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APO PRESENTS AT FLEXSIMPOSIUM 2017

Jason Merschat of APO presents a case study at Flexsimposium

Jason Merschat, President and CEO of Advanced Process Optimization delivered a presentation on redesigning a bearing assembly plant using Lean Manufacturing theory and leveraging Simulation Modeling using Flexsim

APO presents at Flexsimposium 2017

Jason Merschat, President and CEO of Advanced Process Optimization delivered a presentation on redesigning a bearing assembly plant using Lean Manufacturing theory and leveraging Simulation Modeling using Flexsim

Simulations as Reinforcement for Lean Six Sigma (LSS)

Authored by: Robert Bailey, Advanced Process Optimization, Inc. It is widely accepted that Lean focuses on waste reduction in processes and Six Sigma on reduction of variability. Lean tries to create flow and pursue perfection in processes. Six Sigma is extremely valuable in the pursuit of perfection. As an example, the only way to solve […]

OEE Integration – Eliminating Manual Data Entry!

OEE, yes we need it… Many of our clients require OEE as a process performance measure. We implement this as a function of our TPM deployments or simply to understand process performance at the machine  level. As many of you may have experienced, the requirement of manual data collection, converting that to a spreadsheet, then calculating […]

Should I fire my client?

This one is for the consultants out there and anyone else who can relate. There are times when you will want to sever ties with a client, decline work for a new client, or perhaps refer a client to a colleague. I work very hard to communicate and set expectations, but sometimes there is a […]

What are some tips for developing high-performing Teams?

Most the work we do pertains to project-based process improvement initiatives. Basically, we facilitate problem solving rapid improvement Events (RIE) aka “Kaizens” using client Teams. I see lots of different team interactions from the Executives that bring us in, and I believe understanding basic guiding principles can help in completing successful projects while developing high-performing […]

Should I train all my people in Six Sigma?

Gears

My answer, “Probably not just yet”. I am in countless conversations with clients that either call us in to do a sophisticated Designed Experiment or Six Sigma-level analysis only to find it is not necessary. It ends up being something we can solve using much more basic problem solving methods. Similarly, I field endless inquiries […]

Is “know-how” important for my employees?

This may seem like a silly question, but bear with me. As managers we need our people to know how to do the tasks we have hired them to do. We may feel that know-how is the most important driver for success of our employees and the company, but there is something more. Where know-how […]

My Employees Have a Bad Attitude… What Do I Do?

Believe it or not, this may be a good thing. What this really may be is frustration. I always say, “Frustration is simply passion backed into a corner.” If your employees are frustrated, then they still care, and care deeply. We can work with that. If they are indifferent and have checked out, then that […]