Project quality is a unique aspect of project management. The stakeholders are disappointed if the project does not meet the minimum quality standards, but achieving more than the standard is a waste of project resources and money. On top of that, the minimum quality standards are often difficult to define and subject to stakeholder whims, such... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Six Sigma is a hot buzzword these days, but what is it and how does it really work? In this article I will give you a quick overview and get you grounded to see if it will help you. In reality it takes a week long intensive course to get all the concepts, and requires... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Six Sigma is a program to increase product quality in a production process. It is ideally suited to manufacturing processes which produce high volumes of products, but the concepts are relevant to any industry. Even in our engineering consulting firm, Six Sigma concepts are quite valuable to assessing and improving the quality of reports and... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Six Sigma is a program to increase product quality in a production process. It is ideally suited to manufacturing processes which produce high volumes of products, but the concepts are relevant to any industry. Even in our engineering consulting firm, Six Sigma concepts are quite valuable to assessing and improving the quality of reports and... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Six Sigma is a technique used to reduce defects in the manufacturing process. Although it was originally developed for the manufacturing industry, it can be used to improve any business process by using data and statistical analysis to reduce mistakes, rework, and waste. I've found that my six sigma certification (black belt) has helped me... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
I listened to a presentation recently where the speaker suggested that the highest quality producer is usually the lowest cost one. Can that be true? And if so, how do you become part of that club? The Cost of Quality (COQ), sometimes called Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) is a measure of the cost of... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If you're a manager interested in increasing the bottom line, you can't afford not to investigate Six Sigma. The benefits are indisputable, as witnessed by the infamous Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, who claimed Six Sigma was directly responsible for $1 billion in yearly savings. But should you implement Six Sigma? Here are... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Six Sigma is a hot buzzword these days, but what is it and how does it really work? In this article I will give you a quick overview and get you grounded in the basics. In reality it takes a week long intensive course to get all the concepts, and requires several months of hands... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
So you want to introduce Six Sigma into your organization. Congratulations! Thousands of organizations have walked this path and found not just gold at the end of the rainbow, but satisfied employees, improved morale, and other benefits. When it comes to driving efficiency, slashing errors, and boosting quality, few approaches rival Six Sigma. This data-driven methodology... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
After project planning is complete, and a strong project plan is in place that manages the stakeholders' expectations, the project work must begin. The resources are acquired, the people are trained and the project moves into the execution phase. At this point all of the project plans are put into motion, and any changes must... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Putting out fires is practically part of the job description for some project managers. Every project has changes throughout its life span, sure, but how do you control them, or better yet, how do you stop them from popping up? Project controls are where the project manager earns their wages. Assigning work is relatively easy,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
There is no universal definition of project success. Since the very definition of a project is temporary (Project Management Body of Knowledge, 6th Edition), virtually all projects must meet a deadline and budget. But some projects must satisfy certain stakeholders. Others must meet regulatory criteria. Still others must achieve a certain return on investment. For these reasons,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
