Serebra Learning Corporation
International Finance Perhaps you have wondered how one can successfully navigate the maze of options and opportunities offered by the international financial markets. Are there ways to maximize profits while effectively minimizing risk when it comes to dealing on the global level? This course will demonstrate why you would want to transform your purely domestic firm into a multinational corporation; how you decide which financial products and instruments will allow you to manage your cash flows from international business operations; and, finally, the important steps to take toward managing foreign exchange risk and country risk. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who have the need to understand finance and investment in more...
Financial Risk Management Do you like to take risks or do you prefer to avoid them? Do you only take a risk if you know you will be compensated for it in the end? Everyone is exposed to risk at some time--it is unavoidable. Having the proper tools to deal with risk can save you money and help you avoid financial hardship. This course familiarizes you with the strategies and products used to manage corporate risk. You will gain useful experience in risk management through a series of exercises and examples aimed at teaching various options that significantly reduce exposure to risk. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who have the need to understand finance and investment in corporations, and to analyze their own businesses or the more...
Corporate Restructuring Corporate restructuring is frightening, but it doesn't have to scare you to death This course will show you how to initiate successful mergers or resist hostile takeovers. As well, it will improve your chances of surviving financial distress. Whatever your restructuring situation, you will be prepared to handle it by taking this course This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who have the need to understand finance and investment in corporations, and to analyze their own businesses or the performance of another company. more...
Managing Working Capital Working capital management influences both a firm's risks and its expected returns. As such, it is an important determinant of firm value. Investment and financing decisions are interconnected, thus they cannot be made independently. Financial planning will make you think systematically about the relationships among your goals for growth, investment, and financing. After completing this course, you will be aware of the risk-return tradeoffs that are implied in financial forecasting, know the process of financial planning, the importance of managing cash inflows and outflows, how to finance short-term assets, and make the right decisions on financing and investment for your firm. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business more...
Raising Capital and Financing Decisions The goal of every financial manager is to maximize firm value and shareholder wealth. How does a manager reach this objective? To be successful, financial managers must be aware of the financing options available to them, and the procedures they must follow to begin financing. Most important, managers must be able to choose the best financing mix for their company. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who have the need to understand finance and investment in corporations, and to analyze their own businesses or the performance of another company. more...
Investment Project Analysis and Selection Don't be intimidated by corporate finance and choosing appropriate investment projects. If you are a corporate manager faced with choosing between different investment projects, this course will be helpful. You will learn how to choose corporate projects based on the different project analysis models and advanced analysis tools. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who need to understand finance and investment concerns in corporations, and to analyze their own businesses or the performances of other companies. more...
Introduction to Advanced Finance Don't be intimidated by corporate finance and choosing appropriate investment projects. If you are a corporate manager faced with choosing between different investment projects, this course will be helpful. You will review Time Value of Money concepts, and learn how to choose corporate projects using accounting models and cash flow models. This course is designed specifically for business managers, financial professionals, and other business professionals who need to understand finance and investment concerns in corporations, and to analyze their own businesses or the performances of other companies. more...
Final Exam Accounting 102 Generally taken near the end of a program, Final Exam: Accounting 102 enables the learner to test their knowledge in a testing environment. Individuals seeking practice in a testing environment, covering the skills and competencies being measured by the courseware. more...
Master Budgets Will you be able to expand? Will you be able to afford that new piece of equipment? What kind of profit can be expected if you do? To answer these questions about your business will not require a fortune teller. It will require the creation of a master budget. No matter the size of your company, if you are to succeed and continue to grow, you must carefully plan for your company's future. Master budgets can be used to predict the future success of your company and serve as a overall plan to indicate in which direction your company should grow. Individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business or interested in becoming a partner, who are learning to manage the accounting activities of a business, and who need to review accounting principles and more...
Analyzing Cash Flow Statements Have you ever had to make a really tough business decision? They can be hard to make, especially since a bad decision can ruin a company. Fortunately there is a way to make a more informed and better business decision; by analyzing your company's financial statements. They contain information that can help you improve your company's efficiency and overall effectiveness. Cash flow statement analysis focuses on determining your company's ability in the following four areas: (1) ability to meet short-term obligations and to efficiently generate revenue, (2) ability to generate future revenues and meet long-term obligations, (3) ability to provide financial rewards and attract and retain financing, and (4) ability to generate positive market expectations. Individuals who require knowledge of more...
Accounting for Corporations Did you know that basic accounting transactions for corporations are different than other types of business organizations? Do you need to learn more about the basic accounting principles of corporations? This course is designed to teach you how to perform basic accounting procedures specifically for corporations. You will learn how to record the issuance of stock and record transactions in the corporation's accounts. In addition, you will learn how to determine total and per share shareholder equity. Individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business or interested in becoming a partner, who are learning to manage the accounting activities of a business, and who need to review accounting principles and procedures. Shareholders or people who are more...
Accounting for Partnerships Partnerships are voluntary organizations between two or more people that combine different resources in a business venture. These resources can be money, expertise, personal connections, or experience. Accounting procedures are established to ensure that each partner gets his/her share of the business income or loss. This course explores the accounting methods that pertain to partnerships and the division of its assets. This course is intended for individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business or interested in becoming a partner, who are learning to manage the accounting activities of a business, and who need to review accounting principles and procedures. Shareholders or people who are interested in becoming a shareholder can also benefit from more...
Final Exam Accounting 101 Generally taken near the end of a program, Final Exam: Accounting 101 enables the learner to test their knowledge in a testing environment. Individuals seeking practice in a testing environment, covering the skills and competencies being measured by the courseware. more...
Accounting for Merchandising Businesses A merchandising business is a business that buys goods and sells them for profit. Merchandising businesses, which include wholesalers and retailers, typically handle inventory, therefore accounting procedures exist to record the cost of goods sold or not sold. This course will provide practical information about maintaining accounts and generating financial statements specifically for merchandising businesses. Applying these accounting procedures will help keep a business in control of its goods and ultimately, its profit margin. Individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business, who are learning to manage the accounting activities of a business, who need to review standard accounting principles and procedures, shareholders, or potential more...
Accounting for Cash Control Businesses operate on cash and strive to earn it. Cash can be defined as dollars and coins, checks, vouchers, and money orders. Accounting procedures are established to ensure that cash receipts and cash disbursements are protected. This course explores the accounting methods for internal control of cash such as petty cash, bank reconciliation, and payroll. Understanding the processing, recording, and safekeeping of cash are vital to the financial stability of a business. Individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business, who are learning to manage the accounting activities of a business, who need to review standard accounting principles and procedures, shareholders, or potential shareholders. more...
Accounting Systems and Closing Activities Some businesses carry out hundreds of transactions in a single day. You can imagine the accounting data at the end of the day, or the end of the month. Ultimately, these transactions can be categorized into a few different types. Organizing the transactions through special journals actually reduces the work and allows you to be more efficient in your accounting activities at the end of every period. Efficient accounting activities are an important aspect to a successful and profitable business. This practical course shows you how to maintain an accounting system and perform closing activities in three lessons, " Special Journals," " Subsidiary Ledgers," and " Closing Activities." Individuals who require knowledge of the basics of accounting, who are starting a business, who are learning to more...
Accrual Accounting Procedures It's the end of the fiscal year and all transactions must be accounted for. But there are some transactions that aren't complete, such as paying interest or delivering services. Do you record them or ignore them? The accrual basis of accounting is guided by the principle that says the revenue earned by a business must match all the expenses incurred to generate that revenue. This course will explain the step-by-step procedures to properly record incomplete transactions at the end of an accounting period. The transactions typically involve expenses, revenue, and depreciation. Accrual accounting procedures will ensure that your financial information about the business's performance is accurate. After all, accurate financial information is the basis for making crucial decisions in any more...
Accounting Fundamentals How does a business achieve and maintain profitability? An understanding and an accurate application of accounting practices are hallmarks of a successful and financially progressive business. Accounting is a distinct discipline, with its own standards and language. Understanding accounting procedures requires a prerequisite knowledge of certain principles, concepts, terms, and common accounting records. This practical course gives you the why's and how's to accurately conduct accounting activities. " Accounting Fundamentals" examines the theories of accounting, how to maintain accounting records, and how to generate financial statements. A business deals with many transactions in a single day, so it's important to keep up-to-date records of its finances. Individuals who require knowledge more...
Effective Administrative Support Professional Simulation Today's office setting is high-tech and fast-paced. Successful administrative support professionals must keep up with the requirements of the modern-day office environment, and this simulation tests the skills and procedures that will help you do just that. As administrative assistant to the VP of Sales for the Northeast Division of BMS Printed Circuits, you'll experience the full spectrum of responsibilities and challenges that face administrative professionals. Whether greeting visiting clients, drafting memos or dealing with office politics, you'll want to stay sharp, keeping the ultimate goal in mind--administrative excellence. This simulation provides links to the following SkillSoft courses: ADM0101, ADM0102 and ADM0103. Administrative support professionals who want to brush up on more...
Advancing Your Administrative Career Getting a position as an administrative support professional is a great accomplishment. However, have you considered what your next move should be? This course will show you how to advance on the job by providing you with important information about having a professional image and a successful attitude. You will learn valuable leadership skills and methods for motivating others. You will gain essential problem solving skills and learn strategic guidelines for managing your career. Putting in your eight hours is one thing, but advancing your administrative career is another. You can make the most of your administrative career by searching for new challenges and opportunities to grow. This course will show you how. Administrative support professionals who want to brush up on office more...
Administrative Functions Administrative support professionals are the central nervous systems of an office. Their responsibilities are numerous and vital to the operation of their organization. Knowing the best ways to perform office functions will enable administrative support professional to complete their responsibilities efficiently and effectively. This course will present you with information that will help you succeed at your job. It will show you how to manage records, make business travel arrangements, and organize conferences and meetings. It will also introduce you to the automated office environment. Your career as an administrative support professional will benefit from the knowledge and skills presented in " Administrative Functions". Administrative support specialists who want to brush up on office more...
Using Effective Business Communication Someone walks into your office and tells you that the ten important packages you couriered have safely arrived in Albany, New York. Unfortunately, they were supposed to go to Albany, Georgia. This is an announcement no one wants to hear. This course is designed to help you use effective business communication as an effective administrative support professional. Learn about etiquette in the workplace, telephone communication, and written business communication. This course, Using Effective Business Communication, will provide you with tools to become a successful administrative support professional. You will learn how to disseminate information efficiently and effectively. Administrative assistants who want to brush up on office procedures and skills, and individuals who want to prepare more...
Overview to Effective Business Communication Calvin Coolidge said, "No one ever listened themselves out of a job." Furthermore, you could say that "No one ever communicated themselves out of a job." Understanding business communication is foundational to being an effective administrative support professional. Learn about the business communication process and techniques for effective communication such as listening effectively and sending messages. This course, Overview of Effective Business Communication, will help you to become successful in today's fast paced business world. Administrative assistants who want to brush up on office procedures and skills, and individuals who want to prepare themselves for a business environment. more...
Getting Started--The Administrative Support Professional The skills needed to fulfill the requirements of today's administrative support professionals are numerous. Day-to-day, they must be flexible as they work in an ever-changing business environment. They must use interpersonal skills that help them deal effectively with clients, visitors, and other office professionals. They must also manage their time effectively to function successfully. This course takes you through the process of managing your own professional productivity. You will learn about the changing role of the administrative support professionals, the professional practices common to business offices, and the time-management skills that will help you accomplish more tasks in less time. Administrative support professionals who want to brush up on office procedures and skills, and more...
Advanced Administrative Support Simulation You're an administrative assistant at the corporate headquarters of King's Stores Company, a chain of retail stores, and report to Maxine Washington, Merchandising Manager. Recently, you were disappointed when Maxine turned you down for a promotion. During a meeting with Maxine, you'll have the opportunity to find out to why she didn't promote you. You'll need to listen actively and effectively to her constructive criticism. Also, you will need to deal with this criticism like a professional. After the meeting, maintaining a positive attitude and avoiding the influence of negative people are among the challenges you'll face. If you take Maxine's advice and successfully improve your skills, you'll then try to establish a partnership with her. This will involve effectively pitching your more...
Communicating with Power and Confidence Do you want to be an effective and powerful communicator? Do you want to take charge, welcome responsibility and view challenge as an opportunity? In today's workplace, when administrative support professionals talk, supervisors listen. They have been empowered and given many managerial responsibilities. They can now work alongside rather than as subordinates to their managers. They no longer only proofread, make coffee, or take notes. Today they run team meetings, benchmark, make presentations to senior management, pass out their own business cards, and earn degrees. Administrative support professionals who can communicate, teach, guide, mentor, and make important decisions have a greater chance of achieving upward mobility in their workplace. Administrative assistants can earn more money more...
Partnering with Your Boss You may have noticed that the traditional secretary has gone the way of the dinosaur. However, your boss may not yet have entered this new age in which administrative support professionals are working as partners with their managers and supervisors. This course will equip you to make the transition from working as a subordinate who follows orders, to partnering with your boss as an empowered and valued member of the management team. For administrative support professionals who currently work in this type of relationship with their bosses, the course contains many strategies that will make them more effective in this role. Administrative support professionals and executive secretaries who wish to improve their management skills. more...
Managing Yourself and Those Around You Successful administrative support professionals must be good managers. This means managing their own time and energies, as well as cooperatively working with their boss and co-workers. This course teaches successful strategies for dealing with the myriad demands on the time, resources, communication skills, and organizational powers of administrative assistants. Administrative support professionals and executive secretaries who wish to improve their management skills. more...
Behavior Putting Your Best Foot Forward Are you interested in taking charge of your career? Would you like your job to be more interesting, to offer you more challenges? Today's workplace offers more opportunities than ever for administrative support professionals to assume more responsibility and be more active in office decision-making. This course will show you some ways to assess yourself to ensure you're ready to work towards a new role. It will also show you some techniques for interacting with co-workers, subordinates, and superiors. In addition, you'll see how to project self-confidence and to become the kind of person to whom people give their loyalty and trust. Administrative support professionals and executive secretaries looking for a way to improve their personal management skills. more...
Managing from a Global Viewpoint The process of managing on a global scale requires a step up from domestic management. In this course, you'll learn what it takes to be a global manager or team leader. You'll start with establishing a global mind-set and learning about the attributes of a global manager. Then, you'll explore cross-cultural communication and ways to effectively support and work with a globally based team. Executives, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and other business professionals who want to initiate or support globalization activities within their organization more...
The Process of Globalizing a Product or Service Actually going global takes both planning and doing. In this course, you'll learn about the three major steps you need to cover to globalize a product or service. First, pick the right geographic location for your corporate goals and create a good plan for globalizing the product or service you're working with. Then "globalize" your product or service and let the world know you're open for business. Finally, explore using the Internet to support and expand your reach into global markets. Executives, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and other business professionals who want to initiate or support globalization activities within their organizations more...
Globalization and Your Company This course will help you decide if globalization really makes sense for your product or service. You'll learn about the challenges of taking a product or service global, and ways to determine global readiness. You'll also explore business approaches for globalization, including the development of foreign operations. Executives, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and other business professionals who want to initiate or support globalization activities within their organization more...
Globalization and Our Changing World Globalization has become a foundation for most major corporations. This course provides you with a "big picture" view of globalization. You will be introduced to the trends that have opened the doors to a global economy and the factors that drive corporate globalization. You will also learn about the major trade agreements that pave the road to global commerce. Executives, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and other business professionals who want to initiate or support globalization activities within their organization. more...
Taking Systems Thinking into Your Personal Life Have you tried to change a habit over and over only to face defeat again? Do you look at your relationships and see the same problems coming up and feel incapable of changing them? Does it feel like you're butting your head up against the same wall with no relief in sight? Using systems thinking in your personal life can be a new and effective way to tackle and change issues at their core. It is possible to change old habits. You can learn to communicate in more effective ways. Change is not only possible, it is part of life. In this course, you will explore the personal nature of systems. You'll learn about different types of personal patterns and you'll learn how to change personal patterns that aren't benefiting you. You'll also explore how systems thinking can connect you to the world more...
Redesigning Your Organization Part II What do you do after you've created an idealized design for your organization? This course will provide you with the skills you'll need to successfully implement an idealized design in your organization. You'll study the groundwork for learning, including how to use adaptive learning and how to be an advocate for adaptive learning. You'll learn about democratic hierarchies, decision-making processes, and the skills necessary for being a leader in your redesigned organization. In the final section of the course, you'll explore the roles that development, ethics, and aesthetics play in the redesign of your organization. Managers, supervisors, team leaders more...
Redesigning Your Organization Part 1 How do you implement systems thinking? How do you take what you've learned in theory and apply it to your organization? This course will walk you step by step through a planning process of designing an organizational system. You'll learn how to design your ideal organization, how to implement the design, and how to incorporate the learning of the new system so the entire team involved becomes a part of it. Managers, supervisors, team leaders more...
The Imperatives of Innovation and Leadership in Strategy This course is designed for individuals aspiring to become strategically focused in their business operations and to innovate and lead change in their organizations. As organizations strive to keep abreast of a fast-changing business environment, the need for innovation increases. While some companies focus on incremental and continuous innovations, other companies have managed to create disruptive innovations, challenged existing incumbents, and created entirely new markets for their products or services. However, without leadership, many of these innovations go unrealized, as not all managers have the leadership qualities that ensure success. This course focuses on preparing operational managers to appreciate the relationship between innovation and leadership. This path is for those in more...
Sustaining Competitive Advantage In today's competitive business environment, being as good as the competition is not enough. An organization must devise strategies and develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies to set it apart from the competition. In this course business strategies are examined that can help a company gain and sustain competitive advantage. Companies build their strength around three key strategic areas: competitive positioning, core competence, and talent. By focusing on these strategic approaches, this course demonstrates how competitive advantage can be created, grown, and sustained in a company. Those in management who are engaged in or preparing for a more strategic role in business. This includes senior executives, operations managers, consultants, and businesspeople looking to add a more more...
Thinking Strategically As business success becomes more difficult to achieve, companies are discovering the importance of strategic thinking. Being lean and mean and process efficient is no good if you don't have the correct business strategy. But what is strategic thinking and what does it look like in the context of your business? This course is focused on discovering and using the key elements of successful strategic thinking. Those in management who are engaged in or preparing for a more strategic role in their business. This includes senior executives, operation managers, consultants, and business people looking to add a more strategic edge to their business activities. more...
Pricing for Profitability Nothing can be more harmful to the success of your new product or service than incorrect pricing and other financial projections In this course, you will not only learn how to gather pertinent revenue and expense information to help you price your product, but also how to determine your objectives and policies to correctly position your product in its market niche. You'll examine three methods and four strategies used by experts to make pricing determinations. Ultimately, you will learn the company resources that can help you decide whether your project is financially feasible. Supervisors, managers, product developers more...
Six Sigma DMAIC Analyzing the Process Imagine the perfect cup of coffee--it tastes and smells great, it's served at exactly the right temperature, and, best of all, it satisfies you every time. Because it's perfect, you find yourself returning again and again to the cafe that sells it. The perfect cup of coffee--or the perfect product or service--is what Six Sigma is all about. To achieve Six Sigma, a product or service has to be 99.9 percent error-free. As far as your perfect cup of coffee is concerned, error-free means that every cup sold is 99.9 percent consistent in taste and temperature. To achieve this level of perfection (or consistency) for your product or service, you have to analyze and "map" the process to eliminate any defect from the system. Mapping the process that creates the defects--for example, a cup of more...
Six Sigma DMAIC Analyzing the Data There's one thing that doctors, mechanics, and detectives sometimes share in common--getting to the source of something that's gone wrong in a system. Things go wrong in business systems too, and to get at the source of the problem, you have to dig down deep. This course is all about making sure Six Sigma Green belts and team members dig deep enough, to where the solutions are simplest. In order to employ Six Sigma, you need information on how to use the data that's relevant to the problems in your business process. In Lesson 1 you'll explore the best methods to present and interpret the data that reflects a problem. In Lesson 2 you'll look at the skills and tools that can help you analyze the data to get at the real cause and the effects of the problem. In Lesson 3 you'll focus on the more...
Six Sigma DMAIC Measuring the Process Would you use your thumb and forefinger to measure how much carpet you need to buy for a new room in your house? By the same token, do you have the right tools for measuring a process in your organization that just isn't working? " Six Sigma DMAIC: Measuring the Process," provides Six Sigma Green Belts and team members with techniques for precisely pinpointing the source of problems--and precisely measuring them. That means you'll learn what to measure, the five types of data that can be collected, the relative strengths of the Defects per Unit ( DPU) and Defects per Opportunity (DPO) measurement techniques, and key applications for data stratification. In addition, you'll be supplied with three tools for collecting data, four data sampling methods, and guidelines for creating your own data more...
Six Sigma DMAIC Defining the Problem What's your problem? It could be said that this is one way to get to the heart of a matter. Of course, there's a better way. In this course, Six Sigma DMAIC: Defining the Problem, Six Sigma Green Belts and team members are given a systematic, objective, and measurable process for quantifying the challenges facing your organization. In lesson one, " The Project Charter," you'll learn guidelines for developing a problem statement, measuring your Six Sigma project, and determining its goal. In the second lesson, " The SIPOC Diagram," you'll learn how to create, and then apply, this useful tool to your unique situation. Finally, in " Stakeholder Analysis," you'll learn the subtleties of identifying and managing the very people whose buy-in you need to guarantee the success of your Six Sigma more...
Six Sigma Reducing Variation to Improve Quality What, do you expect everything to be perfect? How would you respond if one of your employees said that to you? You might consider saying, " Well, yes " In fact, striving for near perfect quality is reasonable and achievable. It's a matter of reducing variation through the use of Six Sigma. " Variation," or deviation from what the customer wants, may be inherent in the business world, yet by employing the principles of Six Sigma, the standard of 99.9997 perfection is within your grasp. It's just a matter of learning--and employing--those principles. In "Six Sigma: Reducing Variation to Improve Quality," you'll do just that. You'll begin by gaining a basic understanding of what variation is--why and where it exists and how it creates waste, and you'll learn key tools for identifying and more...
Six Sigma Introduction There has been an increased interest in Six Sigma in recent years. But what is Six Sigma? This course will introduce you to the foundational concepts of the Six Sigma philosophy and process. It will help you successfully participate in your organization's Six Sigma program. First, you will learn how poor quality harms your business. You will explore what Six Sigma means and the critical elements of the approach. You will gain an understanding of the new roles that some employees will fill. This course will introduce you to a straightforward framework for satisfying your customers, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency and quality in your organization. You will then examine how you can meet Six Sigma challenges and the skills you will need to grow in a Six Sigma organization. As a more...
Calculating Process Capability When process data fails to produce a normal distribution, special indices are required to calculate process capability. This course teaches Black Belt candidates the indices for non-normal process capability, and discusses how to transform non-normal data for use in standard statistical tests. It also examines the difference between continuous and discrete data, and the distributions used for capability analysis of discrete data. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all rights, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma in their organization; consultants involved in implementing a Six Sigma proposal; and organizations more...
Analyzing Process Capability Process capability is determined by a range of variables including people, machines, materials and measurements. The cumulative result must be quantified numerically to determine current performance and project future potential. To do so requires a knowledge of control limits, specification limits, capability indices, and the difference between short- and long-term variability. This course teaches Six Sigma Black Belts the process capability techniques to analyze current output and project expected value. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all rights, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma in their organization; more...
Measurement Systems The Six Sigma DMAIC system is a roadmap that shows the way to process and performance improvement. The second phase in the roadmap, the Measure phase, provides a methodology and tools for collecting data and establishing baseline measures of current processes. However, measurement itself can be problematic. A measurement system is only as good as the measuring instruments and the operators, and both are responsible for a certain amount of variation. An important part of process improvement--conducted before collecting measurement data--is analyzing the measuring system to ensure that measurements are made without bias, are reproducible by all measuring instruments, and are repeatable by all operators. In this course, you will learn about Measurement Systems Analysis ( MSA). You will see how more...
Properties and Applications of Probability Distributions Whether calculating future process capability or the length of time before product failure, probability distributions are essential to the Six Sigma Black Belt. Distributions and their random variables are the key to determining supportable conclusions for hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. This course discusses the general use of probability distributions, and reviews the applications of normal and nonnormal distributions. The course also details the benefits and teaches the steps of the Student's T-test Distribution and the F-Distribution. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of more...
Collecting and Summarizing Data The Six Sigma DMAIC system is a roadmap that shows the way to process and performance improvement. The second phase in the roadmap, the Measure phase, provides a methodology and tools for establishing a baseline of current processes. This baseline is your starting point for process improvement. A critical part of establishing baselines is collecting data that will enable you to learn the current status of performance and processes, monitor improvement efforts, and evaluate success at the conclusion of those efforts. Data puts teeth into process improvement and provides solid evidence that your efforts are bearing fruit. In this course, you will learn about collecting and summarizing data. You will learn how to plan for data collection and design a useful and professional-looking data more...
Probability and Statistics The Measure step of the DMAIC system used in Six Sigma relies on the use of probability and statistics to produce information on variations in process. Black Belt candidates must be proficient in descriptive, inferential, and process-oriented statistical thinking; must understand how to stratify data; and must appreciate the uses of the Central Limit Theorem and inferential statistics to interpret available data. This course serves as a summary for each of these areas, and provides a refresher on basic statistical methods and the uses of probability. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation more...
Process Analysis and Documentation The Six Sigma DMAIC system is a roadmap that points the way to process and performance improvement. The second phase in this methodology is Measure. You cannot hope to improve processes and performance without first knowing where you are, assessing where you want to be, and then planning how to get there, while measuring progress toward the goal all along the way. In the words of an old adage, what gets measured, gets done. In this course, you will learn about the steps in the Measure phase. Then you will learn key principles of measurement; learn how to identify key process input variables and key process output variables; document their relationships through a cause and effect diagram; assign constant, noise, and experimental variables to causes in a cause and effect diagram; and create more...
Total Productive Maintenance TPM How do you ensure that the maintenance requirements of physical assets are met as cheaply and effectively as possible? The goal is to reduce downtime and minimize maintenance costs. Total Productive Maintenance ( TPM) is a systematic approach to eliminating waste associated with production equipment and machinery. It is an approach that seeks to engage all levels and functions in an organization to maximize the overall effectiveness of production equipment. This course examines how TPM emphasizes the importance of production and maintenance staff members working together. It also describes how TPM seeks continuous improvement of production equipment effectiveness through periodic evaluations. In addition, the requirements to successfully implementing TPM are covered. Candidates for Black more...
Lean Tools At its heart, being Lean seeks to eliminate waste from the organization. By applying Lean tools and techniques, organizations can become more competitive, agile, and responsive to customer demands. This course highlights the implementation of Lean tools in the production and manufacturing environment. These tools have derived largely from the development of the Toyota Production System ( TPS). In addition, the course examines how these improvement tools are used to maintain an orderly and efficient flow of materials throughout the Lean enterprise. By successfully adopting Lean tools, companies can move significantly toward assuring their ability to competitively meet their customers' needs. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the more...
Non-value added Steps and Tasks Anytime you have products sitting in inventory it means your resources are not producing cash flow. Identifying and removing the non-value-added steps and tasks in the supply chain is the key element in effective inventory management. This course examines how Lean businesses seek to integrate their supply chains with their production processes so as to minimize inventory levels, improve the flow of raw materials, and ultimately reduce costs. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma in their organization; consultants involved in implementing a Six Sigma proposal; and organizations implementing a Six Sigma project more...
Lean Concepts Most business processes are 90 waste and 10 value-added work. The challenge for businesses today is to find new ways to dramatically reduce costs and improve investment returns while better serving their customers. To meet these challenges, organizations have turned to Lean Thinking, which seeks the elimination of all forms of waste, strives for continuous improvement, and simplifies business processes. This course explores how businesses that implement Lean Thinking learn how to reduce waste, streamline production and improve operational flexibility. Practical steps and tools for the identification, treatment and removal of waste are explored while focusing on increasing organizational effectiveness. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel more...
Experimenting for Process Improvement The Improve phase of the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology concerns locating the optimal conditions of a process. Many improvement techniques used in Six Sigma concentrate on the impact of single factors on response or yield. In order to achieve breakthrough improvements, however, it is necessary to determine how multiple interacting factors impact response. This course introduces the sophisticated statistical tools used to optimize performance during the Improve phase. You will learn about Response Surface Methodology ( RSM) and how it is used to model the impact of interacting factors on response. Evolutionary Operations, Central Composite Designs, the Box-Behnken model, and mixture designs are all introduced as methods for modeling, predicting, and optimizing response. Six Sigma is a more...
Taguchi and Quality Improvement Well-designed experiments result in effective process design or redesign, and ultimately, improved organizations. The Taguchi Method is a technique for designing and performing experiments to investigate processes where the output depends on many variables. The Taguchi Method allows the Six Sigma teams to avoid the tedious and costly task of running a process using all possible combinations of variables. By systematically choosing certain combinations of variables, the Taguchi Method makes it possible to separate their individual effects. Unlike traditional Design of Experiments, the Taguchi Method focuses on optimizing design parameters to minimize variation BEFORE optimizing design to hit mean target values for output parameters. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola more...
Design and Analysis In the Six Sigma Improve phase, organizations are aiming to evaluate which process inputs have the most significant impact on the process output. Only by effective experimental design and subsequent analysis can organizations pinpoint areas for improvement. This course will enable you to choose between process methods, determine the most effective process, and take into account all of the necessary factors by designing and analyzing full factorial experiments, fractional factorial experiments, and experiments for special cases, such as Plackett-Burman, Box-Behnken, and Central Composite Design ( CCD). Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title, and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives more...
Design of Experiments DOE By the time they reach the Six Sigma Improve phase, organizations have a solid understanding of how and why their processes fail to meet customers' expectations. Organizations use the Design of Experiments ( DOE), a key methodology of the Six Sigma Improve phase, to quantify with statistical precision the factors that are causing this gap. Well-designed experiments result in effective process redesign, and ultimately, improved organizations. This course explains how to design and implement efficient and effective improvement experiments. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title, and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma more...
Scoping the Six Sigma Project Six Sigma Black Belts are called upon to solve problems that have no known solutions. This is a risky endeavor. Yet Six Sigma deployment has a track record of success. One of the keys to its success is proper project scoping. No one wants to try to do it all with a single opportunity. Six Sigma projects need to be selected mindfully and scoped appropriately. Yet, without known solutions, identifying projects that will truly impact customer service while also improving the bottom line can be challenging. When pressure mounts, it's tempting to act too quickly and possibly solve the wrong problem. In this course, you'll learn what a Six Sigma team should focus on, and more importantly, what the team should avoid in order to make Six Sigma projects successful. You'll learn to avoid common more...
Defining and Mapping the Six Sigma Process Maps are incredible tools. They show--on one page--where you are, where you want to go, the best way to get there, and endless alternate routes. Without maps, we would be left to wander unknown paths to uncertain destinations, encountering untold pitfalls along the way. Maps are also important tools in guiding Six Sigma teams in the quest for process improvement; it is impossible to improve a process that you don't fully understand. In this course, you will be introduced to the mapmaker's art as it applies to Six Sigma. You will learn techniques to help you survey the business landscape from a high level. You will then learn how to fill in the details and sharpen the focus by using a variety of map types. Finally, you will practice reading maps to learn how to recognize and avoid the more...
Six Sigma and Critical Customer Requirements Mark Twain once said, " Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it." Unlike the weather, serving customer needs is something companies actually can do something about. Quality Function Deployment ( QFD) is a systematic process for motivating a business to focus on its customers. In a Six Sigma environment, such a focus is central to success. In this course, you'll learn how QFD works. You'll explore ways to listen to the voice of the customer and how to understand that voice in substantive terms. You'll learn to use effective tools to examine what your customers say they need and to determine from those statements what they really need. Finally, you'll learn to build the House of Quality, the graphical expression of QFD, and how to analyze the information you build more...
Six Sigma and the Voice of the Customer Do you know the phrase, "caveat emptor"? It's a Latin term that means, " Let the buyer beware." It's also a legal principle stating that consumers must purchase goods at their own risk, because unless specifically asked, the seller is generally under no obligation to disclose defects. Caveat emptor once struck fear in the hearts of many wary consumers. Fortunately, the tide has turned. Increased market competition, modern consumer protection laws, and expanded customer awareness have helped negate the influence of this business maxim. Today, organizations are admonished to heed the voice of customers and give them what they really want. " Voice of the customer," or VOC, is a Six Sigma term that refers to customers' actual, as opposed to assumed, product and service needs and desires. This more...
Six Sigma Management and Planning Tools In the 1970s, a group of seven "new" tools for quality management were developed in Japan. When they reached America in the 1980s and 1990s, they were renamed the Management and Planning (MP) tools. Used separately or in combination, they are powerful tools in the Six Sigma approach for insuring quality and continuous improvement. This course will cover the seven tools--affinity diagrams, interrelationship digraphs, tree diagrams, activity network diagrams, cause-and-effect matrices, prioritization matrices, and process decision program charts (PDPC). Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all rights, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation more...
The Six Sigma Change Agent What is a Six Sigma change agent? How does one advocate change on a business-wide level? What are the skills required and the techniques used? In this course, you'll learn about the roles and responsibilities of the Six Sigma change agent. You'll explore ways to build a change management process and how to plan for change implementation. Effective communication is central to Six Sigma success, so this course will introduce you to the components of a successful communications strategy. Many organizations, and often even Six Sigma team members, are resistant to change. That's why this course offers you an introduction to the forms resistance to change takes at both the organizational and team levels. You'll also explore ways of overcoming resistance to change and of building a more...
Six Sigma Team Dynamics and Performance Yogi Berra once said, "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win." While the quote is just one of Mr. Berra's many adages, it does provide a clue to the importance the legendary baseball coach placed on effective teamwork. Teamwork is no less important in the Six Sigma world. In fact, more than one Six Sigma expert has stated unequivocally that without effective teamwork, a process improvement project will fail. So how is effective teamwork ensured? The best way is by understanding Six Sigma team dynamics--that is, the way in which team members work together and interact. The more that team members understand team dynamics, the greater the team's collective performance is likely to be. This course, Six Sigma Team Dynamics and Performance, is a guide for understanding and more...
Six Sigma Team Leadership By addressing customer needs, streamlining processes, minimizing variance, and addressing poor quality and inefficiency, Six Sigma can encourage a more profitable and sustainable business. The development and leadership of an effective team is critical if these outcomes are to be achieved. An effective Six Sigma team comprises the right people using their skills in collaboration with each other to address the needs of the customer and the project. This course provides potential team leaders with strategies for selecting the right team members and assigning roles within the team. When the team has been formed, the role of team leader changes to that of a facilitator, leader, and motivator. This course provides you with the techniques and skills required to build a team that can deliver your more...
The Six Sigma Project Charter and Plan What constitutes a project charter? How do you know whether you've set the right goals for your project? What tools can best help you plan your project? As you advance in this course--which focuses on project charter elements as well as planning tools and project documentation--you will obtain the skills and knowledge required to manage your project charter and plan. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all rights, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma in their organization; consultants involved in implementing a Six Sigma proposal; and organizations implementing a Six Sigma project more...
Define the Six Sigma Opportunity Have you ever heard someone say, " That's putting the cart before the horse"? It's a quaint way of describing a process that's being implemented in a backward manner. One example of this is a company that begins to make organization-wide improvements before identifying which improvements would provide optimal benefits. This course, Define the Six Sigma Opportunity, is a guide for choosing those processes that will reap the greatest corporate benefit from Six Sigma projects. Besides being given guidelines for establishing an improvement opportunity, you'll learn specific methods for capturing the voice of the customer, and how to use the Kano model to discern and categorize those customers' needs. You'll also learn about Six Sigma improvement opportunities from a financial perspective: what more...
Six Sigma--Measurement System Re-analysis Have you ever tried to change your life with a diet or exercise program, only to backslide and lose all the positive changes you made? It's easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal--improved health and fitness--after reaching your goal weight and fitness level. Maintaining positive changes takes just as much effort and vigilance as making the changes initially. Likewise for businesses--the benefits of Six Sigma performance aren't achieved simply by a completing a series of projects. Achieving Six Sigma performance takes vision, commitment, time, and vigilance. To assist with maintaining gains, the Six Sigma Control phase outlines tools and techniques for the Black Belt to use. In this course, you will learn about Measurement System Re-analysis. During this phase, measurement system more...
Six Sigma--Lean Tools for Control Two key methodologies for improving operations in the manufacturing world are lean manufacturing and Six Sigma . Both are designed to reduce variation, yet each takes a different track. While Six Sigma utilizes data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company's operational performance, lean manufacturing collocates all of an organization's processes in sequential order, restructuring the manufacturing method to reduce wasteful activities, such as over-production, waiting, and material hand-offs. Whereas Six Sigma tools focus on an organization's specific aspects, lean tools evaluate the entire operation. In this course, you'll learn about both methodologies and how lean tools can be implemented during Six Sigma's Control phase. The purpose of Six Sigma's Control phase is to more...
Control Charts and the Pre-control Process Six Sigma teams may be tempted to consider their work done once they have improved their processes during the Improve phase. However, in the Control phase of the Six Sigma process improvement system, teams go further and verify that improved processes continue to perform at the improved levels. This course will present control charts, which are used to determine with statistical precision the extent to which improved processes maintain improvement level performance with minimum variation and are, thus, under control. The course also will present the pre-control process, an easier and quicker method for determining whether an improved process produces products or services within specification limits. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all rights, title, and more...
Overview of Business Process Management In today's business world, competition is tough. Organizations are under a great deal of pressure to become more productive and more efficient while developing new, innovative products and services more rapidly than ever before. Management is demanding improved quality, reduced costs, and increased productivity with fewer resources. How can organizations respond to these pressures while remaining competitive in the market? The answer is a Six Sigma approach to business process management. This course examines the basics of adopting a Six Sigma approach firmly bound to customer needs and bottom-line results. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; more...
History of Organizational Improvement and the Foundations of Six Sigma To successfully implement Six Sigma , it's useful to understand the history of organizational improvement and the contributions of various leaders in the field of quality. This course examines the concepts of quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement that are common among Six Sigma, the Total Quality Management movement, and continuous improvement. It also discusses the continuum among each of these business approaches. Finally, the course provides an understanding of the development and use of continuous improvement tools, including the contributions of Shewhart, Deming, Juran, Ishikawa, and Taguchi. Six Sigma is a registered trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates for Black Belt certification; more...
Organizational Goals and Objectives Before a Six Sigma project can be executed, organizational strategic planning goals and objectives must be defined. Determining selection of appropriate projects and choosing an effective improvement model are crucial tasks that help to ensure your company is pointed in the right direction. Performing risk analysis while avoiding pitfalls common to Six Sigma projects is also important to prevent project failure. Finally, performing a tollgate assessment emphasizes process management to ensure your ultimate goal of customer satisfaction. This course provides an overview of each of the processes necessary to base your Six Sigma effort on solid ground. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title, and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. Candidates more...
Leadership in Six Sigma Six Sigma has become synonymous with quality in the business world, but there is no prescriptive process for planning and launching a Six Sigma initiative. Each business must learn to call upon the strengths and abilities of its diverse professionals, from executives to highly trained technical specialists. What are the roles of each in the Six Sigma process? What planning should take place to launch their efforts? How can you tell whether your organization is really ready to take on Six Sigma? What is the proper culture, and can your organization achieve it? And how should the transition be managed? This course examines these crucial issues, as well as providing insight into the organizational responsibilities of Six Sigma participants, and the essential strategic training they will more...
Six Sigma and the Corporate Enterprise What exactly is Six Sigma , and why is it important to your company? This course helps you to make that determination through a discussion of basic concepts underlying the Six Sigma philosophy. A broad overview is provided of the initial development of Six Sigma; Six Sigma's uses in leading companies to date; the benefits to be realized by successful deployment, and the metrics and core competencies crucial to its use. You'll also learn why Six Sigma emphasizes the alignment of business systems and processes; how to create a framework for business process management; and the applications for Six Sigma in manufacturing, service, and health care industries. Six Sigma is a registered Trademark of Motorola Corporation, and all right, title and interest in Six Sigma belongs to Motorola. more...
Inventory Management In today's economy, companies must be able to move large quantities of product quickly to locations across the globe. Overnight delivery methods have drastically altered customers' expectations regarding delivery times. Lead times of four to six weeks are no longer acceptable. In light of these changes, effective Inventory Management is no longer static- the emphasis is on movement, and quick response to changing market demands. Manager, Directors, Team Leads, or other individuals seeking to gain an understanding of inventory management trends. more...
Overview of Logistics Management In today's business environment, we all recognize the need to improve operational efficiency within our business, but often lack sufficient knowledge of the flow of materials through our organization. This course will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the history, perspectives, strategies, and key areas of Logistics Management. Any individual seeking to gain an overall understanding of Logistics Management. more...
Lean Strategies You may have all the proper ingredients, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can make the ultimate dish, especially if you are creating it for the first time. Adding the right amount of each ingredient in the proper sequence with specific techniques improves your chances for success. An understanding of lean manufacturing principles and techniques will give you the ingredients you need for a lean transformation. But you also need information about how to put all of these together in the correct sequence. In this course, you'll learn how to prepare for, develop, and maintain a lean organization. In Lesson 1 you'll learn what lean techniques to implement first and how to make the organizational transition go smoothly. In Lesson 2 you'll explore how to deploy specific lean techniques more...
Lean Techniques Imagine that you're shopping at a local furniture store when you see a lamp that you must buy. It's exactly what you've been looking for at the right price. But the lamp model is out of stock and the only one left is the floor sample. Naturally, you inquire about purchasing the sample, but the sales person tells you that the store has a policy of prohibiting this. Why? Wouldn't it make sense to give the customer what he wants exactly when he wants it? Yes, but the furniture store is not a lean business. In fact, the furniture industry uses batch and queue processes that inconvenience the customer at every turn. In this course, you'll learn how lean techniques can help organizations maximize value and minimize waste. In Lesson 1, you'll examine lean production techniques that can be more...
Lean Value Finding methods to capture customer-driven value is not a new activity. You've probably analyzed processes, conducting customer surveys, and used audits to determine what customers want. Yet, according to lean thinkers these techniques don't go far enough. They still departmentalize the value concept. Lean experts propose a more holistic view of value that stretches beyond organizational boundaries and stream from manufacturer to supplier to producer. This course explores this value principle in depth. In Lesson 1 you'll consider the benefits of the lean transformation for your own business and look through the lean manufacturing lens to redefine product value. Then in Lesson 2 you'll learn about value-stream mapping - a technique designed by several forefounders of the lean manufacturing more...
Lean Logic Suppose a friend told you that it was more efficient to put on your shoes before your pants when getting dressed. What is the logic behind taking an action that seems so counterintuitive? You probably wouldn't implement this new methodology without a thorough explanation of its origin and logic, right? Some of the lean manufacturing suggestions may also strike you as counterintuitive. That's because Lean Manufacturing is more than a concept, it is a philosophy based on definitions, vocabulary, and principles that may be foreign to you. In this course, you'll receive an explanation of lean manufacturing logic and learn about its evolution, definition, philosophy, and critical principles. In Lesson 1 you'll uncover what lean is and what it isn't, how it came to be, and what foundational more...
Transitioning from ISO 9000 1994 to ISO 9001 2000 The ISO 9000 family of international standards has been drastically revised. Currently, certified organizations must plan to comply with these changes within the specified time frame or face losing their certification. The ISO 9001:2000 edition uses a new process-focused approach as illustrated in their Quality Management System model. This QMS model is structured into four areas: Management Responsibility, Resource Management, Product Realization, and Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement. An additional emphasis on customer requirements and documented evidence of continual improvement has also been added to the 2000 edition. This course compares the two ISO editions and highlights the changes. Finally, using the Deming PDCA cycle, this course provides guidance for making the transition more...
Steps for Successful ISO Registration An organization must carefully plan and integrate into their own quality management system a comprehensive strategy to comply with ISO 9001:2000 requirements. This course discusses the necessary steps required to organize for ISO registration. For example, management commitment must be obtained, a steering team and internal audit program established, and the appropriate registrar selected. Preparing for registration involves creating four levels of documentation beginning with the quality manual, identifying areas that require improvement, and ensuring quality procedures and work instructions are in place. This course emphasizes the importance of continual communication, benchmarking, and quality improvements. " Steps for Successful ISO Registration" guides your organization through the more...
Continual Quality Improvement The ISO 9000:2000 standard structures its Quality Management System ( QMS) model into four major areas: Management Responsibility; Resource Management; Product Realization; and Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement. Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement is one vital component of the standard. This course examines the need to plan and implement measurement and monitoring activities to ensure that established quality characteristics are identified and continually improved. These activities, along with ongoing internal audits, provide data that is analyzed to guide both corrective and preventive improvements to an organization's work flow processes, products, and services. These guidelines also help to identify and segregate nonconforming products before they reach the customer. This course more...
Processes for Quality Products and Services The ISO 9000:2000 standard structures its Quality Management System ( QMS) model into four major areas: Management Responsibility, Resource Management, Product Realization, and Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement. Product Realization is one vital component of the standard. This course examines how one can apply the ISO standards to all the processes required to produce a product or service. The Product Realization clauses emphasize that quality objectives be established, documented, measured, and periodically reviewed. Measurement and verification that customer requirements are met and that the process continually improves based upon documented feedback are also requirements of the standard. In addition, design, purchasing, and production requirements can be continually improved by more...
Quality-minded Management The ISO 9000:2000 family of standards structures its Quality Management System ( QMS) model into four major clauses: Management Responsibility, Resource Management, Product Realization, and Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement. This course provides an overview of the clause "Management Responsibility." It details management's role in establishing a quality policy and its responsibility to support and administer the organization's quality management system. Management must also conduct an ongoing evaluation of the quality management system to measure its effectiveness and to continually improve the QMS. This course is a must for management. This course is designed for all managers and quality assurance stakeholders who desire an introduction to the ISO 9001:2000 Management Responsibility more...
Building a Quality Management System This course introduces the Quality Management System ( QMS) model which is a conceptual framework for the ISO 9001:2000 standard requirements. The QMS model emphasizes ISO 9001:2000's new focus on a process approach to quality, continual improvement, and customer satisfaction. In addition, this course describes the important role that documentation plays in building a quality management system and outlines how an organization can begin its ISO journey in an easy-to-understand format. This course is designed for all quality assurance stakeholders desiring an introduction or an update to the ISO 9000:2000 family of standards. more...
The Who What Why of ISO 9000 2000 This course provides a brief history of the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO). It outlines ISO's mission and structure by examining the three standards that comprise the ISO 9000 family of standards: ISO 9000:2000, ISO 9001:2000, and ISO 9004:2000. This course also presents the universal quality fundamentals that form the foundation of the concepts and practices required by the ISO 9001 standard. This course is designed for all quality assurance stakeholders desiring an introduction or an update to the ISO 9000:2000 family of standards. more...
Training and Development The most valued resource of any organization is its people. In today's corporate landscape of technological advancement, employees must be trained to align with the strategic direction of the business. Managers of quality should know that improvements in workplace productivity contribute positively to the overall well-being of the organization. This course explores the importance of investing in human capital as a means of attaining strategic objectives. It delves into all aspects of corporate training, including the front-end needs analysis, and identifying effective design and development strategies. It also examines various ways to deliver training, and provides insight on how to accurately evaluate the impact training programs have on a company's bottom line. It is aligned with the more...
Supply Chain Management At what level are your suppliers performing? Are the relationships with your suppliers benefiting the organization? A quality-centered relationship with a supplier can play a vital role in the success of organizations, providing a competitive advantage in today's aggressive global marketplace. Without sound performance measurement and communication strategies, the relationship between you and your supplier can quickly deteriorate.This course explores many aspects of the organization-supplier relationship, including supplier selection and communication strategies. The course also examines approaches to measuring supplier performance as a basis for improvement. It also looks at the importance of certification, partnerships, and alliances as they relate to the supplier relationship. It is more...
Customer Focused Management Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, is reputed to have said, "There is only one boss the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else." Effective quality management processes focus on the customer. In today's global marketplace, customers have more choices than ever before. To achieve success, it is vital for enterprises to accurately identify the wants, needs, and expectations of their customers.This course explores the relationship between the treatment of internal customers and the impact on external customers. It examines techniques used to identify and segment external customers, while anticipating customer priorities, needs, and expectations. Strategies for incorporating customer service principles are also more...
Measurement Assessment and Metrics Were you ever in a situation where you started a new project and weren't sure of its effectiveness? Is your new process trending toward success or failure? These are questions that should be on the mind of every manager. An effective manager is continuously gathering, monitoring, and analyzing information as it relates to organizational performance.This course explores data analysis techniques used to detect trends of projects and processes. It describes key concepts in statistical analysis and explains how data-gathering affects the people in an organization and vice versa. It is aligned with the Quality Management Division of the American Society for Quality's Certification Handbook and is designed to assist learners as part of their preparation for the ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / more...
Problem Solving and Process Management Tools Albert Einstein is reputed to have said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." To solve quality and process-related problems, managers should continuously enhance their knowledge of organizational processes and quality management tools. These tools help managers find root causes of problems, an important step toward removing them. Success in ensuring quality and organizational excellence depends on how effectively managers apply these tools to solve quality and process-related problems.This course explores basic problem-solving and process management tools used for identifying, analyzing, and solving quality and process-related problems. The course is aligned with the Quality Management Division of the American more...
Quality Systems Models and Theories The implementation of an effective quality system is a vital component of the success of any organization. Personnel at all levels in an organization must be aware of the quality mission, plan, and methodology it employs. A quality mission and plan that is well developed and properly implemented must be aligned to the corporate mission and vision statements and the strategic plan in order to be effective. As an organization evolves, its quality plan must be monitored and revised in order to reflect these changes. This course explores the quality mission, plan, and methodologies and discusses the importance of effective monitoring, documentation, and implementation. It examines various quality models and theories used in corporations today. This course is aligned with the Quality Management more...
Communication Skills and Project Management An essential element of management is the ability to effectively communicate with people. The capacity to successfully communicate in today's global economy is a pivotal element to the success of any organization. Managers need to be aware of emerging technologies and how these affect international communication. To meet an improvement project's specified goals and objectives, a manager must also effectively plan, estimate, and monitor the progress of the project and know what tools to apply. This course explores how communication takes place, and presents techniques and strategies for enhancing communication. It also examines how various project management tools can be used to analyze project risk, feasibility, and priority. The course is aligned with the Quality Management Division of more...
Managerial Skills and Abilities Quality management is an important factor in the success of today's organizations. Leading organizational thinkers have gone to the extent of saying that quality in an organization is determined by the quality of its management. In order to bring quality and excellence to an organization, managers need certain skills, tools, and abilities in all their functions. These skills and abilities relate to their understanding of management principles and theories, key organizational functions, and their mutual interrelationships.This course explores basic principles of management, management theories, styles and tools, and interdependence of functional areas in an organization. It identifies tools and techniques used by the HR, Finance, Risk, and Knowledge management functions in an organization. more...
Developing and Deploying Strategic Plans Successful organizations are founded on effectively developing and deploying strategic plans. Organizations must identify their primary goals and objectives based on their mission and vision statements. Other success factors include understanding market forces, internal strengths and weaknesses, stakeholders, relevant technology, and legal and regulatory factors. With these considerations, an organization's action plan can be developed and deployed, and its effectiveness evaluated.This course explores the concepts of strategic planning models, business environmental analysis, and strategic plan deployment. It is aligned with the Quality Management Division of the American Society for Quality s Certification Handbook, and is designed to assist learners in preparation for the ASQ Certified more...
Team Dynamics Effective development of teams improves the organization's quality and productivity. Team development encompasses team establishment, assignment of roles and responsibilities, and performance evaluation. Dynamic team goals and objectives must align with the organization's vision and mission. This course explores team building and team dynamics. It is aligned with the Quality Management Division of the American Society for Quality's Certification Handbook and is designed to assist learners as part of their preparation for the ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/ Organizational Excellence certification exam. Corporate directors of quality; quality managers and executives involved with quality at the organizational or departmental level within an organization; quality consultants and candidates more...
Leadership Leadership is fundamental in driving quality in an organization. A good leader's actions and words filter down to all organizational levels to create a quality culture. The |