Does anyone have any experience working with Six Sigma in the field or work somewhere that uses it?
I'm trying to find a few leads for a final project I'm working on. I'm hoping to find a few locations somewhat close by (i.e. RTP/Raleigh) where I could visit and speak to someone in person, but a business anywhere in NC or even further out could potentially work. The project is for ST435 which is all about quality control systems and 'real-life applications.' However, the professor hasn't had any field experience, so I'm hoping to bridge the gap with this project.

[Edited on November 27, 2007 at 9:53 PM. Reason : 435, not 430...Regression on the mind due to the lurking exam tomorrow]

11/27/2007 9:43:40 PM

i've heard both good and bad things about this, i'd like to hear what you learn

11/27/2007 9:45:50 PM

AW North Carolina

They make and assemble all the toyota tacoma, tundra, and sequoia automatic transmissions for the North American market.

I went on a field trip with my MAE495M class yesterday for to see their manufacturing processes, and i remember an engineer mentioning they are a Six Sigma company.

http://www.aw-nc.com/

11/27/2007 9:47:49 PM

i guess you mean ST435 because we don't talk about anything in ST430 except the crossword puzzle.

11/27/2007 9:52:02 PM

^^ Awesome! That's exactly the type of thing I'm looking for.

^^^ I'll be sure to post when I know/understand more.

^Thanks for catching that... I enjoy White's lectures because they're entertaining, but I feel like I'm not getting much out of the material. If he taught every day like he does during his exam review I think it would be a more rewarding class.

[Edited on November 27, 2007 at 9:55 PM. Reason : ]

11/27/2007 9:52:13 PM

im in the ST 435 class and i dont think his expectations are much at all and that is almost too much work that you are going through.

11/27/2007 9:55:02 PM

It might be more work than other people are doing, but it's a way of answering my own question (something that I am very interested in) and completing an assignment simultaneously. I see it as a win-win situation.

11/27/2007 9:58:30 PM

^^ heaven forbid someone wants to learn

11/27/2007 10:02:18 PM

^^ very true. Last year when I was in the class, me and my group wrote a paper about significant eras in quality control and when we handed him the paper in his office, he flipped through it quickly and said just by looking at this I see no reason why this isn't an A paper.

By the way to the original poster, did he say anything important in the review tonight that would be helpful to know before the test tomorrow. Thanks.

11/27/2007 10:04:30 PM

Honestly, the more I look into Six Sigma the more I see it as exactly the type of job I would like to have... the perfect combination of industry and statistical analysis. Projects are far more rewarding if you get something more than a grade out of them.

(As for the 430 test review, yes... White's reviews are ALWAYS helpful. If you'd like more info, PM me your e-mail address and I'll type up some of the important things I wrote down.)

11/27/2007 10:12:10 PM

Caterpillar uses Six Sigma. I don't work in NC but we use it worldwide & our facilities/offices in Cary, Clayton & Sanford all use the process. Depending on what you're looking for specifically, I can probably get you in touch with some people.

11/27/2007 10:16:02 PM

Hey ncsukat, I've actually done Six Sigma work in a professional capacity - I'm expecting a new project probably spring next year.

Given your post, I assume that you are taking ST435 this semester.... well the bad news is that there is less than 1 month in the semester and a typical Six Sigma project takes 3-6 months from start to finish using the DMAIC methodology.

Another constraint you might not be aware of is resources and you're talking about a lot of man hours from different SME (Subject Matter Expert) in different operational/functional capacities. BB (Black Belt) Six Sigma projects usually have a target saving of $250,000 (real savings, not managerial accounting's "cost avoidance" bullshit).

Project conception usually starts with a problem or an opportunity that the dept or div has decided to target as a focus of a project to improve efficiency(could be higher throughput, lower defects, etc) and a team is formalized and targets/objectives are set. Business case has to be written up, initial estimates of where the savings will come from, etc has to be prepared by the project lead.

Most Six Sigma projects follow the DMAIC methodology, Define, Measure, Analyze, Implement, Control. Honestly, from experience I can tell you that Six Sigma projects are not a good fit for class projects.

If you are REALLY interested in practicing Six Sigma, please check out scrc.ncsu.edu.

College of Mgmt has a Supply Chain Practicum Class. You cannot just sign up for it, have to submit resume + transcript and the professor picks about 12-13 students every semester from the applicant pool and there usually are 4-5 participating companies who will dedicate resources and staff and work with you the entire semester on projects (some of them are Six Sigma).

[Edited on November 27, 2007 at 10:37 PM. Reason : .]

11/27/2007 10:34:54 PM

i typed up my "formula sheet" that we get to use for the 430 test and it pretty much has everything we went over in the review session. if anyone wants it just pm me your email address and ill send it to you. i typed it in onenote so if you have that program let me know or else i can send you the word document but it isnt as visually appealing. also you might not understand every part of it because i obviously wrote it for my notes.

11/27/2007 10:37:14 PM

http://www.sixsigmacompanies.com/

11/27/2007 10:37:29 PM

I used six sigma a little bit when I interned at Vanguard. Didn't necessarily think I would see that there, considering its an investment management company, but they use it to evaluate their service quality. Vanguard is a low cost provider in the industry, so they field tons of client calls each day, as opposed to face-to-face interaction.

You might try e-mailing Professor Morrissette from the BUS dept. Hes an adjunct prof I think, I had him last year. Cool guy, got pretty high up in a few companies (he's pretty old now) but he taught the intro supply chain class. He has a ton of real-world experience.

11/27/2007 11:30:47 PM

Danaher companies use six sigma as well.

11/27/2007 11:44:40 PM

Management Fad!

11/27/2007 11:59:28 PM

Quote :

"Management Fad!"

11/28/2007 7:41:35 AM

I'm green belt certified. Later today when I get some time ill post more details.

11/28/2007 7:45:26 AM

I work at EMC, Apex Manufacturing Operations. We use a Lean Six Sigma combination. Nonetheless, great skillset to have.

11/28/2007 7:47:05 AM

Six Sigma is on it's way out...don't bother

11/28/2007 9:43:24 AM

11/28/2007 10:44:31 AM

^ I don't get it

11/28/2007 11:09:37 AM

Im a SS Green Belt also and no its not on its way out just yet. Its basically concepts that have been around for many years rolled into one (SPC DOE ect...). Its basically broken into two sections; DMAIC and Lean. DMAIC is the methodology you use to run projects, design work, ect...Lean involves the 7 forms of waste that a facility, process, or whatever has. Its a thought process on how to recognize waste, remove unnecessary steps and ultimately make the process more efficient. I am a Green Belt Core meaning Ive been trained on both sides so feel free to ask questions.

11/28/2007 11:15:09 AM

^^^haha

11/28/2007 11:16:21 AM

dont forget DMADV!

11/28/2007 11:19:51 AM

Never used DMADV. Only the big dogs in the company that get to use that!

11/28/2007 1:13:02 PM

yeah i dont work at a particular site, but more in capitol projects, and more specfically with software assets.

so since i dont really have discrete datapoints like changing the design of a spin oriface or something, a design for six sigma methodology ended up being more appropriate for my certification project as well as my ongoing six sigma projects

(we're reaquired to do a full blown project annually in my group, and to be certified GB)

(it's a nice perk that DMADV although with a much higher emphasis on control is a lot less actual work )

[Edited on November 28, 2007 at 1:40 PM. Reason : e]

11/28/2007 1:38:21 PM

i didn't know what this was, so i looked it up, and i'm still sort of confused....

is it just quality improvement, or what?

why would you need to get certified for the levels, it all seems like common sense to me?

11/28/2007 1:51:24 PM

Check out the NCSU Supply Chain Resource Cooperative-

http://scrc.ncsu.edu/

They should be able to get you in touch with the right people to talk to at the participating companies (many of which are local)

11/28/2007 5:14:21 PM

dont forget to ask about DVDA

11/28/2007 6:19:49 PM

It's a great way to trick stupid companies into giving you a lot of money for training that you wouldn't need if you had hired competent and intelligent fucking employees in the first place.

[Edited on November 28, 2007 at 10:52 PM. Reason : .]

11/28/2007 10:52:01 PM