Archive for the ‘Podcast’ Category

What is Six Sigma All About?

Monday, April 6th, 2009

May 24, 2008

Mindtool’s Rachel Salaman interviews Tom about a wide range of Six Sigma topics. Listen to hear what Six Sigma is, where Six Sigma should (and should not) be used, what are the benefits and pitfalls that await Six Sigma users, where Six Sigma is heading in the future, and much more! 31:28.

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The International Academy for Quality

Monday, April 6th, 2009

May 12, 2008

The International Academy for Quality (IAQ) is an independent, self-supported, non-profit, non-governmental organization that is administered by a collegial assembly of Academicians who have been elected by their peers from the most respected, active and experienced protagonists of quality in the world. In this podcast Tom interviews IAQ Chairman, Spencer Hutchens, Jr. 10:14.

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Process Capability Analysis

Monday, April 6th, 2009

April 27, 2008

How good is that process? How do you know? This episode discusses the ins and outs of measuring the process to make it possible to predict future performance. 9:56.

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DoE for Out of Control Processes

Monday, April 6th, 2009

April 12, 2008

Can you perform designed experiments on processes that are not in a state of statistical control? This podcast tells you where six eminent expert statisticians come down on this issue, and Tom adds his summary of the debate and his 2-cents worth. 10:19.

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Variance Inflation Factors

Monday, April 6th, 2009

April 7, 2008

Variance inflation is a problem frequently encountered by Six Sigma Black Belts who are performing regression analysis. It can lead to serious problems with the analysis, such as regression coefficients with the wrong sign. Listen to this podcast to learn about variance inflation factors, a metric that quantifies variance inflation, and the causes of and cures for variance inflation. 7:04.

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Quality, Integrity and Six Sigma

Monday, April 6th, 2009

April 2, 2008

Can we really use Six Sigma to improve the integrity of the organization? You bet! Listen to this episode to find out how. 4:58.

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QFD the Old and the New

Monday, April 6th, 2009

March 23, 2008

Quality Function Deployment, abbreviated as QFD, has been around since 1966. It proved valuable enough to become a standard part of Six Sigma. But much about QFD has changed in recent years. Listen to discover how to supercharge your Six Sigma activities with the new and improved QFD! 6:54.

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Quality Vampires

Monday, April 6th, 2009

March 2, 2008

We’ve all heard of the creatures from Transylvania that suck the life’s blood out of their victims. Like vampires, there are a number of approaches to quality improvement and control that can suck the life out of your Six Sigma results. 13:44.

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Black Belt How To Guide Part II

Monday, April 6th, 2009

October 29, 2007

In Part II Tom discusses an approach to problem solving that has served him well for 40 years. 20:51.

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Six Sigma Black Belt How To Guide I

Monday, April 6th, 2009

October 21, 2007

What does it take to be an effective Six Sigma Black Belt? This two-part podcast tackles this question. In Part I Tom discusses the role of the Black Belt, motivating others, working with teams as a Black Belt, management’s responsibilities to teams, proper team structure, how to get the voice of the process, and problem solving. 10:09.

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Resources for Six Sigma


Introduction to Six Sigma
Six Sigma Projects
Six Sigma Tools
Six Sigma Statistics
Six Sigma Videos (Requires QuickTime)
Leading Six Sigma
Healthcare Quality
Process Excellence Podcasts
Other Useful Links
Good books on Six Sigma and other topics

What is Six Sigma?

By Thomas Pyzdek, Author of The Six Sigma Handbook

For Motorola, the originator of Six Sigma, the answer to the question "Why Six Sigma?" was simple: survival. Motorola came to Six Sigma because it was being consistently beaten in the competitive marketplace by foreign firms that were able to produce higher quality products at a lower cost. When a Japanese firm took over a Motorola factory that manufactured Quasar television sets in the United States in the 1970s, they promptly set about making drastic changes in the way the factory operated. Under Japanese management, the factory was soon producing TV sets with 1/20th the number of defects they had produced under Motorola management. They did this using the same workforce, technology, and designs, making it clear that the problem was Motorola's management. Eventually, even Motorola's own executives had to admit "our quality stinks." Read More...