Deming's 14 point and Six Sigma

Attempting to answer the PMA's question, I have come to realise the relationship between Deming's 14 points and Six Sigma process improvement. Some of Deming’s 14 points of management appear as benefits that can be obtained within the company that develops and embraces Six Sigma. Consistency of purpose, improve every process, encourage education, and top management’s commitment are consisted within Deming’s 14 points of management in which also appear as results from Six Sigma organisation

Consistency of purpose is the benefit for any company approaching Six Sigma to create a sustainable business development. Customers are expected to receive better services and products and failing to meet these higher requirements will risk losing customers and profits. Applying Six Sigma within the organisation will enable the company not only to constantly improve its current areas of improvement, but also to improve what has already been improved.

Encouraging education and improving every processes within the organisation can also be obtained by developing Six Sigma within the company. By studying customer’s demands and company’s processes, Six Sigma gives an opportunity for every individual to understand their processes and ways or operation better. Thus, the organisation becomes a learning organisation.  

A Six Sigma organisation also benefits from top management’s commitment. Executive leadership’s commitment is the starting point for any organisation seeking for Six Sigma continuous improvement programme. The organisation required senior leadership’s long-term commitment to encourage and motivate people in the organisation to implement Six Sigma.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 08 Jan 2012 19:58 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

PMA

Now that I have finished CBE, PIUSS, and FACS, I have come to realise that all concept of driving organisations toward excellence is all evolved around EFQM excellence model, Deming's principles, and PDCA. From my perspective, CBE gave me an overview of the excellence organisation, but PIUSS explained more in details in how to continuously improve the organisation. And FACS is helpful to measure the performance. They are all connected.

On the registration day, I asked Paul what exactly business excellence was. Now, I have starting to know more about it. I am amazed by how much I have learned during the past 2 months. It's a lot more than I realised. PMA was tough, but for me, it's a better way to learn than taking exams.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 27 Nov 2011 21:03 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

assembling airplanes

I wasn't a big fan of puzzles, legos, and assembling models. So trying to put together airplane models in this class was actually my first time to really do something like this. I didn't aspect to have to assemble airplanes in my master degree, however, I have found it a surprisingly useful tool to learn. First of all, I have learn how to assemble one. And secondly, I have found out that it's not easy to work under pressure. I would not mind much if failing to make to the target would only affect me, not the whole team. Timing myself was already so pressuring, but for me, not letting other people in the team down was even more dreadful. I have learned how to compromise within the team and to be motivative. Next, this exercise has also taught me to solve face-to-face problem by my own. For example, when the two parts of the wings couldn't fit together, I learned how to use tool to fit them. And at the end, when our team won, every team member got so motivated and excited.

For me, I need this exercise as a very useful tool to learn not only academically, but to interact with people too. I realized that it's not easy to motivate people, but if they see and satisfy with the improvement of the result, they will be motivated and energetic to learn and keep doing it. This is one of many ways I will apply it in my career in order to motivate people to improve the organisation.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 18 Nov 2011 17:16 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

lack of communication

During the class the other day, I have been lectured that communication is very important in any organisation regardless of its size. If there are changes to be made or any kind of action to be taken, the most crucial step for everyone is to communicate and to be engaged in dialogues. I am 100% agree with this idea. I can clearly see it in the flooding issue in Thailand. It hasn't been effectively solved yet mainly because of lack of communications. Thai leaders (as it was released in the news) are not open to other political parties' ideas and solutions. So each of them has reacted to the situation differently, so ended up with each party is handling the problems in its own way. That's why we are still having this national crisis. I don't think it's anyone in particular fault, but they all just need to listen the other people opinions and together find a way to solve the crisis.

I believe that in any people involvement activities, regardless of the group size and/or the outcome of the results. Having dialogue between each other is the best way to work everything out most effectively and effiiently. This is one of many foundations that I will difinitely adapt into any situation i'll have to face.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 16 Nov 2011 21:31 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

people support

Since i have been studying both creating business excellence and PIUSS, I have come to realize that the most important factor to put these theories into practice is people involvement and support. It's not only about how well the thoery is, in practice we need people to help the managers to achieve these improvements within the organisation. In order to achieve improvement, I believe that not only people who need management support, but managers themselves also need their people support. There come a difficult task... how to motivate people and to influence them to buy this project plan?

it may sound easy to do so, but i believe that each people has his/her own way of believing and trusting. It may be impossible to apply only one approach and guarantee that everyone in the organisation would support and participate in this project plan... I find this very interesting to learn and find out! and i believe that this wil help sharp and prepare me for my future career.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 13 Nov 2011 18:35 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

busy november

This week I have to finished the PMI e-learning, continue working on CBE PMA, and preparing the PIUSS presentation! 24 hours a day isn't enough... I now come to understand why they mentioned time management a lot during the induction week. It isn't only know how to manage your time, but to learn how to manage it productively! So I have adapted to prioritise my work. I have to set a timeline for each assignment and try to get them done on time.

However, after I have started PMI learning, I am surprised by how much I have learned by watching the video rather than keep on reading. It helps me understand more, and together with the example they've given, I find myself enjoying it. Although, it's 26 sessions long ...

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 09 Nov 2011 21:35 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

listening

I have been trying to research and study for pma both by myself and with friends. I have discovered that studying with friends really benefits me. My friends are in the different courses so we have different perspectives and ideas. Listening to other people's ideas helps me develop and expand mine. I came across a phrase saying that leader should be able to open their views, accept their weaknesses, and search for improvement in order to develop not only themselves but the whole company. I found this theory relates to my experience. Letting your guard down doesn't mean that you are not smart and that people will not listen or respect you. For me, I accept other people's ideas and it's fulfill my knowledge. This is one of many things I have learned and will continue exercising in both my education and career life.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 04 Nov 2011 20:06 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

the research week

I'm surprised by how useful the library service works. I found it quite easy and convenient to search for journals and books to help me with my PMA. Although, some of them aren't available at the moment. To be honest, I was not a big fan of library. Mostly because I didn't get to do much research during my undergrad study. The problem i'm having with researching is that, I've been gathering too much information in which I couldn't manage to read them all. and that ive been spending too much time on this unproductive activity.

One thing I definitely have learned is that I have to better organize my thoughts and time in order to yield more efficient and productive outcomes.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 02 Nov 2011 15:39 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

setting targets

I had always believed that setting target and trying to reach them is way to operate and manage everything in life. We set target for our grades when we were in school, amount of work to get it done each week when we were at work, and etc. But yesterday, I have come to realize that setting target isn't always the right way. Target is actually a prediction. It's a comparison of what we had done in the past, and it drives us to achieve better in the future - just like comparing this week data to last week data. And when there's a target to achieve, people start to cheat.

It's true. It's just the fact that I had never noticed before. I had cheated to reach the goal too. I just didn't realize or admit it. If I could go back, I would not set those targets, but trying to self-assess myself for areas of improvement instead. I believe that it's a more efficient method to yield a more satisfying outcome.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 29 Oct 2011 11:53 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

group post–it

I have learned that there are so many advantages from working as a group rather than working on your own. It benefits me on getting to know other people faster and easier than just sitting in the lectures. And there are so many ideas going on around the group. It's just so energetic. Now, I have grown to trust that this is a real safe environment where there's no mistake for anyone, but only areas of improvement. I had never believed that one day I was capable of absorbing information and knowledge at this 2 weeks speed. Such an amazing way of learning in this safe environment!

Brainstorming using post-it is a brilliant idea! It's a very fast way to gather ideas, summarized, and categorized them. It gave me an overview idea of that topic and helped me learn from other people's ideas. From now on, I will definitely adopt this technique to work, in either individual or a team, in both my postgrad degree and future career.

Natnicha Tangkijngamvong : 27 Oct 2011 20:27 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem