vi The process is important! I learned this lesson the hard way during my previous existence working as a design engineer with PA Consulting Group's Cambridge Technology Centre. One of my earliest assignments involved the development of a piece of labo- tory automation equipment for a major European pharmaceutical manufacturer.Two things stick in my mind from those early days – first, that the equipment was always to be ready for delivery in three weeks and,second,that being able to write well structured Pascal was not sufficient to deliver reliable software performance. Delivery was ultimately six months late,the project ran some sixty percent over budget and I gained my first promotion to Senior Engineer. At the time it puzzled me that I had been unable to predict the John Clarkson real effort required to complete the automation project – I had Reader in Engineering Design, genuinely believed that the project would be finished in three Director, Cambridge Engineering weeks.It was some years later that I discovered Kenneth Cooper's Design Centre papers describing the Rework Cycle and realised that I had been the victim of “undiscovered rework”.I quickly learned that project plans were not just inaccurate,as most project managers would attest,but often grossly misleading,bearing little resemblance to actual development practice.

Enables you to improve quality, productivity, and competitiveness the business process improvement way. This workbook shows you how to: understand and set process improvement goals; eliminate bureaucracies, duplication, and obsolescence; evaluate information management; research cycle time; analyze functions and tasks in administration; and more.

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.

Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) is an innovative continuous improvement methodology for designing new products, processes, and services by integrating Lean and Six Sigma principles. This book will explain how the DFSS methodology is used to design robust products, processes, or services right the first time by using the voice of the customer to meet Six Sigma performance. Robust designs are insensitive to variation and provide consistent performance in the hands of the customer. DFSS is used to meet customer needs by understanding their requirements, considering current process capability, identifying and reducing gaps, and verifying predictions to develop a robust design. This book offers: Methodology on how to implement DFSS in various industries Practical examples of the use of DFSS Sustainability utilizing Lean Six Sigma techniques and Lean product development Innovative designs using DFSS with concept generation Case studies for implementing the DFSS methodology Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) enables organizations to develop innovative designs. In order to redesign an existing process or design a new process, the success is dependent on a rigorous process and methodology. DFSS ensures that there are minimal defects in the introduction of new products, processes, or services. The authors have compiled all of the tools necessary for implementation of a practical approach though innovation.

The most popular business books on the market today advise leaders to simply articulate a vision, be inspirational from time-to-time, and leave the rest for employees to figure out. As an organizational design consultant, I've landed at the doorstep of hundreds of teams who have followed this path, only to find them without clear direction, stuck in silos and lacking the structure and processes needed to perform.This book offers practical advice on how to design your organization. Whether you're a leader at the top of a large organization, or a supervisor of a small team, here are the practical instructions to address structure, process and people challenges in developing an efficient and functioning organization. And, these same methods can be leveraged by consultants and employees at any level.Each chapter offers three, easy steps to address organizational challenges and opportunities. This means that you get just enough context, process and tips to immediately jump in feet first. Those who do not take the time upfront to craft their organizations leave their success up to chance.

Today's rapidly changing marketplace can seem like a jungle for many professionals. Engineering & Management Press offers the books needed to navigate through the wilderness of business techniques and acronyms. EMP's titles provide practical information and proven business methods for most corporate and industrial environments. Our titles cover crucial, timely topics of importance to businesses and managers today -- management, productivity improvement, quality, and related issues.Quality -- the word is everywhere in the workplace. Companies have learned that quality products and services sell better, last longer, and bring greater customer satisfaction.Design of experiments and analysis of variance may be used to detect problems and defects in manufacturing and other production processes. Statistical methods may also be used to build quality directly into products and services. This book shows how several key statistical equations and graphs, such as probability plots and histograms, can identify and control problems without disrupting operations. This lowers costs and brings an organization ever closer to its quality ideal.

The ITSM Process Design Guide: Developing, Rengineering and Improving IT Service Management closes the knowledge gap by providing detailed guidance on assessing, designing, measuring, and integrating ITSM processes. The advice and techniques in this book apply unilaterally to every IT service provider and ITSM framework, standard, and maturity model.

Text for Business Process Management courses for upper level business students or MBA's

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.

The Definitive Guide to Process Improvement & Operational Excellence. This complete body of knowledge for process improvement professionals provides an easy-to-understand foundation for process maturity capability in any company. Gold Medal Winner of the 2015 Axiom Book Award for best business theory book! The Process Improvement Handbook: A Blueprint for Managing Change and Increasing Organizational Performance introduces an all-encompassing body of knowledge for anyone looking to improve their operating environment. It presents a practical way to build and improve processes, and can assist professionals whether they are learning the basics of Process Improvement, planning their first improvement project, or evangelizing process oriented thinking throughout their organization. All of the concepts explained in this book encapsulate everything needed to enable process excellence from start to finish, saving time, conserving resources, and accomplishing more in a competitive timeframe. These practical insights will make you more effective in any Process Improvement role: from contributor, stakeholder, executive, team member, department, business division, supplier, and customer. Highlights include: A comprehensive framework that outlines the methods, tools, and competencies used to create sustainable Process Improvement efforts An industry-leading architecture approach for building organizational processes - Process-Oriented Architecture (POA) Demonstrating the importance of end-to-end process improvement, and the pitfalls of individual and isolated improvement methods Capitalizing on practical agility principles to deliver faster results Sample learning materials such as instructions for getting started, practical guides, real-world case studies, and templates available in the book and on an affiliated website A self-sufficient reference guide that all employees can easily use or self-train with A common vocabulary within the Process Improvement profession for discussing, writing, and applying Process Improvement concepts A robust tool for educating or training organizations and professionals Includes a Foreword from Dr. H. James Harrington, prolific author of over 35 Process Improvement books and winner of numerous quality awards including ASQ's Distinguished Service Medal.