Important of Self Discipline

Don’t get me wrong. I am not here to discuss about the sex scandal of the peoples.
What I want to say is, these people fail just because of lack of self discipline.

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Similarly, many Six Sigma and Lean program fail mainly because of lack of discipline, from the top management to the front line operation.

In many case, when Six Sigma or Lean programs fail, people start to question the practicability and effectiveness of the program in their unique business environment.

How many of them really review the peoples’ factor that potentially causing the failure.

Six Sigma Is Just Not Enough

I manage to snap the photo while having breakfast in the hotel that I stay in during the two days DFSS training.

Technically, I consider this is a very serious defect that shall not happen in a world class hotel.

Can you tolerate this type of defect happen to you, even the changes may be only as low as one out of million opportunity?

If you are the manager on duty, how would you handle the case?

DFSS For Semiconductor Industry

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I will be in the training. This is the first Six Sigma training I get after two years joining the semiconductor company that does not believe in Six Sigma.

Not easy to get such training for my self learning…..

Six Sigma = 致精

一直以来我都在寻找一个恰当的名词来取代Six Sigma 这个字眼。Six Sigma 这个名词在很多时候的确为我带来了不少的困扰，因为很多人都不太了解 Six Sigma 真正的意义。

在网上，我们可以看到有些人把 Six Sigma 翻译成“六标准差”或是“6西格码”之类的名词。可是我个人认为这些名词都不大恰当，因为他们都不能反映了 Six Sigma 真正的用意和精神。

直到昨天我在路上看到一则广告写着两个大字“致精”。对了，这就是我要的答案。

我可以这么说，当我们在某一项工作表现上达致“精”的水准，也就相等于达致 Six Sigma 的水准。以达到致精的境界，就得无此尽的学习和精益求精。这才是反映了 Six Sigma 原来的精神与用意。

Six Sigma Is Not A Management Approach

During a lunch with a group of managers, someone bring up the topic of feasibility of Six Sigma approach in management. Suddenly the operation manager look at me and throw me a simple question.

Do you think the Six Sigma management approach works in our daily operation? He ask me.

Hub….I m really frighten by the unexpected question thrown to me. I don’t have the answer in my mind actually. I look at him with my big eyes and smiling face. I only respond to him after idle for few second.

I tell him I don’t think there is such management approach call Six Sigma management.

The group of managers seem confused after getting my respond.

OK, lets make ourself clear the true meaning of the term “Management”. In wikipedia management was explain as an activity comprises planning, organizing, leading and controlling a team for the purpose of coordinating and harmonizing them towards accomplishing a common goal. It is an art. Whereas, Six Sigma DMAIC is a systematic problem solving approach that comprise of scientific and mathematical analysis.

Six Sigma DMAIC systematic problem solving approach could be a strategy in managing an organization, but by itself it could not be a management approach.

Shop Without Plastic Bag

I hate to shop in big supermarket during weekend or festival season. The main reason is I just don’t like to joint the long queue at the cashier to settle payment for my purchase. Why should I wait ?

Do you notice that the casher actually spend quite a lot of time to pack the customers’ purchase into a plastic bag after bar code scan. To me, the process of putting all the goods into a plastic bag is a matter of time wasting process and it serve no value to the customers. I have to dispose most of the plastic bag that I collected from the supermarket because the size is not big enough for me to pack the household rubbish that I generated.

I strongly believe there is chance to improve cashier operation efficiency at least 30 – 40% if they willing to stop using plastic bag to pack customers’ purchase. Customers can just pick up the goods from the cashier after bar code scan, put it back to the trolley, make payment and go.

There are number of benefit for not giving way plastic bags;

1. Higher casher equipment operation efficiency, lower operating cost
2. Improve customer satisfaction by reducing queuing time
3. Enhance company image as an environmental friendly organization

Now, the biggest challenge come. Are you willing to initiate change ?