Favourite blogs for Luis's blog

LCM and KM

I just finished my optinal module on the week. So i did not write anymore about the assignment, just did the research. I am also feel just few information about LCM, most information is about Product LifeCycle Management. From my view, since the main aim of LCM is assist in busienss managing the total life cycle of products and service towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns. so perhaps, we can just consider it from product life cycle management. and from my research, the PLM can be regarded as a knowledge management solution which support different process thought the product lifecycle. For example, the Design on the LCM, the knowledge from PLM may be a part of the successes. Thus, I think we can get idea from PLM  process with Knowledge Management.

Before, I considered the barriers when adopting Knowledge Management and find out the relative solutions. Now I am thinking about Lean on LCM. since we know the aim of Lean is reduce production time and increase the speed. On the life cycle management, it concerns to Production. and the one of advantages of LCM help busienss to get more profitable, so Lean manufacturing may be a way to assist it. Thus, i thinking how to increase the production speed, the knowledge and experience from employees may be a solution. Thereby, Knowledge Management plays a role on increasing production speed and reducing unexpected processe.

One question i got is about the assignment structure. we should focus on the application of Knowledge Management  to the asset management , or the Asset Management issues or solution for the improvement, or both of them are half. 

Anyway, if anyone is doing the same topic, please share, I know all of us are difficult to find relative information directly. I will upload new information if i found it. 

LCM is an interesting topic, but also is a very complicated one.  5~ no time to change la,

: 24 Apr 2009 22:22 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

knowledge management barriers

As I mentioed in previous blog, there were a lot of barriers for KM implementing successful. From my research on these days, I have prioritized for them.  I think that is very importatn to know which barrier is most important, because it can effect implementation directly. Among of nine barriers,the most important barrier is lack of top management commitment because its high driving power and low dependence among all the identified KM barriers. the suggestion to cover the barrier i found is that using Business Management System. then lack of methdology, and orgnaizational structure with highest driving power. these barriers play a key role in knowledge sharing, communication, sollaboration, and in searching for knowledge and information. Next is lack of technological infrasturcture. we know two types of Knowledge that are explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. all of them need support from technoogy, and technology infrasturcture helps to submit, create, share, replicate knowledge, etc. Lack of orgnaizational culture and lack of motivation and reward are the following one. Both of them are related to motivate and encourage employees to share their knowledge. Then staff deflection, staff retirement, and lack of ownership of problem are the follwoing barriers when doing knowledge management successfully.

when I finished the prioritize and found solutions for copying with each important barrier, I am going to find a method to apply KM on LCM. Because life cycle management relates to thinking about products, processes, and services. it covers product design, material, production, product distribution, and cusotmer & end of life. so that the activity of LCM comprises several departments such as production department, sales department, service department, transportation department. Thus,  I think the Knowledge also comes from different department with different roles. I am thinking about find out a way for KM that suit for LCM processes. I am looking a way that is called Rubik's Cube. But I am not sure my idea is right or not.  hopefully, if someone is doing the LCM, we can share our ideas, and hope my research can help you,..

And I am keep doing ,,,

: 18 Apr 2009 23:25 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

KBAM PMA

Yesterday I borrowed a book from library for the PMA. I prefer to Life Cycle Management as a Asset Management in the project. Because LCM covers produts, processes and services. it recognizes all prodduct life cycle stages. From our presentations, i got lots of findings related to LCM, which includes product after sell service,e,g. warranty, maintiance of machinery, recycling of the matierals from customer, create new production line, and opportunities for enter new market. From my research, I got the life cycle mamagement can help WaveRiders to analyse and understand life cycle stage of the business, products, and services, indentify the potential economis, social, or environmental risks and opportunities for each stage, identify opportunities to gain a stronger competitive advantages, reduce cost, design better products, and so on.

In order to suport LCM to achieve its advantages, we need to apply Knowledge Management on it. because KM comprises a range of practices used in an orgnaization to identify, create, represent, distribute and enable adoption of insights and experiences. the beneifts of KM on LCM likes reduce costs and unexpected items on design products, increase production speed because of relevant knowledge, improve product quality, and so on. However, by doing research, I have found a lot of barriers about doing KM successful, which includes lack of top management commitment, lack of methodology, lack of orgnaizational culture ,etc,. all of them are good for the PMA to analysis how to help WaveRiders to achieve excellence performance.

For the stucture of the PMA, so far, firstly i will introduce the current issues concern to LCM, then introduce the relationship between LCM and KM, next is to define the barriers for doing KM successful and how to solve it, finally, provide a strategy for WaveRider company to improve KM system to support LCM in order to get successful performance.

: 10 Apr 2009 23:09 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

PIUSS PMA the last one

This evening is the last day to doing PIUSS PMA, hope every one goes well...

Today, i have mainly focus on the second part about how to bring Lean and Six Sigma together. From my research, I think we have to understand the implementation of Lean Six Sigma revolves around three phases. this processes wraps the best of Lean and around a Six Sigma infrastructure and sets the roadmap for the long term. Moreover, when an organization wants to develop an intergration program that cooperate with Lean and Six Sigma tools, it is required to set up an efficiency strategy to response to the differences between Lean and Six Sigma, not only just training Lean Expert as Black Belts and put Lean principles in a Six Sigma curriculum. The improvement process of DMAIC shows the interplay of Lean and Six Sigma, it is the tool to combine theri benefit together to improve process. in addition, some crucial factors also improtant on integrating Lean with Six Sigma that is considered by an organizaiton. For example, the five Lean tools and princples to integrate into Six Sigma that includes value stream mapping, takt time, cause-and-effect diagram and 5 whys, load balancing, and mistake proofing, all of them are the important factors to help orgnaizaiton birng Lean and Six Sigma together.

After today, the module is totally finished. But i think the study for it will not be stop. Lean and Six Sigma are the most and popular methdologies, they are not only valued in manufacture, also they are good for any business.

: 15 Mar 2009 22:29 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

PIUSS PMA

I have near finished the first part of the PIUSS assignment. During the period, I have tried to understand what is Lean and Six Sigma in deeply. In order to answer the first question about whether Lean and Six Sigma can be compatible. Firstly, I researched their differences and similarities, and then think about why their need to combined, becausethis is the foregoing stage to think about whether they can be compatible. Through the focal research, the difference between Lean and Six Sigma likes they have different tools and techniques; the goal of Leanand Six Sigma is different; Lean is an improved process flow, but Six Sigma related to reduce process variation, Lean can influence the whole organization as it can change organizaiton culture because it covers all system, but Six Sigma just a particular team, when the project finish, the followers are fading out; six sigma plays change management that tends on focus on cost, quality and schedule, but Lean is transformatinal change that concern to busienss strategy, orgnaizaitonal design, structure, culture and process of the enter value stream. However, lots of similarities appear among them.  For example, both lean and six sigma are management philosopies associated with continuing improvement, requrie and encourage the engagement of management of key leaders within the organizaiton to make sure that the prioritized project are executed as part of way of doing busines, stress empowerment and involvement, etc.

I have researched lots of paper about Lean VS Six Sigma, some paper presents the difference of them is higher than the similarties, but others just shows the opposite. whatever, several typical examples as GE, Toyota, Motorola gave the impressive result using either Lean or Six Sigma.

why they need to be combined. From my research, i know they are not matually exclusive, i have divided into two fileds to analysis. Firstly it is from single system development. According real statistic shows any specific programs as Lean/TOC/6 sigma all have their specific peak time, but the result of Limited Factor of Implementation presents any program create successful only in small percentage of cases. so in order to survive, system need to be envolved.  secondly, because they are not matually exclusive, so the any one of them can be like a complement in order to enhance their benefits.

Michael L. George in his book shows the fusion of Lean and Six Sigma is required because:

* Lean can not bring a process under statistical control

* Six Sigma alone can not dramatically improve process speed or reduce invested capital.

this is a resource to help me understand how can Lean and Six Sigma to be combined, and whether they can be compitable.

The second part of the question is about how to bring Lean and Six Sigma together successful. Today, i have research some papers about integration of them, includes success factors to integrating them, and tools and princples of Lean to integrate into six sigma. by reading them, i know their features plays important rols on integration, it likes both lean and six sigma methodologies requires real data from customer to careful assessment, so the success facotor jsut may include cusotmer focus. ....

I m keep on reading and understanding, try to put more  reflective information asap....

: 14 Mar 2009 21:25 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

KM & IS

Keep doing the research for Kowledge Management. Todday, I want to conclude my research about Is it good to use and rely on IS to manage all kinds of knowledge. why i would like to think about the question is about organization need Knowledge Management strategies to create more unified and integrated knowledge sharing netwrok, formalise and systematise knowledge capture, and build a supportive culture for knowledge sharing that promote knowledge transfering and reuse. Nonetheless, KM can not achieve it alone, it have to rely on a way to support it that is information technology and information system.  Information system can defiend technically as "a set of interrelated components that collect, process store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization "(Laudon, K&Laudon, J, 2007)..

From my research I got, before we use IS to support KM, managers have to understand the type of knowledge firstly. as knowledge is divided into tacit and explicit knowledge, the definition about them was mentioned in previous blog. For explicit knowledge, it involves a systematic approach to organize inormation, make it available and disseminate it. so IS definitelyh is the major helper for improving the efficiency, accurancy and effectiveness of knowledge transferring.

As i mentioned before, using tacit knowledge, we have to convert it to explicit knowledge. There are two complementary KM approaches to deal with the challenges that are codification and personalization approaches. Codification is trying covert tacit knowledge to a more explicit form and adopt the systematic approach again to organizing, storing, and disseminating it. in this approach, IS are also used to translator, storage and electronic dictionary to transfer the tacit knowledge to explicit one, process and disseminate it. Personalization that refers to " the sharing of ideas and tacit knowledge in informal settings" (Alazmi, M, 2003). in this approach, IS mainly plays role on communication.

.......continuing ....

: 08 Mar 2009 16:46 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

KBAM

In this week, we have mainly focused on our mini project. on our group, everyone was allocated to research information about different part of  knowledge based management. My role now is researching about how knowledge can be defined, and how to representing knowledge. By doing that, I understand what is tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge, including its concept and their difference, and the different format to representing knowledge. To share tacit knowledge, firstly have to covert it to explicit knowlege. Louis Kang gave a good illustration about them on his blog. The sharing is very useful to understand them.

Today, we have talked about seminar topics. During our discussion, we have mentioned the difference between innovation and invention. Invetntion is the first occurence of an idea for a new product or process while innovation is the first attempt to carry it out into practice (Gurel. O, 2007)

For example, iPod, the product is really not very inventive. Since MP3 players have been launched for several years, and the device of iPod is designed with the unique hardware and software aspects. the mainly contribution to the iPod innovation was its combination of aesthetic designm elegant ergonomics and ease of use. In addition, the creation of iTunes software made iPod truly innovative.

I am going to give a good link to undersand Innovation VS Invention by WILLIAM Buxton, which will help our to know more about them. the mainn point of the article is Innovation is far more about prospecting, mining, refining, and add value than it is about pure invention. Examples on it are Apple and Dell.

http://www.billbuxton.com/innovationIvention.pdf

: 06 Mar 2009 22:23 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

PIUSS pma

PMA seems never stop. I just submitted FACS on the monday, then have to move to PIUSS. Life is struggle and tough. In PIUSS project, lots of topics can be chosen, I am interested in the Lean and Six Sigma.

In the two days, i have read some articles about Lean and Six Sigma. simply understand their aspects and key contrubution to improving quality within less time. we have known what is Six Sigma in the PIUSS lecture, and understand Six Sigma does not directly address process speed during our game.

From literature review, Lean means speed. the aim of it is to eliminate wasted time, effort, and material, to provide customers with make-to-order products, and to reduce cost while improving quality. However, it can not bring a process under statistical control. Therefore, in the first part of the quesion that is whether the tools can indeed compatible, the solution is they  can be cooperated indeedly.  since the concept of Lean Six Sigma is defined a methodology that can achieve the fasted rate of improvement in customer satisifaction, cost, quality, process speed, and invested capital. But they can not reach the achievement if doing separately.

More about Lean Six Sigma I have got from research is that Lean Six Sigma works not by speeding up the workers or the machines, but by reducing unneeded wait time between value-added steps. Actually, this concept has represented very good on our building a small-scale plan game, which is why we got a good result on the game. Unlike intuition that tell us the faster we go, the more mistake we make.

: 05 Mar 2009 00:06 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

PIUSS

Actually, we ve finished the PIUSS module on last week, but i still confuse on the content. I borrowed a book from library, intend to study more about it in order to apply for the PMA. In the module, the aim was studying Six Sigma approach. The pre-work includes PMI and team work. PMI is a speicfic way to teach us each stage of improvement cycle. In our team work,  we have divided into group to do different topic, and then discuss them together near finish. By doing the work, i know that working experience is very important on sometimes. For example, when we discuss the foreseeable  challenges when change management to enhance six sigma project. i only can think about some simple factors, like communication or something. But like Ritina, she has worked before, so she just know some deeply challenges, as complacency or ignoring the new process. and Louis mentioned grant exceptions. Any way, every one in the group did a good job. In the hand-on exercise,our cooperation to building an small-scale plan had a good productivity. we had a big improvement from the first time to the final implementation. During the process, we have dicussed the common variation and specific variation, and then find out the solution to reduce the variation. Also the rational work arrangement is a key factor to improve the performance as one people to do three stages instead of two stage. Lots of strategy from six sigma approach were used in this game, which gave us a deeply impression about six sigma.

Except to the above mentioned, we ve learned Taguchi concept. the same way we understand the theory by  making a helicopter and caculate the signal to noise. Totally speaking, the module is an interesting one, but the formulas in the six sigma approach need to take lots of time to understand them. Hope i can get them soon. 

: 04 Feb 2009 11:35 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

transformational leadership

Today, i have been thinking about what kind of company need to develop transformational leadership? and based on the theory to assume WaveRider current situation includes problems and pressure the Chief Executive has faced. The points that i think the organization need to the theory is because:

1. it has larege market that cover in different place

2. organizational structure is most of hierarchy,

3. the busienss grows and employee more people

4. the CEO need a good way to motivate everyone on their job

5.business need a positive internal competition  in order to inspire more potential capability

6. organization need to regulate each department

7, i m thingking more,,

: 20 Jan 2009 22:42 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

LE PMA & Project

Today, i ve finished the first meeting with Paul. I choosed his project is Leader Development as my project. During the meeting, he gave me a good idea about the area i need to cover. The topic probably will subject to How can Leader in a typical Chinese SME be developed? or How can leadership capability of Chinese maangers in an SME be improved? Paul has guided me to focus on my family's company. To analyssi the leadership in the company and find the problems by using questionnaire, interview or other ways. and then to think about how to over these problem from leadership literature. At the same time, thinking about the relevant part like how to develop an effective leaders and Chinese leadership in SME. Totally speaking, this meeting have brought lots of interests and enthusiasm on the project, also, gave me lots of idea to structure the content.

On the morning, Paus has explained our LE PMA again. according to the analysis, i made the outline of the content.Frstly, to introduce the kind of leadership theories. and then to decide what theories will be used in the case, why we like to adopt them, and how to improve leader's current situation. finally, how to suggest them to John and other director by coaching. That is my outline, is it make sense?

Leadership theories can be classfied into as one of eight major types, probably, i will adopt Transactional Theory and Transformational Theory. Transactional Theory focus on the role of superbision, organizaition, and group performance. it base leadership on a system of reward and punishement. i think it is a good way for performance management for leaders. Transformational theory is upon the connection formed between leaders and folloers. leaders are focus on the performance of group member. but also want each person to fulfill his or her potential.

: 19 Jan 2009 20:14 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

cbe topic

Finshed GBE coursework today, i have to move on next statge that is for CBE PMA, seems very busy,,A_A

Among the three topics, i prefer to the first one:

Your enterprise has realised that it is not improving fast enough and that continuous improvement has to become a way of life. Using the EFQM Excellence Model as a framework, describe what would be required to achieve the cultural change. What difficulties are foreseen, and how would you overcome them?

I ve tried to understand the cultural change, but can not get it deeply,, ,,

Need Help ,,Help,,Help!!!!,,does anyone can give me suggestion??  Iwill buy a cake for you!!:)

: 17 Nov 2008 20:24 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

EFQM, self–assessment

EFQM excellence model consists of nine criteria, which can be used to assess an organization¡¯s process towards to excellence. The model recognize that excellence results with respect to Performance, Customers, People and Society are achieved through Leadership driving Policy and Strategy, that is delivered through people, partnership and Resources and Processes. At the heart of the Model lies the RADAR logic (Results, Approach, Deployment, Assessment and Review), which is used when assessing Enabler criteria and assessing ¡° Results ¡°criteria.

How does EFQM work?

Self-assessment- where organizations grade themselves against a set of detailed criteria under each of the nine heading, it helps to identify your organizations¡¯s strengths and areas for improvement, and attempts to avoid the potentially unsatisfactory aspects of auditing. There are two ways for self-assessment: RADAR logic and Pathfinder Card (concept of them were shown on the CBE website).

The benefits of self-assessment:

1. Help organization, large and small, in the private and public sectors, work more effectively.

2. The process allows the organization to discern clearly its strengths and areas in which improvement can be made.

l3.Educates people on the Foundamental Concepts and framework for managing and improving the organization and how it relates to their responsiblilities

4.Integrates the various improvement initiatives into normal operations

The weakness of self-assessment:

l .Time, human resource, money waste. Because it demands a critical analysis of the organization by the whole staff and management, it includes the opportunity to communicate and evaluate.

2.Key issue is difficult in motivating some of the staff formally, especially as some staff were told by management that they had to take part at the self-assessment.

Auditing:

On researching,,,,,,,

: 06 Oct 2008 19:08 |  Tags: Cbe |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

the first time

This is the first time to write something on the blog,, what should i write down???

moved from Nottingham to Warwick,,everythings was changed,,including friends,,learning and living environment, moods,,and so on,,but the most significant change  is that everything becomes to be unprecedented convenience as shopping in supermarkets,,exercising in sports center, and just take 5 minutes to lecture room by walking.,. otherwise,, MBE course is better than my expection,,

firstly,,i have to thanks MBE course director- paul,,he is a quite interesting lecturer, love his style,,

secondly, i like the course structure,,no exam ,,oyeah ,,,eventhough ,i am not good at writting,,,,

thirdly,,i have to mention my classmates,,  friendly and kindly,,

fourth,, my team member (team four),,oh,,everyone (except  me )are very aggressive, strive to get good work, happy to co-operate with them,,.

.......

actually,,lots of things i want to remmber here,,,but i need to study now :(,tommorrow morning i have a group meeting at 10 am,,so have to finish all works which from today's meeting,,,, is it right??our gourp member are very earnest??:)

finally, upload two pictures that  team four 's achievement,,,can you guess, what did we make???

: 06 Oct 2008 16:23 |  Tags: Mbe |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem