Project Management Articles

In most Six Sigma implementation projects, the COPQ (cost of poor quality) is calculated to assess the total value of loss that accrues to the organization as a result of defects. COPQ is useful because it allows businesses to understand the overall impact that the defects might be having on precious organizational resources.

Lean six sigma concepts may have been originally designed for use in production, but over the years they have proved so versatile that their use has now spread to many other less-publicized areas such as maintenance services.

Lean Six Sigma certainly holds great potential, but businesses should never forget that the associated benefits can be realized only when their Lean Six Sigma implementation team is able to overcome the common problems or challenges faced during the implementation phase.

Over the last couple of years, home mortgage loans in United States have normally closed down in about four weeks. Today, with the help of Six Sigma, there are some online mortgage loan originators who close loans in less than two weeks.

The main job of Six Sigma Master Black Belts in managing implementations may not have changed much over the years, but new responsibilities have certainly been added to their work profile, especially in the last few years.

The concept, "The more, the merrier" may certainly apply to sale volumes and profitability, but when it comes to determining the size of Lean Six Sigma teams, this concept often fails to draw considerable support from management.

Lean Six Sigma certainly holds great potential, but businesses should never forget that there are barriers to "Lean" that if not accounted for, can prevent the organization from realizing its full potential.

Six Sigma can certainly help in reducing operational costs and improving quality, but businesses should never forget that there are inherent risks that need to be eliminated first in order to achieve the Six Sigma goals and objectives.

The PMP (Project Management Professional) credential is the most sought after certification in project management today. It is overseen by the Project Management Institute. We explore 10 standard steps you should follow in order to successfully pass your exam.

Benchmarking refers to the use of scientific tools and techniques for defining the desired quality levels and other attributes associated with a product or service. The concept of benchmarking has been around for many years now, but its use has gained new dimensions only in the last few decades, especially in organizations that have implemented quality control systems such as Lean Six Sigma.

When it comes to implementing Lean Six Sigma concepts and methodologies, the common mistake that organizations usually make is their unnecessary focus on reducing operational costs through employee retrenchment schemes. These downsizing exercises often have a negative impact not only on the morale of employees, but also on the organization's ability to benefit from quality improvement initiatives.

A few decades back, Six Sigma was used mostly in manufacturing industries, but now its use has spread to almost different industries. This has, in turn, not only redefined the traditional ways of implementing Six Sigma, but also the conventional roles and responsibilities of Six Sigma professionals such as Black Belts.

Six Sigma process improvement projects rely heavily on the use of scientific tools and techniques, but that is often not enough to ensure the success of such projects, because there is always a human angle involved - such as the needs and expectations of the customers, which can be quite difficult to comprehend and quantify.

The PMP (Project Management Professional) Exam is the most sought after project management credential today. One eligibility criteria is required training. This article explains how to get it.

Since the time it was first implemented by the Motorola Company in the early eighties, Six Sigma has undergone major transformations and it is now no longer treated as a standalone quality improvement technique.