Today, technology has become too much a part of overall corporate success for its effectiveness to be left to chance. The stakes are too high. Fortunately, the idea of 'quality management' is being reinvigorated. In the last decade process programs have become more and more prevalent. And, out of all the available options, three have moved to the top of the chain. These three are: The 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard from the International Standards Organization; The Capability Maturity Model Integration from the Software Engineering Institute; and Six Sigma, a methodology for improvement shaped by companies such as Motorola, Honeywell, and General Electric. These recognized and proven quality programs are rising in popularity as more technology managers are looking for ways to help remove degrees of risk and uncertainty from their business equations, and to introduce methods of predictability that better ensure success. Process Improvement Essentials combines the foundation needed to understand process improvement theory with the best practices to help individuals implement process improvement initiatives in their organization. The three leading programs: ISO 9001:2000, CMMI, and Six Sigma--amidst the buzz and hype--tend to get lumped together under a common label. This book delivers a combined guide to all three programs, compares their applicability, and then sets the foundation for further exploration. It's a one-stop-shop designed to give you a working orientation to what the field is all about.

Baffled by repeated mistakes in your department? Want to focus your employees' limited time on more valuable work? The answer to these challenges and more is business process improvement (BPI). Every process in every organization can be made more effective, cost-efficient, and adaptable to changing business needs. The good news is you don't need to be a BPM expert to get great results. Written by an experienced process analyst, this how-to guide presents a simple, bottom-line approach to process improvement work. With its proven 10-step method you can: Identify and prioritize the processes that need fixing * Eliminate duplication and bureaucracy * Control costs * Establish internal controls to reduce human error * Test and rework the process before introducing it * Implement the changes Now in its second edition, The Power of Business Process Improvement is even more user-friendly with new software suggestions, quizzes, a comparison of industry improvement methods, and examples to help you apply the ideas. Whether you are new to BPI or a seasoned pro, you will have business running better in no time.

With continuous improvement (kaizen) and Total Quality Control (TQC) becoming increasingly important to world class companies, there's an urgent need to build quality into every management decision. The tools presented in this book allow you to do just that. They represent the most important advance in quality deployment and project management in recent years. Unlike the seven traditional QC tools, which measure quality problems that already exist and are used by quality circles, these seven new QC tools make it possible for managers to plan wide-ranging and detailed TQC objectives throughout the entire organization. These tools, some borrowed from other disciplines and others developed specifically for quality management, include the relations diagram, the KJ method (affinity diagram), the systematic diagram, the matrix diagram, matrix data analysis, the process decision program chart (PDPC), and the arrow diagram. Together they will help you to: Expand the scope of quality efforts company-wide. Set up and manage the systems necessary to resolve major quality problems. Anticipate potential quality problems and actually eliminate defects before they happen. Never before available in English, Management for Quality Improvement is absolutely essential reading if you are in any area of project management, quality assurance, MIS, or TQC.

Six Sigma is a management program that provides tools that help manufacturers obtain efficient, stream-lined production to coincide with ultimate high quality products. Essentials of Lean Six Sigma will show how the well-regarded analytical tools of Six Sigma quality control can be successfully brought into the well-established models of "lean manufacturing, bringing efficient, stream-lined production and high quality product readily together. This book offers a thorough, yet concise introduction to the essential mathematics of Six Sigma, with solid case examples from a variety of industrial settings, culminating in an extended case study. Various professionals will find this book immensely useful, whether it be the industrial engineer, the industrial manager, or anyone associated with engineering in a technical or managing role. It will bring about a clear understanding of not only how to implement Six Sigma statistical tools, but also how to do so within the bounds of Lean manufacturing scheme. It will show how Lean Six Sigma can help reinforce the notion of "less is more, while at the same time preserving minimal error rates in final manufactured products. - Reviews the essential statistical tools upon which Six Sigma rests, including normal distribution and mean deviation and the derivation of 1 sigma through six sigma - Explains essential lean tools like Value-Stream Mapping and quality improvement tools like Kaizen techniques within the context of Lean Six Sigma practice - Extended case study to clearly demonstrate how Six Sigma and Lean principles have been actually implemented, reducing production times and costs and creating improved product quality

Unlike other books that promote a specific process and performance improvement discipline, this book shows organizations how to achieve success by fixing basic operational issues and problems using a broad and wide-sweeping process-based toolkit. In addition, it helps individuals who have worked in stale- or siloed-thinking enterprises make the tra

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in attention and focus on the discipline of software engineering. Software engineering tools and techniques have been developed to gain more predictable quality improvement results. Process standards such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), ISO 9000, Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination (SPICE), Agile Methodologies, and others have been proposed to assist organizations to achieve more predictable results by incorporating these proven standards and procedures into their software process. Software Process Improvement and Management: Approaches and Tools for Practical Development offers the latest research and case studies on software engineering and development. The production of new process standards assist organizations and software engineers in adding a measure of predictability to the software process. Companies can gain a decisive competitive advantage by applying these new and theoretical methodologies in real-world scenarios. Researchers, scholars, practitioners, students, and anyone interested in the field of software development and design should access this book as a major compendium of the latest research in the field.

This book presents full descriptions of all of the important QI techniques - and the specific tools necessary to make each of them work - in a logical, easy-to-use manner. There's also an ongoing case example appearing throughout the book, which illustrates and illuminates various QI principles and practices.

High-performance process improvement takes process improvement to the next ambition level. The kernel of the substance is a generic process improvement process that operates under the strictest time, quality and cost constraints. Thanks to a modular composition and robust methods the scope may range from one single person to networks with hundreds of companies. This is realized via three high-class phases:network and company analysis and synthesis, process analysis and synthesis, the implementation, including process improvement education and training and the practical realization of the improvement potential. The presented methods contain mass customization features and a very advanced logic for optimizing the interaction of people, technology, information and material both in the process improvement process itself and the focus process. The book is based on an extensive R&D effort and thorough practical verifications in more than 75 companies in almost any business and in all sizes.

Fundamentals of Performance Improvement, 3rd Edition Fundamentals of Performance Improvement is a substantially new version of the down-to-earth, how-to guide designed to help business leaders, practitioners, and students understand the science and art of performance technology and successfully implement organizational and societal change. Using the Performance Improvement / Human Performance Technology (HPT) model, the expert authors explain step-by-step how to spot performance indicators, analyze problems, identify underlying causes, describe desired results, and create workable solutions. “It does not matter what function you align yourself to in your organization, this book allows you to tap into the secrets that drive organizational success. Several books work to define what is performance improvement and performance technology. This one also provides insights into the Why? And How?” —CEDRIC T. COCO, CPT, SVP, Learning and Organizational Effectiveness, Lowe’s Companies “Fundamentals of Performance Improvement is full of practical models and tools for improving the world by partnering with customers, clients, constituents, and colleagues. It provides a path forward for successful transformation and performance improvement at personal, group and collective levels. It is a must read for leaders and consultants seeking to advance opportunities in new and emerging situations.” —DIANA WHITNEY, PhD, president, Corporation for Positive Change “If you have an interest in performance improvement, this is simply the best available book on the topic. It addresses the science and craft as well as the intricacies of how to improve workplace performance. Van Tiem, Moseley, and Dessinger have incorporated into this work the best available research on the Certified Performance Technology (CPT) standards and process.” —JAMES A. PERSHING, Ph.D., CPT, professor emeritus, Workplace Learning and Performance Improvement, Indiana University “Its international flavor, with practitioner comments and examples drawn from across the world, enhances its appeal as more and more professionals operate in an increasingly global context.” —DALJIT SINGH, Asia Pacific Director of Talent Management, Baker & McKenzie, Sydney, Australia

“The Business Process Improvement methodology established by Dr. H. James Harrington and his group brings revolutionary improvement not only in quality of products and services, but also in the business processes.” —Professor Yoshio Kondo The Book That Goes Beyond Six Sigma and Lean . . . The Next Evolutionary Step in Business Process Management “Don’t design for Six Sigma—design for maximum performance.” H. James Harrington How would you like to streamline your operations, lower your costs, improve your quality, and increase your profits—all at the same time? It’s not an impossible dream. It’s the next evolutionary breakthrough in process improvement that goes beyond Process Reengineering, TRIZ, Six Sigma, and Lean to deliver actual, quantifiable results. And now it’s yours. Streamlined Process Improvement (SPI) is the powerful new program developed by H. James Harrington. After 40 years of improving processes for IBM, Ernst & Young, the Chinese government, and many other private and governmental organizations, Harrington has become the go-to leader in the field. His revolutionary guide shows you how to: Discover the latest process tools—to make faster, more dramatic improvements using the revolutionary PASIC improvement methodology Use walk-through questionnaires and checklists—to streamline your job, resulting in optimum value to your stakeholders Use the newest methodologies—including simulation modeling, risk analysis, Five Ss, Process Innovation, Information Technology, Lean, and Six Sigma—to take your business to the next level Increase innovation—to drive growth and profits for many years to come Harrington’s groundbreaking system is organized and explained step by step to help you achieve maximum results with a minimum of stress. His simple PASIC approach shows you how to Plan, Analyze, Streamline, Implement, and Continuously Improve throughout the entire process. He walks you through the basics of how to analyze each process, how to decide which to focus on first, and how to prepare for organizational change. You’ll be surprised by just how quickly you can make things run more efficiently and effectively. With Harrington’s proven techniques, you can sell your products and services at a lower price, satisfy your customers, make work more enjoyable for your employees, and still earn greater profits than your competitors. This powerful process guide is the definitive handbook for operations managers, quality consultants, Six Sigma practitioners, knowledge workers, and Lean thinkers for a new generation.