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When Does the Process Become More Important Than the Outcome?

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

I’ll bet that you’ve run into this phenomenon over the course of your corporate or organizational experience.  It’s a situation that has always interested me and when I’m involved in a project it is not uncommon that there is often a moment that “processitis” emerges.  For me it’s when the ...

What Skill Sets Do Innovative Manufacturers Need?

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

In a very interesting article, written by Jason Tuma, Senior Manager, Assurance Services, BCG & Co., the role of training and its importance to a manufacturer’s competitive advantage is discussed.  In the article, the point is made that the future of American manufacturing depends heavily on obtaining the high-skilled employees.  ...

U.S. Manufacturers Must Learn Value Management

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

The U.S. House has found new ways to spend American’s money.  Hopefully, this expenditure will provide a good return on investment to taxpayers.  The “Sectors Act” would provide grants for public-private partnerships to address training needs for various industries. If you’ve been following this blog you will know that I have ...

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction….

Monday, July 12th, 2010

American industry has embraced the conventional wisdom that a “happy customer” is a loyal customer.  You see this all over the place.  There are business articles urging managers to create satisfied customers and this will engender loyal customers who will repurchase, extend contracts and spread the word about your brand.  ...

How Easy Do You Make It For Customers to Resolve Their Problems?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Six Sigma Marketing (SSM) places a high premium on customer loyalty.  It seeks to reduce defects, nonvalue adding transactions to 3 per 1,000,000.  Not a likely goal to achieve but a statement regarding the importance of holding on to customers. Market share is comprised of two major components, customer acquisition and ...

Understanding How to Measure and Manage Value Will Propel Manufacturing Competitiveness

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Here are a couple of points from the 2010 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, a research report from Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Industry group and the U.S. Council on Competitiveness: …difficulties accessing the right kind of talent are likely to contribute to the United States becoming less globally competitive in the next five ...

Six Sigma Then and Now – It’s Time for Six Sigma Marketing!

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

I came across this article (admittedly belatedly) but I found it very interesting since it seems to capture the state of Six Sigma about 5 years ago.  In the article, 21 Common Six Sigma Problems, Forrest Breyfogle identifies 21 common six sigma problems and provides short answers to them.  I have ...

Is China Making Inroads in the Battle for Value?

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

I have used this blog to challenge US manufacturers to better understand how to measure and manage the value of their products.  By value, I mean value from the perspective of the buyers that they have targeted.  I do so because value – customer value – is the best leading ...

Banking on Value? Try Six Sigma Marketing

Monday, June 21st, 2010

We are about to see some very interesting strategies on the part of many commercial banks.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “Bank of America and other banks are preparing new fees on basic banking services as they try to replace revenue lost to regulatory rules, in a push that ...

Are Your Customers Suffering From Learned Helplessness?

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

I am.  Andrew Thomas writes at Industry Week about airline satisfaction being up and attributes it to a lowering of expectations.  Here’s how this is supposed to work.  Satisfaction is the result of comparing our expectations to reality.  If our expectations exceed the actual experience then we are dissatisfied.  If, ...

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