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ChocoTiger

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 08:37 PM

Is getting Six Sigma certified useful for maintaining an SQF Level 2 System? 



Snookie

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:15 PM

My experience with Six Sigma had to do more with lean manufacturing.  While it can useful analyzing trends and it is useful, for me it has not been my most used tool. 


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ChocoTiger

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:21 PM

Ok, thanks, Snookie. 



Snookie

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:22 PM

Ok, thanks, Snookie. 

 

Are you looking to do the training and perhaps have your company pay for it?


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ChocoTiger

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:25 PM

Maybe.  I haven't gotten that far yet.  I've seen Six Sigma and Lean come up in other posts on this site, so I've been looking into it. 



Snookie

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:30 PM

it is a cool tool and many companies love it.  Am not sure SQF is its best application, but it can be applied so many other places.  I am not fond of the projects, but have heard of many companies that have saved a bunch of money with it.  If you have a good library nearby you can probably find some great materials on both lean and six sigma that will get you going to see how much effort you want to put into it.  But they are great tools.


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ChocoTiger

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:37 PM

Snookie, you're a mind reader. ;)  I was thinking about checking out the library to see if they had anything.  Thank you! :rock:



Snookie

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:48 PM

I am fortunate that my area has fabulous libraries, so I am able to get a lot of great stuff.  Hope yours is the same.  If not, you can check out the libraries at a nearby college or university.  They almost always have these kinds of materials. 


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RG3

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 12:56 AM

I've asked about this training, but management always comes back with how is it relevant to what I'm doing or will be doing...I just want the knowledge, especially since most of the company's KPI's bonuses deal with, "How much have you saved the company?" I say, millions..."Have we gotten a recall?" ::knock on wood::...unfortunately they don't see it the same way I do.



Snookie

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 04:49 PM

I've asked about this training, but management always comes back with how is it relevant to what I'm doing or will be doing...I just want the knowledge, especially since most of the company's KPI's bonuses deal with, "How much have you saved the company?" I say, millions..."Have we gotten a recall?" ::knock on wood::...unfortunately they don't see it the same way I do.

 

I agree with you.  An "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of recall".   I knew a company that did not need food safety or quality programs.....until they had a recall that shut them down for  6 months.  They have a different attitude now. 


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ChocoTiger

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 04:54 PM

I had the same thought.  Thanks, Snookie and RG3



Snookie

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 04:59 PM

While I did not do a formal project I once was able to demonstrate to a company that they had a huge cost impact because of their inadequate receiving criteria.  Could I have done it without all of the buzz words--yes.  But the buzz words made it sound better. 


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Mr. Incognito

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 05:04 PM

Here's the thing.

 

If you know 6 sigma terminology and concepts and try to express things in six sigma terms and nobody else understands it it's not going to help you at all.  You might be able to try to use 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, DMAIC, etc. but not everyone may understand how and why you are using that method.

 

Really, at least for management, I think it's an all or nothing thing.  My last job trained everyone, mostly because they had nothing better to do with us, in 6 sigma concepts and techniques. I believe it was yellow belt level training.  It covered all the basic concepts and how to apply them.  Here it just kinda goes over everyone's head.


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fgjuadi

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 05:28 PM

Agreed with Mr. I - I've seen Six Sigma work *beautifully*, but  I've also seen managers totally overwhelmed with "tools" (think warehosue manager filling out a DMIAC with no instruction)  and employees straight up revolt.  At the big boy factory I was at, we made the transition, I was also trained to yellow belt.   It was nice that "Quality" and "Safety" had a daily 3 things to focus on, and it was VERY nice to get corrective actions communicated to the team.  But the amount of resistance and push back, extra work hours and graphs really took a huge toll.  It was close to a year before we really started getting things working the right way.  

 

The best application of this I've seen was a plant manager who had the experience, but rolled it out to the floor without any terminology.   He was also very big on Project Management, and sent me off with a PMBOK to those classes.  The Project Management stuff really helped.  That got things done.  The KPI meetings there were awful and bitter, but we attended them and it made our team discuss corrective actions in a serious way. 

 

It might help you highlight issues, and your KPIs will probably be the same as your trending reports.   More than the tools, I think the valuable part is when you ask the floor employees to try and solve their own problems.    Basically, I think of these the same way I think of Employee-Lead Safety Teams.  They can go very wrong very quickly, or they can be a saving grace.  


Edited by magenta_majors, 17 February 2015 - 05:28 PM.

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esquef

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 05:50 PM

In my experience 6 Sigma is helpful for larger organizations. You need to have a lot of upper and middle management commitment to make it useful so if you work for a company where management personnel wear several hats I don't think it's worth the training expense and time.  

 

On the other hand, if you do work for a larger company staffed with management that really values quality, it does help solve problems, reduce waste, improve quality and food safety, and demonstrate to your auditor that your company is really on board for continuous improvement. 



Snookie

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 06:28 PM

Completely agree with Mr. I, MM and Esquef. 


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