53rd MINNESOTA QUALITY CONFERENCE
October 9 & 10 2006
Minneapolis Airport Marriott,
Bloomington, MN

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

REGISTRATION     DAY AT A GLANCE     SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS     EXHIBITS     SPONSORSHIPS

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:

Workshop One:

DOE/RSM Simplified
By Mark Anderson, Stat-Ease, Inc.

Participants of this workshop will also receive the newly published:
"RSM Simplified: Optimizing Processes Using Response Surface Methods for Design of Experiments" a $50 value, included in their workshop registration cost!

This workshop offers an overview for response surface methods (RSM) for quality professionals and engineers. It illustrates an array of practical statistical tools for design and analysis of experiments aimed at breakthrough product improvement and process optimization. Although this workshop is not a substitute for hands-on computer-intensive training, it will give participants a leg up on upgrading their DOE skills to a superior level.

The morning session introduces basic concepts of DOE and then explores full factorials, interactions, fractional factorials, and aliasing. Several fun, but informative, case studies from the book will be reviewed, such as making microwave popcorn and starting a reluctant weed whacker. With this session we hope to inspire you to give DOE a try, and/or to follow-up with further training.

The afternoon session progresses into response surface methods (RSM). Once again, the material will be presented in an easy-to-digest, light and humorous manner, with fun case studies. During this session, participants will learn to appreciate all that DOE can do to find their sweet spot (the ideal settings for process factors) and tools for minimizing variance that will be especially useful for those involved in Six Sigma or Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) quality initiatives. However, don't expect to master these powerful tools without further education.

Participants will receive the textbook "RSM Simplified," which includes a fully-functional, time-limited copy of Design-Expert software.

Workshop Two:

Robust Tolerance Analysis: A Modern approach to engineering product/process variation
By Dr. Wayne Taylor, Taylor Enterprises, Inc.

This workshop shows how to achieve robust designs using tolerance analysis. It serves as an excellent introduction to tolerance analysis including worst-case tolerancing and statistical tolerancing. It shows how to combine these approaches into a unified approach that is more compatible with Six Sigma. It then shows how to use the results to select optimal targets that optimize performance and reduce variation. This results in robust designs.

You will learn to achieve robust, higher quality products and processes while simultaneously reducing costs by learning:

• What Six Sigma quality is and how to achieve it up front in design through tolerancing.
• How to predict the performance of a product or process early in the design process before investing in equipment, tooling, etc.
• How to identify the critical tolerances that must be tightened to improve quality and how to identify tolerances that can be widened to reduce costs.
• How to design manufacturable products based on machine and supplier capabilities.
• How to obtain the transfer functions required for tolerance analysis through designed experiments.
• How to avoid having to tighten tolerances by designing the product or process to be robust to variation in the components and conditions.
• A unified approach to tolerancing that solves the dilemma of worst-case versus statistical tolerances.

This workshop clearly explains the concepts and strategies involved to those without getting tangled in the mathematical details.

Workshop Three:

TRIZ
By Ralph Czerepinski, Ph.D. from Cz innovation

TRIZ is a Russian acronym for the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. This workshop will offer a brief introduction to the very large TRIZ tool kit, and some practical experience using some of the most easily learned elementary tools. TRIZ is based on the thought that somewhere, someone has already solved your problem, or one very much like it. TRIZ provides tools for applying the best of the world-class solutions to your problems, and avoiding compromise. People who apply TRIZ methods often arrive at patentable solutions to their problems, often breakthrough in nature. Unlike traditional brainstorming methods, TRIZ is data-based, and offers a systematized approach to problem solving. TRIZ integrates extremely easily with quality tools such as Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma, and QFD, as well as most other quality and productivity methods. This will be a hands-on, participatory workshop much more than a tutorial.

Workshop Four:

Root Cause and 8-D Problem Solving
By Tom Humpherys from Quality in Action, Inc.

A powerful system for decision making and action!
More and more companies understand that successful delivery of quality products and services ultimately depends on their employees. They empower and expect employees to define and improve their own work processes. The 8-D Problem solving method, developed initially by Ford Motor Co., enables participants to meet that expectation.

This workshop will provide not only the tools, but their use in the applied 8-D problem solving process used by world class organizations to create effective and lasting quality improvement. Participants are exposed to how the quality improvement process requires change in many ways and the importance of their ability to successfully solve problems through greater awareness of creative power, increased self esteem and improved interpersonal skills. The principles and methods taught in this workshop can be tailored to manufacturing companies or service sector organizations with equal effectiveness.

Who should attend this workshop?

Managers, supervisors, engineers, production workers and especially, teams of individuals seeking to improve their processes or solve a particularly difficult problem.

On completion of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Know how to identify problems and improve your work processes using an effective, rational model.
• Understand the 8-D problem solving method.
• Know when and how to effectively use powerful decision making tools.
• Be able to use both individual and team techniques for problem solving.
• Discover keys to unlock your own creativity by overcoming subconscious inhibitors.
• Experience the combined energy of team problem solving in a revealing and challenging team exercise.

Workshop Five:

Listening to the Voice Of the Customer:
AM portion of full day workshop
By Russell Westcott

Is your organization deficient in hearing and listening to customers?
Learn practical methods to attune your organization to the voice of the customer (VOC). Customer needs and wants, both as a first-time buyer and as an existing customer will be addressed through the perspectives of a variety of industry backdrops.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: The Customer’s Voice is Not What you Heard
PM portion of this full day workshop
By Robin Lawton

A car company executive listened to customers say they wanted more miles/tank of gas. Did this understanding lead to (a) improving fuel efficiency, (b) innovation, (c) competitive advantage or (d) bigger tanks? This humorous, provocative session shows how to decipher the unspoken mind of the customer for innovation and growth.

Learning Outcomes

• Destroy the 7 Vital Lies that kill innovation
• Clarify who “the customer” really is, especially in the non-widget world
• Use three (3) questions to uncover what customers want, even if they couldn’t say
• Translate fuzzy customer priorities into objective, unambiguous measures

Workshop Six:

LEAN ISO:
AM portion of full day workshop
By Mark Ames

Organizations typically have two management systems, their Quality Management System driven by ISO 9001:2000, and their Business Management System driven by financial performance goals. This presentation describes how ISO 9001:2000, along with the Process Approach, sets the stage for a natural progression to the use of Lean Techniques, and how this integration will become the single management system for the organization, resulting in both quality and financial improvements.