Lean Six Sigma Statistics: Calculating Process Efficiencies in Transactional Project (Six SIGMA Operational Methods) Review

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Lean Six Sigma Statistics: Calculating Process Efficiencies in Transactional Project (Six SIGMA Operational Methods) ReviewThis book is a must reference for any Black Belt or Master Black Belt involved in transactional projects. It is full of real world examples and useful advice. This book covers the full breath of the transactional LSS environment from development and implementation of a LSS program ( Recognize and Sustain) to the practical how to's, do's and don'ts of running transactional LSS projects (DMAIC). Buy it, you will not be disappointed.Lean Six Sigma Statistics: Calculating Process Efficiencies in Transactional Project (Six SIGMA Operational Methods) OverviewThe marriage between Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma has proven to be a powerful tool for cutting waste and improving the organization's operations. This third book in the Six Sigma Operations series picks up where other books on the subject leave off by providing the six sigma practioners with a statistical guide for solving problems they may encounter in implementing and managing a Lean Six Sigma programs. The book draws it examples from all sectors of business ranging from financial to manufacturing providing the reader with a wealth of case studies and as numerous worked out equations which are designed to facilitate the full potential of any Lean Six Sigma project.

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Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook Review

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Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook ReviewTwenty-eight people contributed material to this book, including Thomas Bertels who also served as editor. What we have here in a single volume is a focus on "the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization." The contributors identify, explain, and then support these principles with real-world experiences and examples. "By placing Six Sigma in this context, this book will, in fact, be useful for any executive, manager, or employee who wants to understand how Six Sigma can help address the particular challenges of their organization." This book was written with empathy for non-technicians (such as I) as it responds to questions such as these:
* What is Six Sigma?
* Why Six Sigma?
* Why NOT Six Sigma?
* Where and how to begin?
* Whom to involve in Six Sigma initiatives?
* What is senior management's role?
* Major cultural barriers and how to overcome them?
* How and when to implement Six Sigma program?
* How to measure progress?
* How to sustain process improvement?
My own rather extensive experience suggests that all organizations can improve HOW they conduct business. Some processes may involve development of new products or services, others production and/or distribution, and still others order processing. Whatever. Not all organizations, however, need a full-blown Six Sigma program. In fact, a majority of such programs either fail or fall far short of expectations.
Among the many substantial benefits of this book is the guidance it provides to decision-makers when they struggle to determine the nature and extent of process improvement initiatives needed. You don't need a full-blown Six Sigma program inorder to, for example, reduce cycle time while improving first-pass yield. Among the most valuable chapters in this book are the last two. With appropriate modification, the principles, strategies, and tactics in both Chapter 24 ("Measuring and Auditing Results") and in Chapter 25 ("Developing Change Leadership Capacity") are relevant to any organization, regardless of size of nature. In my opinion, each of these two chapters (all by itself) is worth far more than the cost of the book but the value of both is even greater, of course, when their material is absorbed and digested at the conclusion of the sequence of chapters. I also want to commend the remarkably informative Foreword, Preface, and Introductions well as are three appendices: "Basic Six Sigma Concepts," "Case Study: Six Sigma in Small and Medium Enterprises," and "DFSS Case Study."
Previously, I have reviewed and praised the works of Forrest Breyfogle, Subir Chowdhury, George Eckes, and Peter Pande, each of whom has written brilliantly and eloquently on the subject of Six Sigma. I continue to recommend their works without hesitation or qualification, as I shall now do also with Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook as well as the three Rath & Strong Pocket Guides and the Six Sigma Road Map. Given the importance of process improvement, and given how many hours and dollars can be saved by even one improvement, it makes sense to obtain resources such as these and then derive maximum ROI from each.Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook OverviewAchieve unparalleled customer satisfaction and greater profitability with this essential handbook! Six Sigma is a proven and highly effective business initiative for improving customer satisfaction and increasing the efficiency of processes. Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook highlights the critical factors that make or break implementation, offers key best practices for getting it right the first time, and offers real-life examples and case studies that light the path to success. With Rath & Strong, you'll get an overview of the tools, methods, approaches, benefits, and risks that are associated with each element of the methodology.

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Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times Review

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Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times ReviewReview of:
"Next Generation Product Development" by Michael E. McGrath
The last paragraph of Michael E. McGrath's newest book "Next Generation Product Development" boldly states that "product development has never been for the faint of heart." And I suspect that most everyone who has ever been involved in such activities will quickly shake their head "yes" to this "truth" statement, and quietly wish there was a better way. Fortunately in his new book McGrath guides us to this better way--a way that offers "more opportunity and promise for getting better new products to market faster, WHILE DOING MORE WITH LESS." The claim is nothing short of a renaissance of product development capability.
I like this book a lot. I like the multi-faceted emphasis on integration. I like the productivity theme and the need for new management processes. And I like the idea that we are only beginning the renaissance of product development capability, especially given the growth of collaborative development.
I confess that I do not like the continued use of the DCM abbreviation (it stands for "development chain management.)" But I suppose I can learn to live with another "alphabet name" because it does get to the heart of the matter--how to manage a lot of INTERDEPENDENT projects, all of which are going on at the same time. Of particular importance are McGrath's thoughts involving a "networked team," new concepts which I think will be fundamental to tomorrow's successful product development.
To join this renaissance, exactly where does one begin? McGrath offers three entry points: changes in resource management, changes in project management, or changes in strategy management. I suppose someone will try all three at once, but frankly just one is probably a lot for an organization to swallow. For different entry points McGrath offers us guidance, with levels of maturity assessments and/or stages of implementation. But even still, there is a lot of material to assimilate and multiple readings of many book sections will be needed to fully comprehend his recommendations.
However I suggest that you don't spend an excessive amount of time studying. Organizations mainly learn by doing, and this book lays out the "learn by doing" path toward success. Past generations of development have emphasized invention, project management, or time-to-market. This next generation is a path toward productivity within the entire development enterprise. It is a path toward "better decision making, better investment in R&D, better return on that investment, more collaboration with external partners, and true empowerment of development activity."
I suggest that you buy the book and begin.
Nils L. Dailey
N.L. Dailey AssociatesNext Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times Overview
A Hands-on manager's guide to making the most of today's product development breakthroughs

A quarter century after MRP first transformed the global manufacturing arena, Next Generation Product Development stands poised to similarly impact new product development. This movement-defining book gives R&D professionals an in-depth explanation of the ways in which companies are able to achieve substantially higher levels of development productivity, while better aligning product development with strategy through new practices and systems.

Processes explored in Next Generation Product Development, and enabled by cutting-edge new-enterprise software, promise to explode the possibilities of what product development professionals can accomplish. This hands-on practitioner's guidebook will:

Establish a common set of frameworks and concepts
Introduce new project portfolio and product strategy management practices
Help R&D professionals increase productivity by 30 to 50 percent


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Lean Six Sigma : Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed Review

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Lean Six Sigma : Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed ReviewDon't let a luke-warm review of this book distract you from the value of Six Sigma, which I'll presume that you are at least interested in. I'll try and save you some time.
CEO
If you are a CEO, and have not yet been adequately introduced to Six Sigma, I recommend first purchasing "The Power of Six Sigma" (ISBN 0793144345, also available in audio CD). Once complete, consider purchasing this book ("Lean Six Sigma"). Read at least the first three chapters, which focus on contributions to the bottom line. If hooked, continue.
"The Power of Six Sigma" gives an overview, and the first section of Michael George's book illustrates why this is important to you.
Grunt
If your are "in the trenches," follow the above steps, but focus on chapters 10 and 15 of "Lean Six Sigma." Between you and I, the most compelling parts of Michael George's book was the second covering the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) process (chap. 10), also available many places on the web, and the very last chapter, where the author talks about how Six Sigma applies in the product development world (chap. 15, which I found fascinating).
Don't get me wrong. I am a big fan of the Six Sigma methodology, but was often times quite frustrated by this book. When I wanted more detail on tools within the Six Sigma framework I found myself completing the Yellow Belt course through Moresteam.com. This book simply does not cover the tools within the DMAIC framework in a level of detail I consider adequate.
Many times I found myself laughing because I am not in fact the CEO of this company. She has already committed to Six Sigma, and we therefore have little choice. After getting into the meat of the methodology, even after early involvement in TQM and other efforts, I am quite impressed with this latest evolution.Lean Six Sigma : Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed OverviewThis is the breakthrough program for increasing quality, shortening Cycle Times, and creating shareholder value in every area of your organization. Time and quality are the two most important metrics in improving any company's production and profit performance. "Lean Six Sigma" explains how to impact your company's performance in each, by combining the strength of today's two most important initiatives Lean Production and Six Sigma into one integrated program. The first book to provide a step-by-step roadmap for profiting from the best elements of Lean and Six Sigma, this breakthrough volume will show you how to: achieve major cost and lead time reductions this year; compress order-to-delivery cycle times; and, battle process variation and waste throughout your organization. Separately, Lean Production and Six Sigma have changed the face of the manufacturing business. Together, they become an unprecedented tool for improving product and process quality, production efficiency, and across-the-board profitability."Lean Six Sigma introduces you to today's most dynamic program for streamlining the performance of both your production department and your back office, and providing you with the cost reduction and quality improvements you need to stay one step ahead of your competitors. "Lean Six Sigma" shows how Lean and Six Sigma methods complement and reinforce each other. It also provides a detailed roadmap of implementation so you can start seeing significant returns in less than a year. From the preface businesses fundamentally exist to provide returns to their stakeholders. "Lean Six Sigma" outlines a program for combining the synergies of these two initiatives to provide your organization with greater speed, less process variation, and more bottom-line impact than ever before.A hands-on guidebook for integrating the production efficiencies of the Lean Enterprise with the cost and quality tools of Six Sigma, this breakthrough book features detailed insights on: The Lean Six Sigma Value Proposition - how combining Lean and Six Sigma provides unmatched potential for improving shareholder value; The Lean Six Sigma Implementation Process - how to prepare your organization for a seamless incorporation of Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques; and, leveraging Lean Six Sigma Strategies for extending Lean Six Sigma's reach within and beyond your corporate walls. 'Variation is evil' - Jack Welch. Six Sigma was the zero-variation quality lynchpin around which Jack Welch transformed GE into one of the world's most efficient and valuable corporations. Lean Production helped Toyota cut waste, slash costs, and substantially improve resource utilization and cycle times. Yet, as both would admit, there was still room for improvement. 'Lean Six Sigma' takes you to the next level of improvement, one that for the first time unites product and process excellence with the goal of enhancing shareholder value creation.Providing insights into the application of 'Lean Six Sigma' to both the manufacturing processes and the less-data-rich service and transactional processes, it promises to revolutionize the performance efficiencies in virtually every area of your organization as it positively and dramatically impacts your shareholder value.

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Software Configuration Management Review

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Software Configuration Management ReviewIf I could use only one of the stack of SCM books I own to guide me through an implementation and serve as reference this book would be it. The reasons for this bold statement are:
- it's comprehensive in coverage, starting with an in-depth introduction that clearly explains software configuration management as a discipline and process area, its benefits, and an overview of implementation issues, to details on every aspect of performing and managing software configuration.
- it addresses SCM from both software engineering and project management perspectives.
- it's based on established standards (MIL-STD-973 and EIA-649).
To readers who are working in agile environments that employ rapid development and implementation approaches the MIL-STD-973 and EIA-649 standards upon which this book is based may raise a red flag. To assuage concerns about introducing what many may perceive to be heavy, bureaucratic standards to processes designed for fast paced implementation, SCM is one area that requires checkpoints and a methodical process to ensure quality. As you read this book you'll find that neither MIL-STD-973 or EIA-649 are inherently cumbersome, especially if tailored to your specific project or development environment.
Highlights of this book, aside from the detailed treatment of every facet of SCM, are the copious use of tables and graphics to summarize or clarify key concepts and how processes work, and the wealth of artifacts contained in the appendices. The appendices alone are worth the price of this book because they provide templates, guidelines and checklists, and forms that you can immediately use. Note, though, that many of these artifacts are also provided in other books from the publisher, and some such as the DoD Engineering Change Proposal may not be applicable to your objectives (although they will be useful if tailored).
As you read this book you'll discover that general configuration management principles are also introduced, expanding the usefulness to integrators as well as software engineers. What I especially like is how the book never loses sight of the relationship between SCM and quality, the way metrics are identified and presented, and the interrelationship between configuration management and maintenance.
I personally believe that this book is the best there is for implementing and employing a strong SCM process, which is critical to any software or integration project.Software Configuration Management OverviewAn effective systems development and design process is far easier to explain than it is to implement. A framework is needed that organizes the life cycle activities that form the process. This framework is Configuration Management (CM). Software Configuration Management discusses the framework from a standards viewpoint, using the original DoD MIL-STD-973 and EIA-649 standards to describe the elements of configuration management within a software engineering perspective. Divided into two parts, the first section is composed of 14 chapters that explain every facet of configuration management related to software engineering. The second section consists of 25 appendices that contain many valuable real world CM templates. The content is extensive and inclusive, covering everything from CM planning to configuration identification, verification, and auditing. Although it is vendor-neutral, it offers a serious discussion of what to look for in a CM tool and lists toolsets for review. This volume is a sourcebook of techniques, templates, and best practices in the field, providing software engineers and systems developers with what they need to run a successful CM program.

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Lean Software Strategies: Proven Techniques for Managers and Developers Review

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Lean Software Strategies: Proven Techniques for Managers and Developers ReviewLean Software Strategies is a book about applying lean manufacturing ideas to software programming. I believe there is a lot to learn from manufacturing and I was pleased to get this book. After reading it, I am somewhat disappointed. There is nothing wrong with the advice in the book. But I don't feel the authors have really described a lean process. I'll go in the details below. In short, the main technique suggested is to make the whole process more integrated and more rigorous using, for example, formal methods. This reminded me of the book The Cleanroom Approach to Quality Software Development which makes the same claim and ends up with similar results. Lean is more than cleanroom. I expected data about work-in-progress reduction for example but I didn't see that in the book.
Here are more details.
PROS:
- Good introduction to the lean concepts (value, value stream, etc)
- Some interesting ideas to implement lean, especially if you are following a waterfall model. If you have already moved to a milestone model or XP, some ideas will be redundant.
CONS:
- Lack of data regarding the advantage of lean. The projects mentioned are vague and the data presented does not make the case for lean (versus, say, cleanroom as mentioned above).
- Focus on a specific class of applications (safety-critical) without a generalization to other classes of applications. In particular, the use of formal methods may not translate well to other domains.
- Focus on technologies (UML, QFD, TRIZ) without a word on team dynamics, employee training, etc. The soft aspect of lean is ignored.
All in all, I would recommend reading the book; but do not expect that it will change your world.Lean Software Strategies: Proven Techniques for Managers and Developers Overview
Winner Of The 2007 Shingo Prize For Excellence In Manufacturing Research!
Lean production, which has radically benefited traditional manufacturing, can greatly improve the software industry with similar methods and results. This transformation is possible because the same overarching principles that apply in other industries work equally well in software development. The software industry follows the same industrial concepts of production as those applied in manufacturing; however, the software industry perceives itself as being fundamentally different and has largely ignored what other industries have gained through the application of lean techniques.

Lean Software Strategies: Proven Techniques for Managers and Developers, shows how the most advanced concepts of lean production can be applied to software development and how current software development practices are inadequate.

Written for software engineers, developers, and leaders who need help creating lean software processes and executing genuinely lean projects, this book draws on the personal experiences of the two authors as well as research on various software companies applying lean production to software development programs.


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Quality Assurance for Information Systems: Methods, Tools, and Techniques Review

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Quality Assurance for Information Systems: Methods, Tools, and Techniques ReviewThis book would be very useful for those implementing QA groups in their companies. The book displays a deep understanding of the issues involved in that. The sample QA plan, manual, and its forms and charts can be very useful. Unfortunately, some of the material, such as the checklists, is pretty dated. The book takes a fairly scientific approach to QA, and that may appeal to some, but not others. The book doesn't follow the IS0 9000-3 model, per se. Finally, the book assumes the reader works in an internal corporate IT department rather than one which serves outside clients. The book is still very useful, nonetheless.Quality Assurance for Information Systems: Methods, Tools, and Techniques OverviewQuality Assurance for Information Systems Methods, Tools, and Techniques William E. Perry Here's the latest information on developing defect-free software. Completely revised and expanded, Quality Assurance for Information Systems: Methods, Tools, and Techniques shows you how to staff, organize, and operate a QA function. You'll learn how to evaluate systems throughout the project life cycle so that you design, document, and formally test programs before they go on line. New chapters cover reviewing the adequacy of application controls and include a tutorial on metrics - a quantitative tool for measuring quality. As usual, Perry gives you scores of ready-to-use charts, forms, and checklists. Contents: The Quality Assurance Function. Quality Assurance: An Essential Element of Electronic Data Processing. Role of a Quality Assurance Group. Developing the Quality Assurance Function. Systems Review Priorities: Allocating QA Time. Conducting Reviews of Application Systems. Quality Assurance Review of an Application System. Initiating Systems Review. Conducting a Quality Assurance Review. Reviewing the Adequacy of Application Controls. Quality Assurance Review Techniques.Reporting Quality Assurance Results. Quality Assurance Responsibilities and Methods. Verification, Validation, and Testing. Improving Software Maintenance. Reuse of Software. Special Quality Assurance Group Tasks. Quality Assurance and the Personal Computer. Measurements/Metrics. Quantitative Analysis of System Reviews. Metrics - A Tool for Defining and Measuring Quality. Measuring Computer System Reliability. Relationship to Internal Auditing. Sample Quality Assurance Manual. Testing Tools and Techniques.

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The Toyota Way Review

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The Toyota Way ReviewI've read this book a few times, and got our factory excited by it as well. We read it 2 chapters a week as a group, with a volunteer facilitator reviewing the content of the chapters in a weekly session. Suggest you start with this one and then read "Creating a Lean Culture" by David Mann and then "The Toyota Way Fieldbook" by Jeffrey Liker. A must read for those interested in Lean Manufacturing or Self-Directed Workteams.
Pro:
-Shows the commitment of Toyota to their methods and philosophies. By commitment they mean a willingness to pursue your transformation for at least 10 years, which is why I think so many fail... lack of commitment.
-Provides building blocks upon which to apply lean tools or lean toolkit
-Philosophy is quite detailed for a few hundred pages, appears thorough and complete so if you want to, you can create a similar systems-based approach
Con:
-Not a recipe for you to copy... no shortcuts or cutting corners here.
Neutral:
-Not much detail on "tools" which is out of scope for the content of this book
Bottom line: I think that this book is true to the philosophies of Toyota as I've directly observed from the 4 or 5 different senseis (former Toyota executives turned consultants) I have had the chance to work with. I only recommend a few books, this is one of them. Pairs well with "Creating a Lean Culture," by David Mann as a way to extend the lessons learned in The Toyota Way.The Toyota Way Overview
How to speed up business processes, improve quality, and cut costs in any industry

In factories around the world, Toyota consistently makes the highest-quality cars with the fewest defects of any competing manufacturer, while using fewer man-hours, less on-hand inventory, and half the floor space of its competitors. The Toyota Way is the first book for a general audience that explains the management principles and business philosophy behind Toyota's worldwide reputation for quality and reliability.

Complete with profiles of organizations that have successfully adopted Toyota's principles, this book shows managers in every industry how to improve business processes by:

Eliminating wasted time and resources
Building quality into workplace systems
Finding low-cost but reliable alternatives to expensive new technology
Producing in small quantities
Turning every employee into a qualitycontrol inspector


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Just Enough Software Architecture: A Risk-Driven Approach Review

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Just Enough Software Architecture: A Risk-Driven Approach ReviewThis a broad and deep book on all things software architecture except the architecting process (for process, one recommended read is "Process Software Architecting" by Eeles/Cripps). Several readerships will benefit from "Just Enough Software Architecture":
- As an experienced IT architect, I do not necessarily agree with everything in the book (this does not come as a surprise, as architects have opinions). That said, I certainly learned a lot that I can apply immediately on my projects and some of the more provocative statements challenge me to leave my comfort zone (or at least consider doing so).
- Junior architects can use the book both as a tutorial and as a reference when/while growing in their profession.
- Developers with a "who needs architects" mindset (hopefully) will understand architects and modelers much better after having read this book, and appreciate the value of archtecture.
Things I liked in particular:
- Overall vision and message of pragmatism sent
- The risk-driven approach increases chances to get accepted both in agile development and in more traditional architecture communities
- There is a lot of practical advice e.g. in Chapters 10, 11 and 15
- The author is in command of a large body of relevant related work (both industra and academia) and puts them in perspective adequately
- Editorial quality: structure, figures, command of the English language (some words and expressions a bit be hard to comprehend for non-native speaker)
Some room for improvements (2nd edition?):
- Not all metaphors and analogies work internationally, e.g. not all IT people are sports fans that follow baseball or know what a rookie is
- The connection between parts 1 and 2 could be a bit stronger, even if loose coupling generally is a good thing; e.g., some more backward references
In summary, I'd say Just Enough Software Architecture is a highly recommended read for every architect in touch with development reality and every developer with a desire to build complex systems that will stand the test of time.Just Enough Software Architecture: A Risk-Driven Approach OverviewThis is a practical guide for software developers, and different than other software architecture books. Here's why:
It teaches risk-driven architecting. There is no need for meticulous designs when risks are small, nor any excuse for sloppy designs when risks threaten your success. This book describes a way to do just enough architecture. It avoids the one-size-fits-all process tar pit with advice on how to tune your design effort based on the risks you face.
It democratizes architecture. This book seeks to make architecture relevant to all software developers. Developers need to understand how to use constraints as guiderails that ensure desired outcomes, and how seemingly small changes can affect a system's properties.
It cultivates declarative knowledge. There is a difference between being able to hit a ball and knowing why you are able to hit it, what psychologists refer to as procedural knowledge versus declarative knowledge. This book will make you more aware of what you have been doing and provide names for the concepts.
It emphasizes the engineering. This book focuses on the technical parts of software development and what developers do to ensure the system works not job titles or processes. It shows you how to build models and analyze architectures so that you can make principled design tradeoffs. It describes the techniques software designers use to reason about medium to large sized problems and points out where you can learn specialized techniques in more detail.
It provides practical advice. Software design decisions influence the architecture and vice versa. The approach in this book embraces drill-down/pop-up behavior by describing models that have various levels of abstraction, from architecture to data structure design.

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