http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management.aspxenhttp://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/6179.aspxFri, 20 Nov 2009 02:42:30 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:6179mmcdonoughIf you’re tired of spending hours trying to format a chart or diagram for your project, check out some of these Six Sigma templates that are available as free downloads from the Project Management Media Gallery. Available templates include Fishbone Diagrams, PICK Charts, and SIPOC Diagrams. Templates for Six Sigma Projects The use of charts a...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/56369.aspxWed, 18 Nov 2009 07:57:44 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:56369SparkKDThis article explains what Little's Law is and how it is used in Lean Six Sigma. An example is also used to illustrate the application of Little's Law. Introduction to Little's Law This law is termed Little's Law because it was postulated by a former professor from the Massachusetts Institutes of Techology named John D. C. Little. In it...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/23947.aspxTue, 17 Nov 2009 13:56:19 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:23947heidiw0My introduction to this series gave you an introduction to the DMAIC process improvement methodology. Now let's look at the first DMAIC Phase: Define. We'll explore the goals and outcomes of this phase, and discuss tools such as the Six Sigma project charter, VOC, and SIPOC. Introduction to DMAIC For a more complete overview of the DMAI...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/8708.aspxThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:37:09 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:8708mmcdonoughIf you want to make a Pareto chart to use in your project presentation but don’t have access to high-powered project management software, don’t panic. With these step-by-step instructions, you can use the more commonplace Microsoft Excel to create your Pareto chart. What is a Pareto Chart? A Pareto chart is a tool commonly used in S...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/53018.aspxWed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:04 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:53018kocherpThe PICK Chart is a Six Sigma tool that was designed by Lockheed Martin. The tool was developed for managing process enhancement ideas and classifying them during the Identify and Prioritize Opportunity Phase of a Six Sigma project. Basics of PICK Charts A PICK Chart is used when a team is faced with multiple improvement ideas. The tool helps solve...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/7449.aspxThu, 15 Oct 2009 03:51:10 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:7449mmcdonoughThere are a variety of software utilities available to assist you in creating Gantt charts for your Lean Six Sigma project planning. If you need for help in deciding which utility to employ, take a look at this list of relatively common software applications we have compiled. Gantt Chart Background One of the most popular tools used in the Lean Six...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/45834.aspxThu, 17 Sep 2009 03:52:57 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:45834VaseemHave you ever worried about managing a project effectively? How many times have you wondered why you may have failed in excelling in your project management skills? See how Six Sigma can be a significant tool in improving your project management skills. How Six Sigma Works Traits of successful project managers include striving to get the wo...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/48826.aspxSun, 13 Sep 2009 22:06:38 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:48826shropshtDescribes what Value Added Analysis is in a DMAIC project, sets rules for the analysis and how to use the data. What is Value Added Analysis In a Lean Six Sigma projects, analysis of Customer Value Add time leads to identification of efficiency issues within the process. After all, if we are doing work that isn’t important to our customer, we are a...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/48401.aspxTue, 08 Sep 2009 12:27:55 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:48401shropshtThe combining of Lean tools with Six Sigma tools will provide advantages over either approach alone. Lean and Six Sigma Working Together In this article, we are going to review the history of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma process improvement, the strengths of each, and propose that neither methodology alone is sufficient to deliver a breakthroug...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/47750.aspxMon, 31 Aug 2009 17:37:02 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:47750rmcclellanSix sigma projects feature performance metrics and a statistical analysis approach to solving problems. The statistical methods involved can intimidate some, but when you look further into six sigma projects you actually find a very common sense approach to problem solving. Understanding a Six Sigma Gap Analysis This common sense approach is invalu...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/47251.aspxFri, 28 Aug 2009 08:14:51 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:47251heidiw0All work is process-based, but too often we fail to think about our businesses in terms of processes. Six Sigma initiatives require that we alter our mindset and focus primarily on processes when seeking to understand problems and find solutions. Focusing on Processes Six Sigma takes the position that the work that people do can only be as good as ...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/47250.aspxFri, 28 Aug 2009 08:10:53 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:47250heidiw0A Business Process Management System (BPMS) is a key component of a successful Six Sigma initiative. It provides the framework you will need to establish a culture of continuous improvement and to select and prioritize the right process improvement projects. Business Process Management System Basics Your BPMS should have several main compon...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/47249.aspxFri, 28 Aug 2009 08:06:23 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:47249heidiw0Six Sigma projects require a variety of key decisions based on data and Six Sigma principles. Team members have at their disposal a set of tools to aid in decision making. Depending on the decision to be made, they can use one of several established frameworks for making decisions objectively. A Variety of Tools Here are basic descriptions of each ...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/29369.aspxThu, 20 Aug 2009 12:52:29 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:29369heidiw0What importance do defects have in Six Sigma methodology? Learn what a defect is, how it is determined, and why the concept is central to Six Sigma and DMAIC projects. About Defects Imagine a process whose performance is represented by the graph below. The line in the center represents both the average of the process measure and the target perf...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/17717.aspxThu, 20 Aug 2009 09:16:39 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:17717NbakerThis article by Natasha Baker, summarizes the main points in the research paper, Six Sigma: Myths and Realities, which takes an antagonistic look at Six Sigma in an effort to help organizations evaluate its worth. Is Six Sigma All It's Cracked Up To Be? Taking an antagonistic approach in Six Sigma: Myths and Realities , author Nihar Raj...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/16783.aspxThu, 20 Aug 2009 09:08:50 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:16783NbakerThis article by Natasha Baker, discusses the research paper "Similarities and Differences Between TQM, Six Sigma and Lean". Comparing Six Sigma, Lean, and TQM Six Sigma has a long history that dates back to Carl Fredrick Gauss (1777-1855). Gauss introduced the concept of the normal curve. Modern Six Sigma has been attributed to Dr. Mikel Ha...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/8718.aspxSun, 12 Jul 2009 21:18:09 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:8718RondaRobertsThis article lists 5 ways that Six Sigma concepts can be applied to Software Implementation Projects Software implementation can be a grueling project. When a company is attempting new software integration, it can be chaotic. Six Sigma is a management strategy meant to identify and control defects. An overview of Six Sigma can be found in Natasha B...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/6545.aspxTue, 23 Jun 2009 14:36:00 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:6545mmcdonoughWhether you’re still considering if Six Sigma is right for you and your company or you’re looking for ways to improve your current Six Sigma process, this article points you towards valuable resources that will help you accomplish your goals. Six Sigma Overview The project management theory that is now known as Six Sigma began as a mean...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/39077.aspxWed, 17 Jun 2009 16:03:50 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:39077ons2001In this article we will have a Comparison of DMADV and DMAIC. When to go for DMADV and when DMAIC should be selected? Six Sigma Methodology Six sigma methodology like DMADV or DMAIC is aimed for defect reduction up to a specified sigma level. Upon expansion of both the terms we will find: DMADV: D – Define M – Measure A – Analyze D – Design V –...http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/38134.aspxMon, 08 Jun 2009 22:41:53 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:38134OnlineProSix Sigma is a business management strategy that can be effectively used in many ways by small businesses to improve the overall quality of business operations to achieve faster growth. For people who may be less familiar, Six Sigma may be simplistically defined as a form of business management strategy, or more appropriately, a type of business im...