|

In the spring of 2001, Walter Industries adopted the Six Sigma approach to
cost cutting and production improvement. Very briefly, the system uses
strict data gathering and analysis techniques to get to the root cause of
production problems and/or to identify cost savings opportunities. Once a
cost saving opportunity is identified, the work to change the way we do
things and achieve the cost saving becomes known as a “Project”.
The 6 Sigma Group consists of 4 full time people (Black Belts) and a
number of part-timers (Green Belts). Obviously, we try to pick projects
with the most bang for the buck. A project that saves $30,000 a year and
cost $5000 to implement is clearly more valuable than one that saves less
and costs more. We refer to those high return, low cost projects as “Low
Hanging Fruit.”
We want the help of you, all JWR employees, to help us find more low
hanging fruit. What might these be? Here are some examples:
• A new technique whereby production interruptions are reduced.
• An expensive part that seems to go bad far too often.
• A waste of supplies that could be minimized with a modest investment.
Let me emphasize, anything that is legal, reasonable, and of course safe,
is fair game.
Also, keep in mind that the suggestion needs to be fairly specific.
Something like, reduce longwall supply costs is obvious and not specific.
However, reduce longwall supply costs by doing this and that, may be
specific enough to get a good project started.
Simply type in your idea in the text box below, and click “submit." Try to
give as much detail as possible. It would be best if you include you name
and work site (if the idea is viable as a project we would probably want
further input from you, making you part of the project team.) However, you
need not identify yourself if you don’t care to.
Thanks in Advance,
Ed Grygiel
Six Sigma Engineering
|