Why Should I Learn Six Sigma Processes?

By Craig Calvin

An alternate form of Six Sigma Training is Lean Six Sigma. Although it is an altered form it has many of its own capacities, and knowing the differences can add to your quality improvement projects, more then you may think possible. Although the basis fundamentals of Six Sigma are still evident in Lean, there are a few additions that set it apart.

The eight elements of waste is the focus of the Lean Six Sigma Process. It has been proven that by simply removing these areas of waste, the company will actually improve quality. Below you will find what the Lean process considers wastes, and examples of each.

-Wasted Human Talent: Anyone that is without a specific job function or who's work may be slowing the process down.

-Defects: Any product or process that is not working properly. Before they can be eliminated, however, they will require a fixable solution.

-Inventory: This refers to an over sized "To Do" list of work. You never want to have to much product waiting to be worked on. A doctors office, for example, does not want to have to many patients in the waiting room at one time.

-Overproduction: Having too much of anything before it is needed can get in the way of efficient process operation.

-Wasted time: Waiting on product to arrive, idle time that could be better spent on various processes or activities. Having five employees standing around waiting to unload a truck that hasn't arrived is a good example.

-Motion: When you are moving people around and it is not necessary to do so. An example of this would be, when a clinic send a patient that has an appointment to triage. Instead the patient should be going straight to the exam room.

-Transportation: Ineffective transportation that moves people and products can be wasteful when it isn't needed. Imagine a warehouse using a forklift to deliver items across the factory to a truck, when the production line could be streamlined to deliver right into the truck off of the line.

-Process Waste: Process Waste refers to any that a company requires to be complete, however it has no impact on the process, product or service that the company offers.

Understanding these areas of waste will assist you company with enhancing the quality of the projects you produce. - 32179

About the Author:

Create the most of your business skills with six sigma training. Getting green belt six sigma will benefit yourself in addition to your business. To learn more go to www.sixsigmaonline.org.

Developing a Continuous Improvement Plan With Your Six Sigma Project

By Craig Calvin

Incorporating a continuous improvement plan into your Six Sigma project will help your business by providing the ability to make improvements to your process as business needs change, or unexpected events occur. Continuous improvement plans allow you to make adjustments to your process without having to undertake an entire new Six Sigma project, which can be costly and time consuming.

1. When you are examining a process, and trying to determine the ideal solution, you need to realize that this will be a continuous process. If you are only considering the current problems, and not considering future problems or improvements, then you will just be back in the same position in the not to distant future.

2. No matter how much you research and brainstorm, you will never come up with the perfect solution that will never need to be changed again. There are always unknowns, and something totally unexpected may happen in the future that could effect your process. If you continue to evaluate the process, however, and make changes as they become necessary, you will lower the chances of having to completely re-design the process again in the future.

3. Six Sigma projects take a great deal of time and effort to effectively improve the processes in your business. If you do not include a continuous improvement plan as part of your Six Sigma project, then you may have to go through the entire process again in the future, which is an unnecessary expense for your business.

4. Improving a business is more about the future and less about the present. If a business cannot hold its own once the Six Sigma team leaves, there is an issue. It doesn't matter what a business does at first, but more importantly what they do last, when it comes to their improvement practices.

5. The priorities and focus of a business can change over time. When you incorporate a continuous improvement plan into your Six Sigma project it allows you to quickly make modifications to your processes, and helps to keep them aligned with the current priorities. Without a continuous improvement plan, your business may have to start a whole new Six Sigma project, just to make sure the processes are aligned with the new direction of the organization.

When you undertake a Six Sigma project you are trying to find a solution to the problems effecting your processes. This solution, ideally, should not be a quick fix, that takes care of the immediate problem, but it should be a long term solution that corrects the process for the foreseeable future. The best way to ensure this is to include a continuous improvement plan within the project. If you do not include a continuous improvement plan as part of your Six Sigma project, then you may have to go through the entire process again in the future, which is an unnecessary expense for your business. When you incorporate a continuous improvement plan into your Six Sigma project it allows you to quickly make modifications to your processes, and helps to keep them aligned with your current priorities. - 32179

About the Author:

6 sigma is a process used by numerous businesses to increase profit and employee performance. To learn more on the topic go to www.sixsigmaonline.org. Here you will find information on lean six sigma, as well as the different belt levels and more.

How To Avoid Some Common Missteps When Looking For Employment

By Craig Calvin

No one likes to be unemployed. There are many different reasons that people don't find jobs right away, but making the most common mistakes is what usually holds people back. Read on to learn how these three mistakes are critical to your job success every single time.

Before you do anything else, make a plan. It is very easy to quickly become overwhelmed by all of the negative consequences that come with being laid off. You start to worry about medical insurance, bills, and providing the essentials for you or your family. This worry can cause you to start applying for jobs without coming up with a plan first, and this can be counter-productive to your success. You need to stop and think about your resume, your training, your qualifications, and what other tools you have available to help you find a job. You also need to think about what types of jobs you should apply for, in what fields, and how far you could travel to work if necessary. Another important part of your plan is networking, not only to try to find individuals who may be aware of available jobs, but to provide references as well.

Do not limit your search to the internet. If you want to find a job quickly you need to explore every possible job opening available. While there are certainly many jobs that can be found online, either using a job finding site, or going directly to company's web sites, not every job is posted on the internet. If there are local companies where you think you would be qualified to work it may be worth while to contact them directly, talk to someone face to face, and provide hard copies of your resume. This human interaction may help when you are competing with many other people for a limited number of jobs.

Do not stop looking until you have accepted a job. As we mentioned earlier, being out of work is a horrible feeling, and trying to find a job is difficult and stressful, so it is easy to understand why someone may get over-excited if a company shows interest in you. When this happens you may think that you have reached your goal, and found a job, but a company showing interest is not the same as them formally offering you a position. If you stop searching for a job, just because you are hoping that this opportunity works out, you may miss out on a better job, or be even more disappointed if the company decides to hire someone else. Until you have officially accepted a job offer you should not stop looking for other opportunities.

These are the three most common missteps that individuals can make when looking for a new job. You can't rush right into to applying for a job, you need to stop and make a plan first. You should try to look for jobs anywhere you possible can, do not just search on the internet. Finally, until you formally accept a position, do not stop looking for job opportunities. If you follow this advice you will put yourself in a better position to find a job, which is so important in these tough economic times.

Six Sigma Online is a leader in career information and business productivity, as well as Six Sigma Training techniques. Visit them today at http://www.sixsigmaonline.org. - 32179

About the Author:

If you are wanting to maximize your career potential, think about six sigma classes. Achieving black belt six sigma certification might be just what you are lacking.