The Art of Process Mapping

Throughout my career, as an Industrial Engineer and a Continuous Improvement professional, if there is one tool I have used in abundance, it is Process Mapping. As a visual person, it is my go-to tool. In many situations, it helped me wrap my head around what’s going on in a process or conversation and make … Read more

10 Lean Six Sigma Red Flags

Don’t let these red flags overwhelm your LSS Program Over the past 20 years TMAC has provided training and support for dozens of different LSS deployments, across a variety of industries.  During that time, our staff have provided over 5,000 hours of project coaching for Green Belts and Black Belts. As we meet with each … Read more

Starting From Zero

Launching a Lean Six Sigma Program Imagine starting a new job at a company with no formal continuous improvement program. There is no culture of fact-based decision-making. The company measures only one thing: Dollars. A wide variety of problems exist across many different departments – accounting, procurement, human resources, operations, customer service. And you’ve been … Read more

2022 In The Rearview

Year in Review This year marked a return to normalcy as TMAC began operating much as we did before the pandemic. Today all classes, workshops, kaizen events and project work are held in-person. Still, we see the benefit of – and have gotten very comfortable using – virtual platforms for meetings and coaching sessions. But … Read more

Applying LSS to Kevin’s Bakery

Not your “typical” Lean Six Sigma Student Howdy LSS Newsletter subscribers! My name is Loren Hitchcock and I’m not your “typical” Lean Six Sigma student.  I’m a member of the TMAC team, and work in business development. Basically, I’m responsible for growing and developing our customer base here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. This … Read more

Aligning Process to Customer

Recently I was teaching a Lean Six Sigma course, talking to students about the purpose behind using statistical analysis in decision-making. I know, it sounds like a riveting exchange of wit, levity, and inspiration. Isn’t every exchange that involves data, evidence, and reason? Of course not. So, then, what is our purpose? Our mission? Our … Read more

Customer Spotlight: Kellie Foglio, USG Corporation

This month’s newsletter starts the first in an occasional series about individuals working in continuous improvement. Our goal is to let LSS practitioners tell their stories and share some lessons learned. This month I spoke with Kellie Foglio, a LSS Master Black Belt with USG Corporation. When did you begin working at USG Corporation, and … Read more

Planning vs. Flexibility

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Earlier this month was the 78th anniversary of one of the most important events of the 20th Century: The D-Day Invasion at Normandy. More correctly known as Operation Neptune (land-based operations were dubbed Operation Overlord), it is considered the largest seaborne invasion in history. The complexity of this event is hard to … Read more