A Message from ASQ Six Sigma Forum
Six Sigma Forum Web Site Membership Reaches Six Thousand
The growing community of Six Sigma professionals found a new home last May with the launch of ASQ’s Six Sigma Forum Web site at www.sixsigmaforum.com. Since then, Six Sigma enthusiasts of all experience levels-practicing Master Black Belts and Green Belt hopefuls, Executives and Champions from both sprawling corporations and individual plants-have shared their knowledge and experiences in an interactive online environment.
Currently, the Web site serves approximately six thousand members and continues to grow steadily. With a twenty-five-percent international membership rate, the Six Sigma Forum brings together a culturally diverse population. Active participants hail from China, Mexico, and Indonesia, among other countries.
Diverse industries and perspectives are also represented, with discussion of new applications and case studies coming from areas like health care, banking, and workplace safety.
New Six Sigma Forum Web Site Articles Describe Deployment Challenges
Articles added this month to ASQ’s Six Sigma Forum Web site highlight the specific deployment challenges that two quality professionals have confronted. Karen Welch, a well-traveled Master Black Belt, shares insights she has gained from over ten years of experience with global implementation. Welch identifies deployment challenges presented by cultural differences in approaches to cost reduction, conceptions of quality, and communication.
Principal Engineer Scott Laman of Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products outlines the issues and concerns that confront smaller organizations considering Six Sigma deployment. According to Laman, smaller businesses should ready themselves for challenges posed by limited resources, the need to develop more detailed information systems, and the struggle to combat conservative attitudes about risk-taking.
These articles join over sixty others that have appeared on the Six Sigma Forum Web site since its launch last May. Based on research and first-hand experiences, the original articles provide tutorials in Six Sigma concepts and tools, case studies describing actual projects, and unique perspectives.
Forum members can access new and archived articles organized according to six key concepts and five experience levels at www.sixsigmaforum.com.
Six Sigma Forum Web Site Offers Networking Resources
The Interactivity Center on ASQ’s Six Sigma Forum Web site includes two tools for networking with other Six Sigma professionals: discussion boards and a searchable database for locating colleagues. Plans to expand the networking functions of the site involve running live chat sessions on a regular basis.
Discussion Boards: Each Six Sigma experience level has its own area for posts, encouraging discussions under two broad categories, “Issues in Six Sigma” and “Organization Culture and Six Sigma.” Specific threads so far have covered topics like project selection, applying Six Sigma to workplace safety, and establishing a culture of statistics. Forum members have sought and furnished answers to technical questions, offered general insight and advice, debated ideas, and even exchanged telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
People Locator: An online database contains information that members voluntarily supply about their own skills and interests. Members may search profiles to find colleagues sharing their experience levels, areas of specialization, or geographic locations.
Six Sigma Forum membership remains free for an introductory period and also carries discounts for events, merchandise, and services promoted on the site. To view nonmember portions of the site or to join, visit www.sixsigmaforum.com.
