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Jay Arthur
888-468-1537
303-756-9144
KnowWare International, Inc.
DBA LifeStar
2253 S. Oneida
Ste 3D
Denver, CO 80224

We work with companies
that want to fire up their profits using
Lean Six Sigma

Copyright © 2011

December 18, 2003

Kelce Students Excel with Six Sigma

Six Sigma, a new management philosophy, was developed by Bill Smith - an engineer at Motorola - in 1985. Motorola's adoption of Six Sigma methods led to a remarkable improvement in quality and profitability. In 1995, Jack Welch mandated the use of Six Sigma methods at all General Electric (GE) operating divisions. In 1999, Welch reported that the use of Six Sigma had resulted in over $2 Billion in incremental profits. Welch identified Six Sigma as one of the two most important iniatives for GE in the 21st century. Six Sigma refers to a target level of quality that yields 3.4 or fewer, defects per million opportunities - a "world class" level of quality enhancement. Six Sigma can be applied in manufacturing firms, service organizations, hospitals and government agencies. Many people refer to Six Sigma as "TQM on steroids".

In the fall semester 2001, Thomas M. Box began training students in his MGMKT 650 (Quality Management) class in Six Sigma utilizing Jay Arthur's Six Sigma Simplified textbook and software. The students were assigned to three to five person teams to work with organizational clients in Joplin, Pittsburg, Columbus, Fort Scott and Kansas City. Since 2001, 19 projects have been completed and the incremental first-year cost reductions and quality enhancements for the firms have amounted to more than $400,000. As part of the Six Sigma training, students have an opportunity to earn certification as Six Sigma Green Belts and 22 students have been certified as Green Belts. Client firms have been very satisfied with the students' performance on the projects and students have learned a management philosophy that they can take to the "real world" on graduation.

In addition, Box has been working with MAMTC for about a year now to develop course work for industry in Six Sigma. One industrial client in Parsons has taken the course and has certified 20 Six Sigma Green Belts. Their first year savings on ten projects amounted to about $150,000. In addition, by embracing the Six Sigma philosophy, they were able to win a federal contract worth more than $1.5 million.

For More Information:

Thomas M. Box, Ph.D.
Management and Marketing Department
Kelce College of Business
Pittsburg State University

620-235-4582
tbox@pittstate.edu