According to W. Edwards Deming, American companies require nothing less than a transformation of management style and of governmental relations with industry. In Out of the Crisis, originally published in 1982, Deming offers a theory of management based on his famous 14 Points for Management. Management's failure to plan for the future, he claims, brings about loss of market, which brings about loss of jobs. Management must be judged not only by the quarterly dividend, but by innovative plans to stay in business, protect investment, ensure future dividends, and provide more jobs through improved product and service. In simple, direct language, he explains the principles of management transformation and how to apply them.

Out of the Crisis

The purpose of this Position Stand is to provide guidance to professionals who counsel and prescribe individualized exercise to apparently healthy adults of all ages. These recommendations also may apply to adults with certain chronic diseases or disabilities, when appropriately evaluated and advised by a health professional. This document supersedes the 1998 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Position Stand, "The Recommended Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness, and Flexibility in Healthy Adults." The scientific evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of exercise is indisputable, and the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks in most adults. A program of regular exercise that includes cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility, and neuromotor exercise training beyond activities of daily living to improve and maintain physical fitness and health is essential for most adults. The ACSM recommends that most adults engage in moderate-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise training for ≥30 min·d on ≥5 d·wk for a total of ≥150 min·wk, vigorous-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise training for ≥20 min·d on ≥3 d·wk (≥75 min·wk), or a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise to achieve a total energy expenditure of ≥500-1000 MET·min·wk. On 2-3 d·wk, adults should also perform resistance exercises for each of the major muscle groups, and neuromotor exercise involving balance, agility, and coordination. Crucial to maintaining joint range of movement, completing a series of flexibility exercises for each the major muscle-tendon groups (a total of 60 s per exercise) on ≥2 d·wk is recommended. The exercise program should be modified according to an individual's habitual physical activity, physical function, health status, exercise responses, and stated goals. Adults who are unable or unwilling to meet the exercise targets outlined here still can benefit from engaging in amounts of exercise less than recommended. In addition to exercising regularly, there are health benefits in concurrently reducing total time engaged in sedentary pursuits and also by interspersing frequent, short bouts of standing and physical activity between periods of sedentary activity, even in physically active adults. Behaviorally based exercise interventions, the use of behavior change strategies, supervision by an experienced fitness instructor, and exercise that is pleasant and enjoyable can improve adoption and adherence to prescribed exercise programs. Educating adults about and screening for signs and symptoms of CHD and gradual progression of exercise intensity and volume may reduce the risks of exercise. Consultations with a medical professional and diagnostic exercise testing for CHD are useful when clinically indicated but are not recommended for universal screening to enhance the safety of exercise.

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Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults: Guidance for Prescribing Exercise

Doing Qualitative Research

National Institute of Standards and Technology における超伝導研究及び生活

* Starting from Need* Evolution of the Toyota Production System* Further Development* Genealogy of the Toyota Production System* The True Intention of the Ford System* Surviving the Low-Growth Period

Toyota production system : beyond large-scale production

Purpose – Both lean and six sigma are key business process strategies which are employed by companies to enhance their manufacturing performance. However, whilst there is significant research information available on implementing these systems in a sequential manner, there is little information available relating to the integration of these approaches to provide a single and highly effective strategy for change in companies. The purpose of this paper is to develop and implement an integrated lean six sigma (LSS) model for manufacturing industry.Design/methodology/approach – Through the development of a case study approach, the paper chronicles the design, development and implementation of an integrated LSS model. The work in this paper builds upon the SME six sigma model that has been successfully implemented in a number of SMEs. The model is subsequently evaluated for its effectiveness in the subject company.Findings – This paper proposes an integrated approach to lean and six sigma model. Its developmen...

Applying lean six sigma in a small engineering company – a model for change

Introduction: An important mechanism by which physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease is through regulating plasma lipids We investigated whether low-intensity exercise modulates lipid metabolism and the transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [gamma] (PPAR[gamma]) and liver X receptor [alpha] (LXR[alpha]) responsible for controlling reverse cholesterol transport (RCT)

Methods: Thirty-four sedentary adults, mean age 456 +/- 111 yr, participated in an 8-wk low-intensity exercise program consisting of walking 10,000 steps, three times a week Subjects were randomly allocated to either an exercise group or a sedentary control group, and serum lipid or lipoprotein concentrations were determined

Results: Compared with controls, there was a significant decrease in total cholesterol (preexercise, 573 +/- 139 mmol[middle dot]L-1; postexercise, 532 +/- 128 mmol[middle dot]L-1) and a significant increase in HDL (preexercise, 146 +/- 047 mmol[middle dot]L-1; postexercise, 156 +/- 050 mmol[middle dot]L-1) after the exercise program There was a significant increase in serum oxidized LDL (oxLDL) concentrations in the exercise group before and after exercise (0 wk, 554 +/- 107 ng[middle dot]mL-1; 4 wk, 698 +/- 134 ng[middle dot]mL-1; 8 wk, 588 +/- 145 ng[middle dot]mL-1) A significant increase in leukocyte mRNA expression for PPAR[gamma] (4 wk, 18 +/- 09-fold; 8 wk, 43 +/- 19-fold) was observed, which was reinforced by increased PPAR[gamma] DNA-binding activity postexercise (preexercise, 022 +/- 009 OD units; postexercise, 113 +/- 029 OD units) A significant increase in gene expression was observed for the oxLDL scavenger receptor CD36 (4 wk, 38 +/- 06-fold; 8 wk, 27 +/- 05-fold) and LXR[alpha] (8 wk, 35 +/- 08-fold) Two LXR[alpha]-regulated genes involved in RCT, namely, ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and GI (ABCA1 and ABCG1, respectively), were significantly up-regulated postexercise (8 wk: ABCA1, 346 +/- 056-fold; ABCG1, 306 +/- 047-fold)

Conclusion: We propose that the net effect of these changes may be to increase oxLDL uptake, to stimulate RCT, and thus to promote clearance of proatherogenic lipids from the vasculature, ultimately contributing to the cardiovascular benefits of low-intensity aerobic exercise

Low-intensity exercise exerts beneficial effects on plasma lipids via PPARgamma.

Purpose – The effective implementation of the six sigma strategy within UK manufacturing industries, in particular SMEs, can be considered to be poor. SMEs cite high costs and complexity of implementation as being the major limiting factors as to its widespread use. This paper aims to describe the application of six sigma in an SME and to show how the company applied a cost-effective six sigma methodology to eradicate a critical to quality (CTQ) issue. The paper seeks to conclude by developing a strategic framework for the widespread use of six sigma in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper applies the six sigma strategy in an SME in order to eradicate a major CTQ issue. It identifies the approach employed, the tools and techniques used and shows the savings that were made through the structured application of the DMAIC procedure, which is at the heart of the six sigma approach.

Findings – Through the correct application of experimental design approaches, this paper identifies the optimum parameter settings that enabled the company to eradicate the CTQ issue and achieve significant improvements in quality and cost from a modest financial outlay.

Research limitations/implications – The design and implementation of an SME-specific six sigma strategy and its application to a real engineering problem will enable companies to apply the techniques and to attain improvements in terms of cost and quality.

Originality/value – The application of the six sigma strategy and the resulting conclusions as to its effectiveness for industry are the real value of this paper. This paper will be valuable for quality professionals, design engineers and manufacturing specialists in a wide range of industries.

Developing an SME based six sigma strategy

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has established itself as one of the key business process improvement strategies available to companies today. With roots based in the single strategies of Lean and Six Sigma, LSS offers a dual strategy towards systematically reducing waste and increasing value whilst resolving Critical to Quality (CTQ) issues that affect consistency and repeatability in a product and process. However, the predominating LSS approach is to employ the DMAIC cycle as the key driver in the implementation process. The authors argue that this reduces the effectiveness of LSS since a systematic lean thinking does not take place through this approach. This paper proposes a new Strategic Lean Six Sigma Framework (SLSSF) that attempts to create a more balanced and integrated approach between the Lean and Six Sigma elements and one that is capable of achieving greater efficiency of production whilst also ensuring variation reduction and CTQ issues are eradicated from the production process. The case stud...

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Andrew Thomas

Papers

Applying lean six sigma in a small engineering company – a model for change

Low-intensity exercise exerts beneficial effects on plasma lipids via PPARgamma.

Developing an SME based six sigma strategy

Implementing Lean Six Sigma to overcome the production challenges in an aerospace company

Low-intensity exercise enhances expression of markers of alternative activation in circulating leukocytes: roles of PPARγ and Th2 cytokines.