Six Sigma Blog

A quality companion for Six Sigma professionals

The biggest challenge for professionals in any field is to manage and execute their projects in the best possible way. Things are no different for Six Sigma practioners, and they are constantly on the lookout for a technical aid to help them achieve their objectives. In an older post, I have mentioned how a new tool can help Six Sigma experts.

Quality Companion 2, the new release from Minitab Inc., is one such software. Quality Companion weaves seamlessly with Minitab® Statistical Software and helps Six Sigma professionals to extract the most out of their quality improvement programs by streamlining project workflow, guiding Six Sigma Green Belts and Black Belts, providing linked tools for better analysis and reports, and standardizing projects throughout the organization.

According to a press release:

At the start of a project, Quality Companion's Project Roadmap(TM) feature lets professionals plan out every phase in detail, then assign built-in "soft" tools to assist with each task. These tools help team members brainstorm, map processes, conduct analyses, complete forms and reports, and more. With Quality Companion's data-sharing ability, the information they enter in one tool populates the appropriate fields in other tools, with no retyping.

TechMatrix Releases WeldWorks Software Suite

TechMatrix has released its WeldWorks Software Suite, which has been designed to work with their RSX Series automated weld platform. The software suite enables manufacturers to achieve Six Sigma quality initiatives and control their resistance spot weld process. It will automatically monitor every weld's key process parameters. The software suite will also track this information against individual parts. TechMatrix is based in Minneapolis, USA. The software architecture is built on Microsoft.NET technologies. The Windows client application controls the welder and collects data.

Manufacturing Talk reports that -

The WeldWorks web services provide extensible middleware to store and retrieve information anywhere on the internet. While the Microsoft SQL Server database stores weld recipes and all runtime electronic records, which help ensure compliance with FDA, ISO 9001, and military regulations.

CIGNA Launches Innovation Lab to Provide Six Sigma Service

CIGNA Corp. has announced the launch of an Innovation Lab that is designed to develop integrated Six Sigma level for medical, dental, pharmacy and health plan participants. CIGNA is a provider of employee benefits offered through the workplace. The Lab will have 100 specially trained consumer advisors who will be part of CIGNA's clinical and product teams. They will discuss health benefits and related financial information with consumers. They will also help the consumers in optimizing their health, benefits and plan sections. Big Y Foods in Springfield became CIGNA's first customer for this newly launched service.

MINITAB Statistical Software with Six Sigma

Australia has rich mineral resources of bauxite, iron, zinc etc. It always needs finely tuned processes and techniques in order to convert these resources into a profitable mining business. Six Sigma technique of quality measurement is very popular in Australia that is used to oversee mines. The latest product that is doing round is the MINITAB Statistical software. MINITAB is used by mining companies all over Australia.

MINITAB is recognized as presenting and helping analyze data to help organizations minimize business or product defects. It offers a range of tools for graphical analyses and collecting powerful statistics. MINITAB also performs all the work without the need for complex training. It has been noticed that mining companies heavily rely on the effective use of expensive equipment.

More Information: Read Here

Sophisticated processes using MINITAB and Six Sigma can help a company control maintenance and equipment use to ensure operations are running effectively.

Six Sigma for BPOs

India has made significant progress after being favored as the prime destination for outsourcing in the world. The availability of vast talent pool, good telecom infrastructure and effective government policies made it a preferred outsourcing destination in the world. However, in the recent years, India has found several competitors in the outsourcing market. Australia, China and the Philippines are fast emerging as hot destinations in the ITES/BPO sector.

To sustain its competitive advantage in the IT/ITES sector, India needs to move up the value chain by offering superior quality to its overseas clients. Most successful companies have adopted Six Sigma as a mean to achieve the level of quality so that they can provide a value proposition to their clients. Six Sigma helps in identifying and eliminating causes of errors or defects in business processes by focusing on key outputs. Six Sigma for BPOs certainly is an advantage for companies to achieve higher quality and productivity.

Six Sigma software now available

The Six Sigma business model has found a new impetus in the form of a software which helps the implementation of the process by extending various problem-solving tools to an enterprise. Among the tools are Excel-based applications for applying the Six Sigma quality system, and analytical and statistical tools to maintain the data in clear terms.

By using the software, an organization can keep a watch on the progress made in its various business processes. Openpr.com reports:

Six Sigma software will give you the ultimate control over your bottom line by assisting you in defining and solving road blocks to your success. Numerous analytical and statistical tools, along with the means to present the data clearly can make problem solving easy.

PowerSteering Enterprise 4.6: A new tool for Six Sigma team members

PowerSteering, a leader in on-demand performance improvement programs, has released its latest offering, PowerSteering Enterprise 4.6. This new package includes tools for increasing productivity and can be integrated with Microsoft Office. The software provides time and cost-cutting tools to Six Sigma team members, including Black Belts and Green Belts.

The impressive list of capabilities include a Six Sigma scorecard, executive charts, a risk management module, a PowerPoint storyboard creator, PowerLogic gate control "poke-yokes" (mistake-proofs), and integration tools for Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Word, Visio, Publisher, and MS Project. Businesswire.com reports:

PowerSteering's extensive experience helping many of the preeminent Six Sigma practitioners including GE, Raytheon and EMC underscored the importance of supporting the common tools and processes used by Black Belts every day, including all of the Microsoft Office applications, mobile devices, and document management programs. Allowing Black Belts to use PowerSteering in conjunction with the daily processes they are most familiar with ensures that PowerSteering is a seamless part of each user's productivity suite.          

SigmaQuest’s products based on Lean Six Sigma principles to be sold by Customer Service Associates Inc.

SigmaQuest Inc. and Customer Service Associates Inc. (CSA) have signed a distribution agreement, under which CSA will sell SigmaQuest's software products throughout North America. The product range includes SigmaSure Enterprise Edition, which enables OEMs to ensure quality and performance, and the hosted on-demand service called SigmaExpress. SigmaQuest offers solutions that are in keeping with Lean and Six Sigma principles.

The products are also in line with CSA's portfolio of professional services. This was stated by Greg Schuster, vice president of CSA. CSA will act as part of the direct sales team of SigmaQuest, and make sure that the customers get the best of service. TMCnet.com quotes Nader Fathi, CEO of SigmaQuest, who further elaborates on the partnership:

CSA is an ideal partner for SigmaQuest. It has extensive knowledge about the types of products and support that OEMs require during the manufacturing process through its representation of technology leaders such as Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A). As SigmaQuest's software seamlessly collects data from Agilent test platforms, having one organization represent both companies' products will give OEMs with globally distributed supply chains the advantage of working with a single expert provider across the extended enterprise.

Read More: SigmaQuest and Customer Service Associates Announce Distribution Agreement

Six Sigma and its application in Information Technology

An article published by Silicon India Magazine examines the reasons for the failure of some software projects even in today's world, the importance of quality service for a company, and the solutions offered by Six Sigma for Software. An important factor that gives a company an edge over its competitors is lower costs. This can be managed with the implementation of solutions such as Six Sigma, which is primarily aimed at financial results. Six Sigma includes methodologies which lead to effective management of people and resources, including customer loyalty.

Six Sigma for Software contains a set of tools that aids productive development, thus generating quality software products. Six Sigma for Software is different from other tools such as CMM/CMMI. However, at a certain point in the development of an organization, Six Sigma and CMM, PSP/TSP become complimentary. For example, research shows that Six Sigma for Software is cost-effective only after an organization reaches CMM levels of 4/5. Silicon India Magazine reports:

Six Sigma started from the Operations Excellence which values discipline in manufacturing with emphasis on efficient transactions, management of people, dedication to measurement systems, etc. But it became obvious that business success was more than the absence of negatives such as defects, delays or cost overruns. It then began to encompass positives like customer loyalty and delighters. From Operational Excellence, Six Sigma moved towards Customer Intimacy and Product Leadership value disciplines.

Read More: Six Sigma and the value of Information Technology

Six Sigma in the IT sector: a means to enhance customer experience

Writing for CXOToday.com, Sohini Bagchi emphasizes the need to implement Six Sigma for improving performance and reducing costs. V. Ramamurathy, a management consultant with special interest in Six Sigma, interprets Six Sigma as a methodology to reduce defects within the system, and also improve the quality of customer experience. Six Sigma is now increasingly being implemented across different industries. When applied in the IT industry, Six Sigma can be particularly effective because, as P. Kapila (an expert in Six Sigma implementation) writes, Six Sigma will calculate and enhance internal processes such as network speed, and also the business spheres where IT has a hand to play.

Leading Indian companies in the IT sector have already made the move to implement Six Sigma and provide the necessary training to their staff to cope with the system.  CXOToday provides examples of specific areas where IT companies like Satyam, Infosys, and Wipro have met with success through Six Sigma implementation. As CXOToday.com reports:

Some of the other Indian companies such as, TACO and Zeta Pharma have just begun to implement the Six Sigma approach as part of their work culture. As far as CRM, ERP and other customer initiatives are concerned, Sun Microsystems is one company that has made significant improvements from its customer relationship management system by applying Six Sigma principles.

Read More: Aim For Excellence With Six Sigma    

Free Online Six Sigma Audit Checklist

www.Qtcom.com has produced a free checklist for auditing a Six Sigma integration.  The checklist allows for individuals considering implementing a Six Sigma program to get a good idea of what components need to be in place to develop a strong program.  In addition, it provides those who already have a Six Sigma program in place, an excellent resource to gauge the effectiveness of their program.  The checklist has been developed by Praveen Gupta, the president of Quality Technology Company (QTC), who has over 20 years of experience with the Six Sigma process through his work with Motorola, AT&T and Bell laboratories. IndustryWeekly reports:

Read More: Some Things Are Free -- A Six Sigma Audit Checklist At No Cost

Brightstar Rolls Out Integrisynch which exceeds Six Sigma quality

A leading logistics and supply chain management company, Brightstar provides invaluable services to the wireless community.  Most recently, however, they have announced the reception of a patent for their customized serialization control system.  The system is known as Integrisynch is designed to meet needs specific to customers in the wireless industry.  The product guarantees the accuracy of serialized data and reporting for manufacturers, retailers, and network operators among others.  The program allows companies to monitor and track wireless devices and their components throughout their lifecycle, allowing companies to improve the quality of their products.  The program has thus far proved so effective, it has exceeded the standards of reliability set forth in Six Sigma, 3.4 defects per million opportunities.  By holding all the information for a product in a single database the information is always readily available to providers.  HispanicBusiness.com Reports:

"Ultimately, this solution saves customers and suppliers money," said David Stritzinger, chief technology officer of Brightstar.  Customers never need to waste time tracking and individual handset or delving into a handset's history to identify warranty dates.

Read More: Brightstar Awarded U.S. Patent for Customer-Focused Serialization Inventory Control System

Six Sigma for IT Analysts

Enthusiasm for the Six Sigma model amongst IT departments and analysts has been less than lackluster.  Philip Howard of IT-Analysts.com believes he knows why.  IT departments are flooded with products designed to measure efficiency and productivity and as a consequence often percieve Six Sigma as just another high-priced version of these.  Understanding, what has long been familiar to those intimate with the process, that Six Sigma is principally about process change rather than mere measurement is vital to comprehending its worth.  A provider of a comphrehensive Six Sigma product designed for IT departments discusses the comprehensiveness of the program.  IT-Analysis.com Reports:

The Instantis product set starts from the assumption that everything will be based on Six Sigma (with support for black belts) and it has three main components: the Idea Portal, which is a collaborative portal in which practitioners can weight ideas in order to comes up with a consensus about strategies and objectives to implement; Project Tracker, which does what its name suggests (incidentally, this is where the company originated, with project management software that gradually evolved towards Six Sigma); and Financials Tracker, which uses a service oriented architecture to integrate with your existing financial system.

Read More: Six Sigma

PowerSteering and BMG Team Up to Develop ProjX

PowerSteering Software Inc has teamed up with BMG Inc. to develop the software program ProjX.  The program is designed to give real-time access to executives allowing for much greater control in preformance enhancement initiatives.  In addition, the two companies have made a marketing agreement allowing both to offer a wider variety of one anothers products.  Business Wire Reports:

"PowerSteering's acquisition of ProjX is a significant step in its corporate growth, as it firmly establishes itself as the undisputed leader in Six Sigma software solutions," said Steve Sharp, president and CEO of PowerSteering.  "In addition to adding mature, proven solutions to the PowerSteering software suite, a strengthened VAR relationship with BMG dramatically increases the company's global reach.  PowerSteering and BMG customers will benefit from this deal with access to a host of new services and solutions."

Read More: PowerSteering Software Acquires Software Assets from Breakthrough Management Group