Ceptara

Why too much branding distracts from your most valuable branding tool, your products:

• Over exposing your branding graphics can hurt you.
• Create a memorable impression.
• Your products and services and the way they are delivered are your most important way to represent your company.

Last fall, after practicing process and organizational improvement for more than twenty years, I passed my first certification exam from the American Society for Quality (ASQ). While I had been encouraged to get my Six Sigma Black Belt, I did not have the project affidavits. So, I perused the ASQ web site and chose the Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE). I did not choose it because it was the longest. I chose it because its body of knowledge appeared best aligned with mine.

Quality Excellence is an approach that we've used for several years.  Some key accomplishments with this method are:

We often try balance our systems to make sure everything is equally distributed.  Not too much inventory, assure every production machine is busy, and no one is standing around.

That is exactly the wrong thing to do!

Be the catalyst for excellence.  Learn how to drive a better, stronger organization. Designed for CEOs, managers, and all leaders with a stake in the success of the organization. This course introduces you to the best practice frameworks, tools, and techniques in Lean, Six Sigma, TOC, and Baldridge, so you can best drive accountability and pursuit of results. Improve your understanding of how strong strategic planning provides the foundation for performance excellence. Learn how to kick-off improvement teams with clear direction and a common vocabulary.

Building on the Foundation.  The Six Sigma Green Belt (SSGB) Advanced Topics course introduces additional concepts, tools and techniques used through the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) method beyond the SSGB - Foundations course.  It enhances the student's understanding of creating improvement strategies and executing and deploying six sigma DMAIC projects.  Additional concepts related to quality systems, strategy c

A practical approach to Lean Six Sigma.  Learn best practices approaches you can apply immediately in your work and build a foundation for further development.  Learn the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) approach to process improvement projects and the appropriate tools and techniques.  Understand quality principles and systems, strategy, process management, lean principles in the organization, team management and best practices for continuous improvement.

Summary

• Small business is hard.  How do you know you're prepared to be a small business owner, and how do you create a better stronger business?
• Make sure you are on the right path. Are you executing your passions? Is it easy to dedicate time to it? Do you have a plan? Do you believe in yourself and your vision?
• Build a system for success. Create a vision of the future. Build a repeatable system and execute well. Instrument for success. Improve what doesn't meet expectations. Maintain momentum.

Eliyahu Goldratt published The Goal in 1984 describing the Theory of Constraints (TOC), a process of on-going improvement. It was read by millions, cited by hundreds but remains a minor part of the quality body of knowledge.

Running a business or organization is hard work.  It can sometimes seem like all we do is react to the next crisis and hope that we're making money and making a difference.

There is a better way!  There's no magic wand that you wave, no silver bullet.  Running an organization takes passion, focus, diligence and faith.  And it takes a systematic approach in making sure that you're building a better stronger business.