Six Sigma and Lean Consulting - Poisson Distribution
"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau
Implementing Six Sigma and Lean practices is challenging. You are contradicting everyday practices.
When I was a child I caught Poison Ivy. After roughly three days it was apparent my allergies were severe. The Poison Ivy crawled up my left arm leaving a trail of blisters, some an inch high. This spread continued until almost every square inch of my body was covered in red blisters full of clear liquid. The best part of this experience was its occurrence during the first week of my 5th grade year... everyone made sure I knew how severe my reaction was.
Several doctors appointments... and weeks later I was healing nicely. Since then I have come in contact with this wonder plant numerous times. My body has gradually learned how to cope and no longer breaks out. Now a small patch will form in the contact area then, almost overnight, it will disappear.
How does this story apply to implementation of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies? Six Sigma is a culture, as is Lean. If your company has never before dealt with or encountered the Lean and Six Sigma philosophies then the initial reaction is extreme if not contained (Project Scope will be discussed later). As your company begins to adopt and 'become' this new culture the projects will become less and less extensive, with Six Sigma and Lean techniques eventually become the tools that keep you ahead of your competition.
Michael Christian Neumann
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Comments
Six Sigma and I don't get along.
A corporation I was working for did this and decided that there were to many people working in the center that I was in so they made cut backs, and one of those cut backs was me. Turns out, they were wrong and actually needed all those people to run that center. A year later they wanted me back.
Ah, you see, that is part of the problem!
A standard stipulation my instructors insist upon is that a hiring company not reduce man power as a result of the Six Sigma project. The release of people after and because of a Six Sigma project is actually a breach of contract and the company will lose the opportunity to hire that consulting firm again, not to mention other firms are notified 'through the grapevine' about the company's breach.
Sorry this happened to you, my instructors would be furious with the firm.
Michael Christian Neumann
Six Sigma Consultant
In the formula -- what do each of the symbols mean Michael?
Nice seguay from the poison ivy incident into what you do now,..
Sue Crutcher, Baby Steps to Success Expert
Cool use of a hypnotic story, Michael!
All the best,
April Braswell
Romance Coaching, Romantic Relationship Coaching
Michael, Hope you are well. I call on many Green Belts and Black Belt- Six sigma people in my line of work calling on manufacturers. I think this is a very cool use of a marketing name to make something more attractive than it would otherwise be. (Iron Chef on Food Network is another cool moniker for an otherwise more mundane task)
I studied Deming in college and at IBM, and if they would have called us Black Belts or Grandmasters or similar, it would have been a lot easier to get excited about! It is a shame that we shunned Deming, snding him off to Japan rather than embracing these principals a generation earlier.
Have a lean day!
Rob "Iron Corp" Northrup
www.corporateveilpro.com
Good post and great use of a personal story. I'm also intrigued by this formula. What does it mean?
All the best,
Yann
Yann Vernier - Personal Coach UK
I've been kicking around doing the green belt course for six-sigma. What is your training in this? Have you found it to be beneficial to the majority of companies you've implemented it with? It seems there's some debate on the effectiveness when it's actually implemented (for the variety of reasons the real world can foul up good strategies) but it always made sense to me.
Aaron
Aaron,
Check my latest blog. Your concern is brought up frequently, I posted my normal response, though I can get much more thorough if you are serious about your interest in Six Sigma.
I am currently involved with my required Black Belt project through Villanova and Kellogg Brown & Root has expressed they would like my assistance with the Materials Department (It is a MESS).
Michael Christian Neumann
Six Sigma and Lean Consulting
Yann,
A brief explanation has been posted, I have many more fun formulas.
Michael Christian Neumann
Six Sigma and Lean Consulting
Susan,
Thank you... I did post a fairly complex formula with no explanation. I have posted a blog covering the basics.
Michael Christian Neumann
Six Sigma and Lean Consulting
Six Sigma is a tool, but no more than that. Like the quality philosophy's and systems that came before it..TQM, Juran, Theory Z and Theory Y, it will eventually fall by the wayside and be replaced by the next wonder system.
I am not criticizing Six Sigma. I am a big fan. But like any tool the results you achieve with it is wholly dependent on the person using it. It needs to enter the culture.
Steve Chambers
Yes, a fad since 1985
Michael Christian Neumann
Six Sigma and Lean Consulting