Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Points to Ponder about 6 Sigma
Why has 6 Sigma been successful at Global benchmark companies?
The people and projects make the difference. Leadership commitment.
What else? It’s about people... how they use the methodology to create value; it’s about engaging, empowering
people to make decisions on facts & data; it’s about developing leaders, giving them skills needed for the future.
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• G&L, a machine tool builder based in US. Trained 15 leaders, 1 MBB. 6 BBs completed 14
projects, delivered >$5M benefits since November 2001.
Lessons learned:
– It all starts at the top of the organization; leaders must embrace the process and stay committed
– Jump on the Six Sigma bandwagon; it really works!
– Challenge your organization to drive transformational change.
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• Zhejang Yinglun Machinery, a manufacturer of heat transfer equipment, began deployment
in China Y2004. Trained 5 leaders, created 8 BBs who completed 8 projects which delivered
about $1M benefits . Plan the 2nd wave leadership workshop on Y2006, about 40 people will
attend the workshop.
One project achieved $110,000 benefit through the quality improvement of an OEM oil
cooler.
Lessons learned:
It all starts at the top of the organization; leaders must embrace the process and stay
committed.
Jump on the Six Sigma bandwagon; it really works!
Challenge your organization to drive transformational change.
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Hagemeyer North America, a distributor of electrical materials, safety and other
maintenance repair and operations support products began deployment 9/03.
14 business leaders completed the 6 Sigma workshops.
Black belt candidates attended five different waves of DMAIC workshops, creating
12 full time black belts as of January 13, 2006.
22 projects initiated since 9/03.
8 have been completed to the control phase.
Realized approx $2M in level I and $250K level II benefits to date.
Identified $8M in combined level I and level II savings in total of those 22.
Balance of projects not yet into Control phase.
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Hagemeyer North America (continued) . . . Steve B., Executive VP Supply Chain
Management says:
“6 Sigma is key to our long term success.
After two years we have made great progress. We have been exempted from
(physical) inventory by our external auditors . . .
our freight costs are $1M less today than in 2004.
More and more, 6 Sigma is the language of our customers”.
Early projects dealt with very large issues around informational databases. The hard
work the teams did has an additional benefit as we convert one of our operating
systems to our common platform. We are able to duplicate the processes we used in
these early projects. . . An added win!!
Our associates are beginning to think “ 6 Sigma Project” when they encounter a
recurring process problem.
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ABB, a factory automation supplier located in US reduced average aftermarket
software delivery time 97.1% with a 98% reduction in variation, netting $218,000 in
process cost savings and $408,000 incremental revenue through new market
penetration( $616,000).
Wheels India, the leading manufacturer of steel wheels for passenger cars, utility
vehicles, trucks, buses, agricultural tractors and construction equipment in India
began deployment 11/03. By 3/05, they completed their first 7 projects which
delivered $298,000 level I savings. LESSONS LEARNED:
“ With the increasing costs of power, steel and transportation, 6 Sigma has
helped us reduce our own costs and will help us grow . . . 24 - 6 Sigma projects
are underway and expect to deliver $444,000 in savings “. “ . . . this
methodology uncovered problems we never knew were there. It found solutions
for problems that hadn’t surfaced yet.
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ECCO, an ESOP company headquartered in Idaho designs, manufactures and
markets electronic safety products for commercial vehicles. Began deployment 9/03.
10 leaders trained, 6 BBs (4 DMAIC, 2DMEDI) created.
One project achieved 50% reduction in parts outages & 50% reduction in past
dues from parts outages for annual savings of $132,000.
A second project eliminated false failures & cost of calibration of testing.
Reduced tech support 50%, reduced production stops by 75%, and generated
annual savings of $75,000.
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• Nanjing Automobile Forging Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of forging parts, began deployment
Y2004. Trained 3 leaders, created 5 BBs who completed 5 projects which delivered about
$2M benefits, 2 projects on-going, projected benefit is $20,000. 4 projects were worked in
collaboration with Customers.
One project achieved $1.5M benefit through the heat treatment process improvement
of the track link.
Lessons learned:
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Volex, a wiring harness supplier in UK. 938 employees, £220M in annual sales.
Began deployment 6/03. First project chartered to reduce cut cable scrap. Actual
financial benefits for the project:
Total Saving Achieved £46,148 / Year
Reduction in overhead costs (tax, electricity, heating) by closure of fourth floor - £8,327
(reduced handling costs) reassigned personnel - £13,000
Saving achieved by reducing . . .
scrap - £10,800
inventory - £14,021
page 10
Mechanical Devices, a family owned business located in Bloomington, IL. MD
machines casting which are shipped to Customer facilities located in the midwest &
south. The MD 6 Sigma deployment journey began in Feb. ’03, 1 DC, 6 leaders,
1BB.
Through a series of interlocking 6 Sigma projects, MD . . .
- focused on improving quality performance (measured by
- ppm reduction internally and externally) which had a positive impact to
Customer facilities
- improved product availability to Customers,
- reduced in-bound freight costs approximately 30%
- reduced inbound freight time from 3 days to 1 day,
- reduced all inventories, including WIP,
- reduced manufacturing cycle time
- reduced aged accounts receivables and
- doubled sales . . . in a 24 month period
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WD Allen, a supply chain management firm providing sourcing/resourcing strategy analytics, order/delivery
management, content management, requirement / demand management to meet production schedules,
suppler relationship management, re-packaging, kitting, and sub-assembly. Headquartered in Crystal Lake IL
with a subsidiary company in Worcester UK, total employment 17. Began deployment in June 2004. 1DC, 1
Leader, and 1 Black Belt Results:
The investment in Six Sigma recovered in the first year, via initial 2 projects.
WD Allen is involved in an on-going combination of internal and customer collaborative projects with
Customers delivering >$800K level I benefits through May ‘06.
Lessons learned:
“6 Sigma success requires the total commitment of the company’s management.“
“A small firm, due to their size, will not uncover million dollar savings opportunities, but small companies CAN
change the business culture and imbed the Six Sigma methodology at a pace measured in months rather
than years. “
“6 Sigma is an excellent tool to train the next generation of senior managers.”
“ 6 Sigma is an excellent vehicle to better understand what your customers expect from supplies now and in
the future”. Mike Doran, DC
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Morton Metalcraft, a sheet metal fabricator
headquartered in the midwest with
operations there & southeast US. Total Project Base Improvement Improvement
number rejections rejections / rate
PPM
Improvment
employment of approximately 1200, 45 per month month
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Presrite Corporation, a forging manufacturer located in Cleveland, Ohio. PC employ 480
people generating approximately $120M in sales per year. Began the 6 Sigma journey 7/03,
1 DC, 10 Leaders in ‘03 & ‘04. 20 Project Sponsor trained 7/05, 6 BB, >50 GBs, 1 MBB. 18
6Sigma projects,Yellow belt training conducted 3x / year per plant. Results $1.5M / year
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