Lean Sigma Articles

Industry executives who are determined to be a part of the solution (rather than a part of the problem) in controlling costs and quality may have finally found a vehicle to allow them to sleep at night. It’s called Six Sigma, and it helps develop a culture within the organization that is committed to reducing defects and improving customer service.

The Improvement Movement.

We surveyed over 50 executives to determine the status of the performance improvement industry in terms of commitment to a method, commitment of leadership, and investment in portfolio management tools. Is the improvement movement alive and well? Find out here.

Investing in Quality through Project Portfolio Management (PPM).

With a focus on healthcare, we track the adoption of PPM within systems that had the foundation of a strong quality and performance improvement program already in place, then took it as far as could go with the application of Creato’s COMPASS Quality Management System, the company’s PPM solution.

The Link between Baldrige, Lean Six Sigma, and High Reliability Organizations.

An empirical look at the relationship between these various models for sustaining operational excellence, appearing in The Journal of Healthcare Management.

ISO comes to Industry.

Industry leaders that seek to anchor their organization in the most widely used management system on the planet will need this introductory article to get them started on their journey.

The intersection between Call Centers and Lean Six Sigma.

Call Centers operate in a data rich environment. Two veterans of call center management discuss the advantages and approaches to bring Lean Six Sigma to call centers, and the impact these methods can have on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The Missing Link in Improvement Capability (pdf)

Learn what Creato has discovered from 15 years of studying improvement efforts in organizations and what it takes to stack the odds in your favor.

Six Sigma, 10 Years On, Was the Promise Realized?

10 years of tracking Lean and Six Sigma’s application in industry (appeared March 2012 in Becker’s Hospital Review).

Lean Sigma 101: Review the top 20 questions

The top 20 questions most people have about Six Sigma, how it fits in to industry, and how to work with companies.

Pharma Embraces Six Sigma & Lean (pdf)

How Pharma may be the final frontier for Six Sigma as that industry comes under increased pressure to become more efficient.

Instant Gratification Takes Too Long (pdf)

Why “Lean” methodologies have become such a popular complement to Six Sigma and other PI efforts.

Link to Learn (pdf)

E-learning initiatives, enhanced by traditional classroom tools, can help your ROI make the grade.

The Promise of Six Sigma, Part One & Part Two

introductory articles we published in Managed Healthcare Executive, documenting the movement of Six Sigma methodologies into the healthcare industry.

Six Sigma “raises the bar” of acceptable performance in industry (pdf)

A chronicle of the implementation of Six Sigma at a large medical center and the unique benefits of Six Sigma to organizational institutions in general. A “Special Report” from Managed Healthcare Executive’s January 2003 issue.

Six Sigma enters the industry mainstream (pdf)

Six Sigma first appeared on the industry scene back in 1999. See what has happened since in this review of Creato recent engagements.

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