Difference Between Lean and six sigma

Lean and Six Sigma are in no way related. Anyone who thinks they are would benefit from a deeper understanding of lean and some background on six sigma’s origins at Motorola.

The term ‘Lean Sigma’ is an attempt to provide the best of both worlds and rarely produces the cultural changes necessary to support & sustain lean transformation.

SIX SIGMA is a tool used to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability.

6sigma programs are generally long duration and focus heavily on statistical methods & measurement;

A six sigma process is one in the products manufactured are statistically expected to be free of defects (3.4 defects per million).

It has its applications;
however the people involved do not necessarily employ a deep understanding of the processes they are improving.

The result is often lack of ownership by the people doing the actual daily work, so changes do not stick.

The “find it - measure it - analyze it - fix it” to save dollars fast approach often leads to point improvements that may even be CONTRARY TO LEAN PRINCIPLES.
- some 6sigma solutions have actually led the organization away from lean and increased total cost

LEAN is a management system, a culture, and a philosophy, focused on providing value to the customer and removing waste.
It requires the engagement of all employments and the transformation of how we manage.
It is NOT just a set of tools, or about workforce reductions and eliminating people.
Lean can be a growth strategy to create new opportunities based on Customer Focus to only provide value.

Most problems people apply 6sigma to can be solved at the root cause using common sense by an empowered front line worker - eliminating the need for any 6sigma statistical analysis.

There may be points in a lean organization where 6sigma can be used.
Organizations should not focus on any one quality improvement tool but on the appropriate tools for each specific problem. Too many company managers embrace popular programs, like SixSigma, ignoring waste reduction and other variability reduction methods that can also provide
huge improvements. Within a targeted area, a blended application of tools will have a much greater impact than focusing on a few select projects.

Lean philosophy focuses on overall system effectiveness; 6sigma focuses on point improvements.

Lean thinking is a way of operating an organization; 6sigma a tool.

There is no Six Sigma in Lean; just like there is no hammer in ___________.
A carpenter may require the use of a hammer if he has the need to strike some thing, however there are many other tasks he is responsible for that require his thinking.

Job Searching

Job Searching

What skills do employers need?
- technical
- communication
- interpersonal
- teamwork

Transferable

- learned through previous experience
- responding to client needs; supervising, dealing with customers, training, working directly with clients, leadership writing skills, problem solving, team work skills

Personal Management

- communication & enthusiasm (no one adds marks from school in their resume)
- organized
- able to prioritize
- time management

Technical skills

- looking for well rounded
o marks
o work experience
o extra curricular & volunteer
- looking for people who can make a strong contribution

List

- all current skills
- skills I’m developing
- what skills do I need to develop?

Looking for people to solve problems; provide solutions

- what is my level of skill in each area identify skill, level of proficiency, where applied  to differentiate resume (similar) to show who’s better  identify your role
- where have I used it before
o how can I prove that I have a skill at a certain level of proficiency
- results of actions; preferably concrete

Writing Skills – Improving

- write reports (short, 1-2 paragraph) on things you’re done and get someone with no knowledge in that area to read it; see if they understand

- what type of job do I want?
- What do I want to do with my skills
- Employers want to see you can be held accountable for things

Research

- identify industries you want to work in and opportunities they present for you
- use paper, magazines, web
- get to know professors, etc. who sit on boards, involved with industries, get to know them

Networking

- who is in your network
- is about getting information and making more contacts
- it may take 8 – 10 contacts in 1 firm to get hired

25 second sales pitch; Name, problem I will solve by providing certain skills
Example: I’m ____ _____
I can increase your sales/productivity by ___%, let me have 10 min. of your time and I can explain how I can do this.
- your goal here is to get the 10 minutes**

Always follow up with them after interviews/meetings/resumes etc.

Career Services – goes over resumes & cover letters

If I can get my own job description & have it approved by faculty advisor

Resumes
- key is to express your unique contribution
- summary
- helps reader find what they need to know
- emphasize strengths used in accomplishments
- no point form

- 2 pages, 12 point font
- a summary on the resume can be removed if cover letter is good (so as to avoid redundancy)

situation
action – how did you perform it
result – what was the result

Job Application & Scheduling

Flexibility/Adaptability
Ex. - moved across country 2 times
- work ethic, motivation – independent dealer
- volunteered to host – shows client/personal skills

Interviews

- know yourself – skills, goals, accomplishments etc
- know the organization – research it
- know what you want to do for the employer
- review resume & bring extra copies of resume & references
- ask thoughtful questions
- know time/place of interview, be there 10 minutes early
- know key points to tell interviewer
- know what you did effectively to get previous jobs
o what made the difference; the decision to get the job
- always backup skills; can use examples (concrete)
- follow interviews lead – shifting, uncomfortable; tired, bored
- ask: is this something…; would you like more info. on…

Types of Interviews
1) Informational
2) Behavioural/Situational
3) Stress
4) Telephone
5) Group

1) Informational
tell me about yourself (in relation to this position)
a. program
b. Interests
c. Accomplishments
- what are your greatest strengths & weaknesses
o how are you turning you weakness around
- why do you want to work here

2) Behavioural
- based on premises that past behaviour predicts future behaviour
- use past performance example
o answer – STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- how do you describe the ideal candidate for this position

1st Day at Work

Before – visit company website
- more research on company products & competitors
- know contacts, location & leave early to ensure you are there on time (or make sure you have previously been there so you know where it is); map & # to get a hold of them by
- work permit if needed
- dress code

Arrival or That Day
- set goals, clarify responsibilities
- assess resources
- keep manager informed – input, progress

During
- if you are invited to a meeting
o it’s for a reason;
o it’s an opportunity to sell your ideas
o it’s probably for your input
o avoid personal use of computer (personal email or anything else not work related – people have a hard time with this simple thing)
o say thank you to those who help you
o avoid gossip (integrity), offensive language/jokes
o be prepared for change
 ex. Project you’ve been working on for 5 weeks & due in 3 days is suddenly completely different & due tomorrow

Tips from Tim Harris, Kevin Timms

- if you notice VP or upper management on an email somewhere adjust reply email accordingly (learn who players are in companies)
- use MSN messenger & technologies to assist work
- make a different voicemail everyday, so people know where you are and how to get a hold of you
- book – Connect in Business in Under 90s
- volunteer – go help in industry you want to get into; work for free
- offer to do anything in organization
- 85% of jobs are unadvertised; 15% are advertised and have 90% of the competition
- Networking
o Let people know when you move, change jobs
o Send out happy new years, x-mas greetings
o Let me know if you change contact info

- get as much time off as possible
- phone people before interview and ask them what kinds of things will I be doing there
- resume; key words – left to right
o implemented ________ ….
- Training courses – keep track of them
- Banked overtime – can be used as $ or time
- In interview ask what’s your overtime structure
- Meetings – know who will be there
- Initiate – social events, etc.
- Black Book – everything you do goes here
- Learn to recognize communication & learning styles of people

Investment Psycho

According to an article from the National Post Tue. Sept 20, 2005

Functional psychopaths make the best investment decisions because they can't experience fear.

Fear stops people from taking even logical risks.

Apparently the ability to control emotions helps performance in business and the financial markets.

They think this explains why more people invest in bonds than stocks, when equities historically offer a higher average return.

Money & Barter

Here's an interesting article I read in the Toronto Sun September 18, 2005 Section D which got me thinking about the monetary system.

I'd put it up but I need to figure out how to upload the PDF

It mentions how

The money system is programmed (not deliberately) to cause certain behaviour. It promotes competition and short term thinking; forces economic growth; undervalues care, education & tasks crucial to maintaining society.

People do not compete for markets & raw material, they compete for money.
Banks put money into circulation by means of loans. As soon as someone negotiates a loan, money is created & begins circulating. The bank expects the loan recipient to pay back the principle and interest, but the bank does not create the interest; therefore some people must lose money or go bankrupt in order to put others in the position to pay off their loans.

This collection of interest results in a concentration of wealth - those with money automatically get richer.
The system forces society into an endless loop of economic growth; new money must constantly be put into circulation to pay off old loans.

It says greed and competitive drive are not inherent human qualities. They are continuously stimulated by the kind of money we use. There is more than enough food and work for everyone.

There is merely a scarcity of money.

Business have to make money today. Governments bear the responsibility for the future of society.

So if anyone knows a link to the article let me know

Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico

whose holdings span telecom, banking, energy, tobacco and more

Slim said shortly afterward that he wasn't concerned about his ranking or taking over the top spot, but he expressed differences with Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and Gates, the chairman and co-founder of Microsoft Corp.

"It's not about having who knows how many bonds, to spend them on whatever one wants or live it up all year," said Slim, an engineer who wears modest suits and whose main indulgence appears to be expensive cigars. "I don't have apartments abroad. I don't have a house abroad."

Slim, who owns Mexico's dominant phone company and has holdings throughout Latin America, said his vision of a businessman's role in the world is at odds with that of Buffett, who announced last year he would donate $1.5 billion every year to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"It's very interesting, because he leaves those who are running his affairs the responsibility of being very profitable," Slim said of Buffett. "If they're inefficient or don't get real-term returns, they're not going to be running anything."

"Our concept is more to accomplish and solve things, rather than giving"
- adding that building businesses often does more for society than "going around like Santa Claus."
"Poverty isn't solved with donations."

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/04/12/forbes_slim_is_worlds_2nd_richest_man

Slim says he is unfazed by the criticism. "When you live for others' opinions, you are dead. I don't want to live thinking about how I'll be remembered,”

http://members.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0326/134.html?token=MiBNYXkgMjAwNyAwNTo1NDozMSArMDAwMA%253D%253D

keeps them busy so they’re not loafing around

Mar/Apr 2009 Canadian Manufacturers & Exporter Magazine

Mar/Apr 2009
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporter Magazine

P 27
- expect infrastructure suppliers, health care providers, IT companies, energy firms and any company that is less dependent than average on the US consumer to fare better than most manufacturers

p 28
- www.threadless.com , Chicago. T-shirts created, submitted & rated by the public
- Local Motors, Massachusetts, www.local-motors.com custom cars

p 29
- book Changeable and Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, El-Maraghy, 2008
p 30
- Industrial Machine & Mfg. Inc. Saskatoon
p31
- McCoy Corporation, Edmonton

P51
- The other course is to conserve, to manufacture in Canada not only the preliminary processes, but also the succeeding processes and export the products in a finished state.

P 52
- Edson Packaging Machinery Ltd. Hamilton. in early Feb 2009, the company received a record # of orders from abroad

We’ve heard from the media about the economic devastation; now we need the media to report on the manufacturing companies that are prospering and moving on