Flowcharts: Plain & Simple: Learning & Application Guide: Joiner Associates Staff

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

Flowcharts teaches how to create and compare different flowcharts that outline the sequence of steps in a process. The information is presented in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner through a series of exercises and case studies. Users of Plain & Simple Series learn how to select the right tool for the task at hand, collect the right data, interpret the data, and take appropriate action based on their findings.

Order Flowcharts: Plain & Simple: Learning & Application Guide: Joiner Associates Staff form Amazon.

Lean Six Sigma : Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed: Michael George

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

The Breakthrough Program for Increasing Quality, Shortening Cycle Times, and Creating Shareholder Value In Every Area of Your Organization Time and quality are the two most important metrics in improving any company’s production and profit performance. Lean Six Sigma explains how to impact your company’s performance in each, by combining the strength of today’s two most important initiatives–Lean Production and Six Sigma–into one integrated program.

The first book to provide a step-by-step roadmap for profiting from the best elements of Lean and Six Sigma, this breakthrough volume will show you how to:
* Achieve major cost and lead time reductions this year
* Compress order-to-delivery cycle times
* Battle process variation and waste throughout your organization

Separately, Lean Production and Six Sigma have changed the face of the manufacturing business. Together, they become an unprecedented tool for improving product and process quality, production efficiency, and across-the-board profitability. Lean Six Sigma introduces you to today’s most dynamic program for streamlining the performance of both your production department and your back office, and providing you with the cost reduction and quality improvements you need to stay one step ahead of your competitors.

“Lean Six Sigma shows how Lean and Six Sigma methods complement and reinforce each other. If also provides a detailed roadmap of implementation so you can start seeing significant returns in less than a year.”–From the Preface

Businesses fundamentally exist to provide returns to their stakeholders. Lean Six Sigma outlines a program for combining the synergies of these two initiatives to provide your organization with greater speed, less process variation, and more bottom-line impact than ever before.

A hands-on guidebook for integrating the production efficiencies of the Lean Enterprise with the cost and quality tools of Six Sigma, this breakthrough book features detailed insights on:
* The Lean Six Sigma Value Proposition–How combining Lean and Six Sigma provides unmatched potential for improving shareholder value
* The Lean Six Sigma Implementation Process–How to prepare your organization for a seamless incorporation of Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques
* Leveraging Lean Six Sigma–Strategies for extending Lean Six Sigma’s reach within and beyond your corporate walls

“Variation is evil.”–Jack Welch

Six Sigma was the zero-variation quality lynchpin around which Jack Welch transformed GE into one of the world’s most efficient–and valuable–corporations. Lean Production helped Toyota cut waste, slash costs, and substantially improve resource utilization and cycle times. Yet, as both would admit, there was still room for improvement.

Lean Six Sigma takes you to the next level of improvement, one that for the first time unites product and process excellence with the goal of enhancing shareholder value creation. Providing insights into the application of Lean Six Sigma to both the manufacturing processes and the less-data-rich service and transactional processes, it promises to revolutionize the performance efficiencies in virtually every area of your organization–as it positively and dramatically impacts your shareholder value.

From the Back Cover
The Breakthrough Program for Increasing Quality, Shortening Cycle Times, and Creating Shareholder Value In Every Area of Your Organization

Time and quality are the two most important metrics in improving any company’s production and profit performance. Lean Six Sigma explains how to impact your company’s performance in each, by combining the strength of today’s two most important initiatives­­Lean Production and Six Sigma­­into one integrated program.

The first book to provide a step-by-step roadmap for profiting from the best elements of Lean and Six Sigma, this breakthrough volume will show you how to:

• Achieve major cost and lead time reductions this year
• Compress order-to-delivery cycle times
• Battle process variation and waste throughout your organization

Separately, Lean Production and Six Sigma have changed the face of the manufacturing business. Together, they become an unprecedented tool for improving product and process quality, production efficiency, and across-the-board profitability. Lean Six Sigma introduces you to today’s most dynamic program for streamlining the performance of both your production department and your back office, and providing you with the cost reduction and quality improvements you need to stay one step ahead of your competitors.

“Lean Six Sigma shows how Lean and Six Sigma methods complement and reinforce each other. If also provides a detailed roadmap of implementation so you can start seeing significant returns in less than a year.”–­­From the Preface

Businesses fundamentally exist to provide returns to their stakeholders. Lean Six Sigma outlines a program for combining the synergies of these two initiatives to provide your organization with greater speed, less process variation, and more bottom-line impact than ever before.

A hands-on guidebook for integrating the production efficiencies of the Lean Enterprise with the cost and quality tools of Six Sigma, this breakthrough book features detailed insights on:

• The Lean Six Sigma Value Proposition­­How combining Lean and Six Sigma provides unmatched potential for improving shareholder value
• The Lean Six Sigma Implementation Process­­How to prepare your organization for a seamless incorporation of Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques
• Leveraging Lean Six Sigma­­Strategies for extending Lean Six Sigma’s reach within and beyond your corporate walls

“Variation is evil.”–­­Jack Welch

Six Sigma was the zero-variation quality lynchpin around which Jack Welch transformed GE into one of the world’s most efficient­­and valuable­­corporations. Lean Production helped Toyota cut waste, slash costs, and substantially improve resource utilization and cycle times.

Yet, as both would admit, there was still room for improvement.

Lean Six Sigma takes you to the next level of improvement, one that for the first time unites product and process excellence with the goal of enhancing shareholder value creation. Providing insights into the application of Lean Six Sigma to both the manufacturing processes and the less-data-rich service and transactional processes, it promises to revolutionize the performance efficiencies in virtually every area of your organization­­as it positively and dramatically impacts your shareholder value.

Order Lean Six Sigma : Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed: Michael George form Amazon.

Value Stream Management for the Lean Office: Don Tapping, Tom Shuker

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

Review
"We have been on our lean journey in manufacturing for some time now, and are expanding that success into our office environment and across administration for the entire company. We chose to begin with a requirement that all of our leaders create a value stream map for their area of responsibility and use the current state map to develop a future state map. With these maps in hand, they can "see" the gap that exists between the two and plan their "kaizen" improvement events in a rational manner. We purchased the "Value Stream Management for the Lean Office" workbook for all 900+ leaders as a resource tool. Too often, Maytag and other major companies throw out a requirement for leadership to do something, but do not provide a resource to accomplish it. These workbooks were our resource and added a significant value to our effort by eliminating the excuse for not knowing what a VS map is, how to create it or what value it delivers. These workbooks were an outstanding hit and I re-ordered several times to make sure everyone who needed one, received one!"
Mr. David Speer, Corporate Director, LeanSigma® Maytag Corporation 03/18/05

"Designed for managers at all levels, the book can aid those familiar with the principles of lean management as well as those who are complete novices."
Endorsement

"This book will probably be most useful for people who can see lean methods being used elsewhere, perhaps in their manufacturing plants. It would also be useful for those wanting to apply these principles to administrative processes in office environments".
Endorsement

VALUE STREAM MANAGEMENT FOR THE LEAN OFFICE: 8 Steps to Planning Mapping, and Sustaining Lean Improvements in Administrative Areas

Don Tapping and Tom Shuker

Administrative functions represent up to 80 percent of the cost of doing business. Eliminating costly waste from administrative and office functions is a great way to increase your profit margin and a vital part of creating a total lean enterprise.

Tapping and Shuker take their Value Stream Management Storyboard and apply its 8-step process in the context of case studies in order processing, customer service, and other administrative office applications of lean. This text will provide you with a complete system for lean implementation in the office.

Highlights include:

· Comprehensive case studies that highlight the applications of lean in an office environment
· A thorough overview of basic lean concepts
· Methods for identifying the administrative activities that need improvement
· The 8-step process for removing waste and reorganizing workflow for cost effective, efficient workflow
· Guidelines and checklists to help direct and maintain lean improvements

Order Value Stream Management for the Lean Office: Don Tapping, Tom Shuker form Amazon.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook

"Six Sigma tools, particularly DFSS, are critical drivers of organic growth. DFSS can be used to significantly improve a new product, service, or process anywhere. Rath & Strong’s detailed approach to how your company can use these tools is terrific."
–Dave Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

"This handbook is a valuable resource for leaders considering implementing a Six Sigma program. I wish I had something like it when Quest Diagnostics first embarked on our commitment to Six Sigma quality a few years ago."
–Kenneth W. Freeman, Chairman and CEO
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

"Rath & Strong’s new handbook focuses on the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization."
–John C. Plant, President and CEO, TRW Automotive

"This handbook is an essential tool for any organization that is considering implementing a quality or process improvement program utilizing the Six Sigma methodology. Understanding the philosophy behind this proven management framework before putting it into practice gives companies looking to use it an even greater edge. The handbook provides an easy-to-follow footprint for the successful deployment of Six Sigma."
–Randy H. Zwirn, President and CEO
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

From the Inside Flap
Six Sigma is a proven and highly effective business initiative for improving customer satisfaction and increasing the efficiency of processes. But diving into Six Sigma without the proper preparation and planning is inviting failure. That’s why there’s Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook. This practical guide from the global leader in Six Sigma solutions helps business leaders understand the methodology and major issues of Six Sigma and achieve successful implementation.

This comprehensive resource focuses on the issues senior managers must face when considering Six Sigma as a key business strategy. It highlights the critical factors that make or break implementation, offers key best practices for getting it right the first time, and offers real-life examples and case studies that light the path to success.

Six Sigma takes planning, care, and caution if you want to do it right. Rath & Strong speeds up the process by providing a framework that helps you weigh the issues and make informed decisions about how you will use Six Sigma in your business. The handbook spotlights the major issues you need to consider, helps you align Six Sigma with the critical elements of your organization, and shows you how Six Sigma will impact your organizational culture. With Rath & Strong, you’ll have an overview of the tools, methods, approaches, benefits, and risks that are associated with each element of the methodology.

But this book is much more than a basic overview of Six Sigma. It offers the perspective you need to make the wise choice when considering any aspect of the methodology and breaks down all the issues of importance to today’s business leaders. It shares the Six Sigma experiences of executives from a wide range of industries to let you learn from the successes and failures of others before you begin. It demonstrates the flexibility and possibilities of Six Sigma–whether you want to use it as a simple cost-cutting measure or even as a method for developing your next generation of leadership talent.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook examines the critical link between process, leadership, culture, and customer, and leads you through every cycle of deployment. Most importantly, it lets you follow companies such as Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Honeywell, and GE into a new era–one defined by unparalleled customer satisfaction and greater profitability.

Order Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong form Amazon.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook

"Six Sigma tools, particularly DFSS, are critical drivers of organic growth. DFSS can be used to significantly improve a new product, service, or process anywhere. Rath & Strong’s detailed approach to how your company can use these tools is terrific."
–Dave Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

"This handbook is a valuable resource for leaders considering implementing a Six Sigma program. I wish I had something like it when Quest Diagnostics first embarked on our commitment to Six Sigma quality a few years ago."
–Kenneth W. Freeman, Chairman and CEO
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

"Rath & Strong’s new handbook focuses on the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization."
–John C. Plant, President and CEO, TRW Automotive

"This handbook is an essential tool for any organization that is considering implementing a quality or process improvement program utilizing the Six Sigma methodology. Understanding the philosophy behind this proven management framework before putting it into practice gives companies looking to use it an even greater edge. The handbook provides an easy-to-follow footprint for the successful deployment of Six Sigma."
–Randy H. Zwirn, President and CEO
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

From the Inside Flap
Six Sigma is a proven and highly effective business initiative for improving customer satisfaction and increasing the efficiency of processes. But diving into Six Sigma without the proper preparation and planning is inviting failure. That’s why there’s Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook. This practical guide from the global leader in Six Sigma solutions helps business leaders understand the methodology and major issues of Six Sigma and achieve successful implementation.

This comprehensive resource focuses on the issues senior managers must face when considering Six Sigma as a key business strategy. It highlights the critical factors that make or break implementation, offers key best practices for getting it right the first time, and offers real-life examples and case studies that light the path to success.

Six Sigma takes planning, care, and caution if you want to do it right. Rath & Strong speeds up the process by providing a framework that helps you weigh the issues and make informed decisions about how you will use Six Sigma in your business. The handbook spotlights the major issues you need to consider, helps you align Six Sigma with the critical elements of your organization, and shows you how Six Sigma will impact your organizational culture. With Rath & Strong, you’ll have an overview of the tools, methods, approaches, benefits, and risks that are associated with each element of the methodology.

But this book is much more than a basic overview of Six Sigma. It offers the perspective you need to make the wise choice when considering any aspect of the methodology and breaks down all the issues of importance to today’s business leaders. It shares the Six Sigma experiences of executives from a wide range of industries to let you learn from the successes and failures of others before you begin. It demonstrates the flexibility and possibilities of Six Sigma–whether you want to use it as a simple cost-cutting measure or even as a method for developing your next generation of leadership talent.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook examines the critical link between process, leadership, culture, and customer, and leads you through every cycle of deployment. Most importantly, it lets you follow companies such as Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Honeywell, and GE into a new era–one defined by unparalleled customer satisfaction and greater profitability.

Order Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong form Amazon.

Hoshin Kanri: The Strategic Approach to Continuous Improvement: David Hutchins

• Filed under: Recommended

The results of the quality revolution have been mixed. Global competition has elevated the most successful companies, in terms of providing goods and services, but even then initiatives such as total quality, business process reengineering and Six Sigma have been heralded as the solution, only to have been replaced with the next ‘big thing’ when it came along. Hoshin Kanri is not the next big thing in quality, it is a strategic approach to continuous improvement that provides a context for all of the individual elements such as Six Sigma or lean manufacturing. David Hutchins’ "Hoshin Kanri" shows you how to develop a dynamic vision for continuous improvement; to implement effective policies to support it; to link key performance indicators to Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen and to sustain a strategy-led programme for improving business performance.

About the Author
David Hutchins has a Masters Degree in Quality and Reliability from Birmingham University UK. A Chartered Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, Member of the Chartered Institute of Management, Fellow of the Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA) and Senior Member of the American Society for Quality and author of several books and many articles. In David’s early career he was Chief Production/Industrial Engineer in the Automotive Components Industry before becoming Works Manager followed by 10 years teaching and consulting in Business Management prior to founding David Hutchins International. David Hutchins has over forty years of continuous experience in all aspects of the Quality-related sciences on a world-wide basis. He co-presented with the unchallenged World leading expert, Dr Juran, on all his annual courses in the UK from 1983 until Dr Juran’s retirement from international travel in 1992. He was a personal friend of the late Professor Ishikawa and was the only European to be invited to contribute material for the book which commemorated his life. He has been a key note speaker at many seminars organised by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) in Japan and to this day works with the well known specialists in Concept Engineering, Drs Kano and Shiba. He has been an invited keynote speaker at conferences all over the world including the USA, Japan, South Africa, various Middle Eastern Countries, India, and all over Europe.

Order Hoshin Kanri: The Strategic Approach to Continuous Improvement: David Hutchins form Amazon.

Business Performance Measurement: Unifying Theory and Integrating Practice: Andy Neely

• Filed under: Recommended

Drawing together contributions from leading thinkers around the world, this book reviews recent developments in the theory and practice of performance measurement and management. Significantly updated and modified from the first edition, the book includes ten new chapters which review performance measurement from the perspectives of accounting, marketing, operations, public services and supply-chain management. In addition to these functional analyses the book explores performance measurement frameworks and methodologies, practicalities and challenges, and enduring questions and issues. Edited by one of the world’s leading experts on performance measurement and management, Business Performance Measurement will be of interest to graduate students, managers and researchers who wish to understand more about the theory and practice of performance measurement and management.

Book Description
Business Performance Measurement reviews recent developments in the theory and practice of performance measurement and management. This new edition includes ten new chapters which provide a comprehensive review of performance measurement from the perspectives of accounting, marketing, operations, public services and supply-chain management.

Order Business Performance Measurement: Unifying Theory and Integrating Practice: Andy Neely form Amazon.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong

• Filed under: Recommended

Praise for Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook

"Six Sigma tools, particularly DFSS, are critical drivers of organic growth. DFSS can be used to significantly improve a new product, service, or process anywhere. Rath & Strong’s detailed approach to how your company can use these tools is terrific."
–Dave Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

"This handbook is a valuable resource for leaders considering implementing a Six Sigma program. I wish I had something like it when Quest Diagnostics first embarked on our commitment to Six Sigma quality a few years ago."
–Kenneth W. Freeman, Chairman and CEO
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

"Rath & Strong’s new handbook focuses on the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization."
–John C. Plant, President and CEO, TRW Automotive

"This handbook is an essential tool for any organization that is considering implementing a quality or process improvement program utilizing the Six Sigma methodology. Understanding the philosophy behind this proven management framework before putting it into practice gives companies looking to use it an even greater edge. The handbook provides an easy-to-follow footprint for the successful deployment of Six Sigma."
–Randy H. Zwirn, President and CEO
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

From the Inside Flap
Six Sigma is a proven and highly effective business initiative for improving customer satisfaction and increasing the efficiency of processes. But diving into Six Sigma without the proper preparation and planning is inviting failure. That’s why there’s Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook. This practical guide from the global leader in Six Sigma solutions helps business leaders understand the methodology and major issues of Six Sigma and achieve successful implementation.

This comprehensive resource focuses on the issues senior managers must face when considering Six Sigma as a key business strategy. It highlights the critical factors that make or break implementation, offers key best practices for getting it right the first time, and offers real-life examples and case studies that light the path to success.

Six Sigma takes planning, care, and caution if you want to do it right. Rath & Strong speeds up the process by providing a framework that helps you weigh the issues and make informed decisions about how you will use Six Sigma in your business. The handbook spotlights the major issues you need to consider, helps you align Six Sigma with the critical elements of your organization, and shows you how Six Sigma will impact your organizational culture. With Rath & Strong, you’ll have an overview of the tools, methods, approaches, benefits, and risks that are associated with each element of the methodology.

But this book is much more than a basic overview of Six Sigma. It offers the perspective you need to make the wise choice when considering any aspect of the methodology and breaks down all the issues of importance to today’s business leaders. It shares the Six Sigma experiences of executives from a wide range of industries to let you learn from the successes and failures of others before you begin. It demonstrates the flexibility and possibilities of Six Sigma–whether you want to use it as a simple cost-cutting measure or even as a method for developing your next generation of leadership talent.

Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook examines the critical link between process, leadership, culture, and customer, and leads you through every cycle of deployment. Most importantly, it lets you follow companies such as Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Honeywell, and GE into a new era–one defined by unparalleled customer satisfaction and greater profitability.

Order Rath & Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook: Rath & Strong form Amazon.

The Certified Quality Engineer Handbook, Third Edition: Connie M. Borror, editor

• Filed under: Recommended

This third edition provides the quality professional with an updated resource that exactly follows ASQ s Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Body of Knowledge. Today it is not uncommon for the quality engineer to be involved in quality improvement activities in healthcare, finance, education, software applications, and other non-manufacturing sectors. In response, numerous new examples and illustrations that cover applications in some of these areas have been added. Key features of the third edition include: New and updated references Extensive revision of the statistical methods, complete with numerous updated examples and illustrations Over 75 new glossary entries This handbook can be used in preparation for the CQE exam or as a reference text for professional development. When a complete description or discussion of a topic is beyond the scope of the handbook, useful references have been included for further reading. Quality engineers will find this book to be an indispensible addition to their libraries.

Order The Certified Quality Engineer Handbook, Third Edition: Connie M. Borror, editor form Amazon.

Lean Six Sigma Service Excellence: A Guide to Green Belt Certification and Bottom Line Improvement: Gerald M. Taylor

• Filed under: Recommended

Review
This is the definitive manual for organizations seeking to gain a competitive advantage through continuous improvement. Gerald Taylor is the guru of Lean Six Sigma for the service industry. –Janet Allton, Manager, Process Improvement and Quality Assurance, Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK Inc.

Despite roots in manufacturing, Six Sigma and Lean, two of the most successful initiatives for improving quality and productivity, are now needed by service and other non-manufacturing firms to meet the ever-growing demands of customers for long-term survival. Written for executives and managers of service and transactional organizations, this book is a practical, user-friendly guide to successfully implementing Lean Six Sigma practices in these types of businesses, and also serves as an inexpensive path to Green Belt certification. Lean Six Sigma Service Excellence emphasizes how productivity can be used as a distinctive competency for achieving and maintaining a competitive advantage in non-manufacturing environments.

KEY FEATURES
-Provides an overview of Lean Six Sigma concepts, principles and tools and step-by-step guidance on how to apply each of the relevant tools to practical situations
-Defines the properties of a well-designed service process management system and all factors, activities, events and requirements that make it work well
-Explains how to construct a performance measurement system and develop an effective dashboard of key performance indicators for a service organization
-Includes real-world examples and practical skill-building exercises to develop your competencies
-WAV offers free downloadable project management and performance excellence system assessment tools, several Six Sigma planning and analysis templates, and control chart selection, construction and analysis exercises available from the Web Added Value Download Resource Center at jrosspub.com

order Lean Six Sigma Service Excellence: A Guide to Green Belt Certification and Bottom Line Improvement: Gerald M. Taylor form Amazon.