this simple to understand case study. You can download from our Knowledge Center > Tools and Templates or click on the graphic below to download.

Seeing the Forest through the TRIZ

Alex Sugimoto — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:31:11 +0000

Innovation can be a very soft and squishy process if at all especially in solving today's modern business issues Having the right tools and techniques in the right place and situation is a must. Brainstorming and other common sense tools are great but they often rely on what we know in terms of facts and subject matter expertise with minimal organizational appetite to think outside the culture. Without the help of creative problem solving or innovation tools that stretch the boundaries of common sense, ideas can dry out quickly.

Triz is one of those innovation methodologies that can offer some structured imagination using logic and data to arrive at solutions. Read more....

Fishbone Diagram

Alex Sugimoto — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:07:07 +0000

Fishbone, Ishikawa or cause and effect diagrams were proposed by Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s. He pioneered quality management processes in the Kawasaki shipyards. It was first used in the 1940s, and is considered one of the seven basic tools of quality management. It is typically referred to as a fishbone diagram because of its shape. Read more...

Cpk vs. Sigma Level

Alex Sugimoto — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:03:07 +0000

What is the difference between articulating process capability as Cpk, Ppk or Sigma Level? What are the advantages or disadvantages?

Guidance – This discussion will assume you’re already familiar with process capability studies and all the assumptions around process stability, short/long term data estimates, etc. Below are the steps I teach in my consulting practice relative to process capability. Let’s assume you have already completed steps 1 through 5 below. Read more...

Lean Six Sigma Project Success Factors

Alex Sugimoto — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:35:29 +0000

Lean Six Sigma Projects or any endeavor with business impact should share the following attributes. Call it a guide or checklist for you to consider. There are a lot of underpinnings underneath this list .... read more...

Process Capability without Specifications?

Alex Sugimoto — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:22:05 +0000

Process Capability is a major part of any Lean Six Sigma project. However, the majority of projects have no specified targets, limits or goal posts. In fact, most projects are simply looking for a shift in average performance in one direction or the other. So how should one measure process capability? Read more...

Leadership Secrets of Captain James T. Kirk

Alex Sugimoto — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:14:02 +0000

I could not resist this article so I had to post this link but here's the thumbnail.

Never stop learning
Have advisors with different worldviews.
Be part of the away team.
Play poker not chess
Blow up the enterprise - What!!!??

Click on Captain Kirk for a link to the Forbes article.

Client Server Retirement Cycle Time Reduction

Alex Sugimoto — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:16:14 +0000

This project was one of my most rewarding experiences for my client and myself. I see these types of projects more and more in larger corporations with strategic alliances and partners. Click on the image to download copy of study.

Batch Record Cycle Time Reduction

Alex Sugimoto — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:40:17 +0000

Click on thumbnail to view this case study of reducing batch record cycle time reduction. As always, client confidentiality is preserved.