Silly thing

Reading one article about 6S noticed that authors referenced one single article (actually written by Warwick Uni people) on a number of different ways : (Antony and Banuelas, 2002) and Coronado et al. (2002). The references look like this:

Antony, J., Banuelas, R. (2002), "Critical success factors for the successful implementation of six-sigma projects in organizations", The TQM Magazine, Vol. 14 No.2, pp.92–9.

Coronado, R., Banuelas, R., Antony, J. (2002), "Critical success factors for the successful implementation of six sigma projects in organisations", The TQM Magazine, Vol. 14 No.2, pp.92–9.

As you may see in the second version the article is written by 3 (!) people, one of whose is a completely imaginary person!

: 30 Jan 2006 16:34 |  Tags: Study |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

DMAIC or DMAICS&I?

In PIUSS module notes I found one deviation from the classical 6S DMAIC cycle. The notes contain step six, which standardise and integrate. I am not sure who is the author of that, but I feel that is extremely important – once having done something correctly and received good results (or negative results, it does not matter) not to forget it.

In the context of organizational learning is particularly vital for any organization to use the knowledge previously generated. I think it is probably a good idea to have a mechanism that could prevent an organization from trying to solve already solved problems. That requires, first of all, a good knowledge management, but the benefits of this simple approach could be much more than expenses on establishing this system.

: 24 Jan 2006 17:48 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Few things recently happened

First: I have finished my LE assignment. Not having received Paul’s feedback on my first work (PPE if someone forgot), I have been limited in terms of understanding of his expectations and requirements. It could extremely useful during completing this work. I suppose everyone EEE student can express some regrets about it. Anyway, the positive side is that two submitted PMW are only my job without any even tiny interference, so the results I will eventually receive will be only my results and will have no one to share either success or sadness (that is more likely, to be honest).

Second. In Warwick Library I suddenly found the book I have been looking for almost 15 years (since I was a first year student of Physics Department) – The Tao of physics by Fritjof Capra. He says that almost all the concepts of modern (the book was published in 1975 but nothing serious happened since then) physics may be found in Eastern religious philosophies. Some parallels are quite interesting … Anyone who wants to read is supposed to wait until I have finished it – 10–15 days I hope, because I almost do not have spare time to read it. It is of interest that this gay was a physicists, but in 90s decided to focus on some business issues, among the others is organizational learning …..

Final. I started to realize something about 6S – not much but enough to understand how powerful it can be. I seem the main concept is to divide all the activities of a company into processes and their interrelationships, choose some processes and apply to them different statistical tools in order to improve them. One thing is a bit mysterious for me – why it is so important to maximize the formalities of it. I mean all this structure with various Belts people. To my mind all this staff can be used without any belts …. You only need to explain to people some basic concepts of it and they, probably, will do it themselves … Am I wrong?

P.S. An interesting link The BBC radio program whose one issue is closely connected with the subject we are studying. I think it is worth listening …

: 21 Jan 2006 18:13 |  Tags: Study Thoughts |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Human factor in 6S

When I was preparing to yesterday’s presentation I was really shocked be the tendency I discovered. Some 6S ‘gurus’ tend to discuss the human factor of 6S describing it by the term ‘people’s resistance’ and how to overcome this resistance. Having read several ‘gurus’ I am prone to think that they look on the process of 6S implementing like on a war, which they should win whatever it takes. I was not prepared to it, to be honest. I think more delicate approach to employees, which implies creating the understanding why the company needs 6S, could be much more winning than all their strategies for overcoming people’s resistance.

In addition to the VOICE of the CUSTOMER 6S practitioners should also listen to The VOICE of the EMPLOYEE, which sometimes tells very clever things….

: 18 Jan 2006 15:18 |  Tags: Study |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

I would be nice if it were a both directional rule

Completely agreed with Jane’s remark – how wonderful that FACS PMW is behind. What a boredom it was … However, another PMW is coming – LE that does not promise to be an easy one as well.

Thinking about assignments I suddenly realized that today is a special day – it is 6 weeks since the deadline of the first PMW we submitted – PPE!!! Having realized it I checked my pigeon hole – and it was empty! Despite the fact that we have been promised that 6 weeks is maximum time of considering … Since we haven’t received it by 9:00 Monday 9 January, it would be great to start adding 3 points for every day of delay – the rule can sound like this:

‘Post Module Work Results which does not reach the pigeon holes of Warwick Manufacturing Group Postgraduate students by the due date will be considered to be late. The students receive awards for lateness at the rate of 3 percentage points per University working day after the due date, up to a maximum of 14 days late. After this period the work is counted as an excellent and receives 100%’.

: 09 Jan 2006 18:16 |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I am leaving the UK for 2 weeks, so I would like to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New year to everyone, and especially for the students of EEE stream.

As for me, even I am going on a holiday with my family, study related books is the main content of my luggage – the plan must be performed!

Anyway, good luck to everyone and see you next year!

: 16 Dec 2005 16:23 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

However being ethical is becoming beneficial

Follow-up to Ethics and Business from Vladislav's blog

Oil-rich Norway hires philosopher as moral compass – interesting isn't it?
I have to add that quite similar discussions about the same question now are very popular in Russia, which is also has a huge oil fund. Oil-rich Norway hires philosopher as moral compass – interesting isn't it?

In Russia, which also has a huge oil fund, the same question (about ethical investments of this money ) is being debated very actively. It looks that after a while some philosophers may have quite good job prospects ..

Vladislav Romashov –

: 06 Dec 2005 13:14 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The place where plans go … (sometimes)

On Sunday I created a beautiful plan for the next week and fro December. Three hours later the hard drive of my computer said last good bye to me and wished a long life to every one. In other words, all the information I stored there was lost. As you may guest, I had many quite useful things there and my sadness was really beyond all the boundaries one could imagine, but one thing was especially terrible to loose – statistics PMW that was ready for submission. To be polite I am not posting here all the words I said about it, the majority of these words were in Russian and I have to say that my language probably one of the most powerful languages in such a case. Moreover, I did not forget some English expressions that I found quite appropriate for this moment.

However, as a result I am struggling with statistics PMW and learning how to use OpenOffice suit, because MS Office was lost as well….

The question is – could you offer me a place where I can store my beautiful plan. All proposals will be considered …

: 06 Dec 2005 10:28 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

My learning points

I’d like to share my learning points that I’ve gained from the LE module:

1)I used to underestimate the level of significance of leadership component in a company life. I understood that this is a big mistake. Leadership may be the most important ingredient of any busyness.
2)Leadership is not only inherited natural traits it may be developed.
3)In a busyness context Leadership implies many professional skills and abilities, it is almost a profession.
4)Leadership concept is very important to bear in mind not only in a busyness context but wherever context I can think about.

: 02 Dec 2005 15:57 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Better than nothing …

Follow-up to Ethics and Business from Vladislav's blog

One addition – the Society Results from EFQM excellence model bring in your basket only 6% of your winning points …

: 01 Dec 2005 16:43 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem