
	COVER PAGE

	IBT
	End of an Era Superstore Open IBT's Foursome

	RUBBER
	Strong Belt

	ISG
	Dream Team

	MATERIAL HANDLING
	10 Good reasons

	PT
	Going Keyless? QD Keyless Bushing IBT & Hiwin Team Up

	FLUID POWER
	Where Does It Hurt? Manifesto Ace Products

	ENGINEERING
	Meet Bruce Loyd Engineering Services

	IBT MEDIA
	On the Road Again How Suite It Is

	SAFETY
	Glove Story Military No Fun In the Sun Beat the Heat OSHA & Glossary

	IMT
	By the Time You Can See It

	LUBE
	JAX

	LEAN SIX SIGMA
	FAQ

FAQ: Lean Six Sigma & IBT

What is Lean Six Sigma?
Lean thinking and Six Sigma are separate methodologies, each with tools designed to analyze and provide solutions to manufacturing and transactional business problems. IBT has chosen to combine elements of both methodologies into Lean Six Sigma. As we embark on Business Process Improvement strategies, these tools will assist us in turning business problems into data and statistical problems. Once we have done this, we can develop a data driven solution that can be transformed into the business solution.

Why is IBT adopting Lean Six Sigma?
IBT recognized that in today's industrial environment, our service levels, core competencies and capacity must improve to continue our growth.

How have we started the process?
Carefully and with measured, deliberate steps. Lean and Six Sigma are being adopted in phases and over time. IBT began when IBT President Mike Nemechek explored LSS to see what benefits it might bring to the company.

We held discussions and seminars with vendors and customers , receiving input which revealed they to were using Lean and Six Sigma to improve their processes. We then formed an Hands On Champion committee (HOC ) to begin the process of forming a team that would begin the LSS initiative within our organization.

How long will the start-up take?
It usually takes between 12 and 18 months to build a LSS structure within a company of our size. We began the process around August of last year.

We began with an overview: understanding who should be involved, what are their time commitments and how will business projects be selected and executed.

Formal training must be completed. That requires three to four weeks and a beginning project must be completed. Five individuals have completed our training and our first project involving Inventory hold time and the branch return process will be completed in May. Presently we are identifying others to join the team and begin training. As our knowledge and capabilities grow, the LSS culture and structure will grow within the company.

When will it be over?
It is ongoing. A Lean Six Sigma culture grows within a company and creates a new approach to problem solving and reshapes many decision processes. Problem solving and business decision-making doesn't end. Sound practices and process improvement tools don't end either.

How will Lean Six Sigma affect IBT operations?
Lean Six Sigma will have an overall affect on IBT operations by streamlining processes, reducing resource consumption, improving overall accuracy in every aspect of the organization and, ultimately, increasing the value of IBT to our customers.




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	To learn more about Lean Six Sigma services from IBT, contact us today!