1. Using the LEAN principles streamline the prep work. Plan ahead and cut out unnecessary steps (when it doesn’t compromise quality)

2. Map out your plan before starting to cook.

3. If a recipe doesn’t come out as planned analyze the steps to get to the root cause of the problem.

4. Reduce waste by grouping meals with similar ingrediants within same week so you can save on money and prep time.

5. Understand what your customer wants (their expectations) and make meals to meet those expectations.

Although meals are subjective and I find cooking to be creative. You can apply some basic principles to make it easier to make family meals and bring your family back around the dinner table.

You first need to know that Six Sigma is a proven approach for improving bottom line results for companies in a wide array of industries and moves beyond TQM and other Quality programs. Six Sigma uses data to define, analyze and improve operational performance by eliminating and preventing “defects” in products and related processes. Once the improvement is made, ongoing “control” or preventive measures are instituted to change the culture of the process. Additionally, Six Sigma has a well defined infrastructure that supports the team and implantation. Six Sigma emphasizes the role of the customer, employee and stock holders to achieve top quality and improve the bottom line results. Simply put, Six Sigma reduces costs and increases profits by using proven methods to improve efficiency.

With this goal in mind, any organization interested in business success can utilize specific Six Sigma training and consulting to learn the skills necessary to achieve maximum results. Reducing costs and increasing profits is exactly what companies are looking for and why wouldn’t they? It makes sense. Six Sigma is used by both small and large companies. You may already know that Motorola, Honeywell International, Ford and General Electric, have adopted Six Sigma methodologies and continue to practice it today with great success. Even the government agencies such as cities and the DOD are actively seeing significant results with Six Sigma.

Who will benefit from Six Sigma? Engineers, IT and Quality Project Manager and Business Managers just to name a few. If you experience scrambling to meet deadlines, high customer complaints and low employee morale, Six Sigma may help. Six Sigma methodologies helps companies reduce waste, shorten the cycle time, and reduce errors in processes, increase quality and profitability and all you have to do is learn the methodology. Learn the Six Sigma way of doing things and you will discover the tools and resources to spearhead successful projects and generally improve the way your company operates. Plus training and certification in Six Sigma can open up opportunities and help gain the necessary competitive edge to improve efficiency in the workplace and increase profits.

ISSSC (www.isssc3.com) in the Cincinnati area can help you obtain Six Sigma knowledge and certification. The most popular classes are the Applied Six Sigma courses that range from 3-day to 5-Days and focus on the tools a professional requires for immediate implementation of their projects.

Ron Hakes is a certified Black Belt with over 15 years experience in consulting businesses and CEO of Maxx Holdings, LLC, (www.maxx-holdings.com) an Internet based company.