Released on: March 19, 2008, 6:35 am

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: Manufacturing Journalist TR Cutler Profiles Transactional Six
Sigma Process by Hertzler Systems



Press Release Body: Many manufacturing organizations fail to achieve the full
benefit of Six Sigma efforts because their tools lack connectivity to the business
systems generating the data. "Reducing the costs and cycle times of Six Sigma
projects must be achieved by capturing the right data to drive business
transformation while connecting with other information systems to streamline and
reduce data acquisition costs," according to Evan J. Miller,
Hertzler Systems President & CEO; the firm manufacturers
the SPC (statistical process control) suite GainSeeker.

In the current issue of AutomationMedia.com manufacturing journalist Thomas R.
Cutler, profiled that Transactional Six Sigma Must Maintain Productivity Gains.
According to Cutler, "Six Sigma projects are often hampered by the high cost of
acquiring and managing data. Black Belts often invest significant effort in
collecting data for the Define and Measure phases. But they risk losing those
hard-won productivity gains during the Control Phase if process owners can not
sustain costly and time- consuming data collection
tasks over the long-term."


Indeed sustaining the gains in the Control Phase with real-time data collection and
control failure notification; multiplying ROI (return-on-investment) from existing
business systems by making better use of data is vital.

Miller insists these transactional Six Sigma elements require "Focusing attention on
improvement goals through innovative Defect Improvement Charts in order to quickly
uncover hidden sources of variation with automated analysis."

Measurement systems rounds out Six Sigma software infrastructure and since the early
days of Six Sigma, automation professionals have relied on software. Most people
recognize two main types of software packages: Project Tools (like MINITAB) and
Deployment Tools (like ProjX or Enterprise Track). If Six Sigma had stayed on the
manufacturing floor, that might have sufficed, however transactional Six Sigma often
looks for data from business systems.


Few tools provide a measurement system that supports these transactional Six Sigma
efforts:
. Connect easily to business systems, Six Sigma project tools and Six Sigma
deployment tools
. Build a rich warehouse of enterprise data for easy access and data sharing with
project tools and deployment tools
. Provide a framework for infrastructure solutions to both IT staff and Six Sigma
practitioners
. Enforce procedures for detecting and responding to out-of-control conditions and
other failures
. Ask process owners for additional detail at the time a problem occurs. For
example, when an order misses a critical milestone, asking the process owner to
record what happened
. Provide the correct level of data granularity for achieving Six Sigma improvements

Hertzler Systems (www.hertzler.com) provides seamless, accurate data acquisition
solutions that drive business transformation. The company provides the leading
real-time data acquisition and analytics software, the GainSeeker Suite. This
powerful and flexible system is best used by lean and progressive companies.
Gainseeker Suite allows companies to connect with devices and other information
systems, collecting data and alarming key personnel when problems arise; this
technology allows organizations to analyze data for root cause problems, converting
data into knowledge.


Hertzler Systems has been a leader in Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma for
over twenty years, and includes a diverse customer base in service, transactional
and manufacturing environments; clients include BAE Systems, Crown Audio, IDEX
Corporation, McCormick & Company, Inc., Hormel Foods Corporation, Titleist &
Footjoy, and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Worldwide. The company\'s software and services
enable clients to collect and analyze data; building a robust data infrastructure
for making data-driven decisions. These capabilities help clients to reduce costs,
cycle time and errors, and increase profitability.

The complete article may be read at
http://www.automationmedia.com/TRCutler.asp?ID=%2052.


Hertzler Systems Inc.
www.hertzler.com
Adrienne DePew
Communications Manager
info@hertzler.com
800.958.2709



Web Site: http://www.hertzler.com

Contact Details: Hertzler Systems
2312 Eisenhower Dr. N.
Goshen, IN 46526
800-958-2709