Vrinda Pai

Is Zero defect required for a given process could be assessed first. If yes, then it is a journey to achieve it. It would involve some cost, effort, time, expertise etc.. Is the zero defect worth all this is the question. Eg: Six sigma levels are not required for all the processes. Some processes might be ok with a 3 sigma or even lower levels depending on the criticality of the output. If not, then it might be good to figure out what level of defect is acceptable and work towards it..

Checksheets in their original form might not hold good anymore - as you rightly mentioned, there are multiple tools and systems to do this activity. however, it is important for a quality leader to understand the importance of the same and the concept. the idea is to collect data and identify the place where people need to pay attention - it could be positive (What part of the website do people like / visit the most) or negative (what is the color that people seem to hate the most). As a quality leader, it is important to understand the current technology and use the same to capture the data relevant to the activity. It is also important to know why the data is being captured and what we intend to do with the data. Without this, capturing anything (manually or systemically) would not help. Understanding the underlying concept is key. An example - In recruitment - we could get the system to capture the data of age group vs towns who have applied for jobs with us - this would help us identify the right messaging for the particular town to ensure that we get the right hires

To start with, it has been proven that pull system works well in many scenarios. It also leads to savings, less inventory etc.. However, it cannot be implemented everywhere. In todays world the customer expects to be served immediately - the one who is able to satisfy the demand at that moment is the one who gets the business and in turn the money. Take the case of a normal person who needs some medicine. Can the manufacturer then work on getting one set of pills only for this customer made and shipped - is this feasible? or doable? currently, we have seen an outbreak of influenza / dengue etc - in such cases - the demand exists and is known - to a large extent can be forecasted to some degree of accuracy and the end product is needed at a particular point in time. It would not help if the end user has to wait for the product to be manufactured and delivered. Take the case of vegetables of fruits that are being produced - here too, the demand is to some extent forecastable to some degree of accuracy and have a longer lead time - they cannot be produced in the pull methodology. Take another case of diamonds - these are generally not produced for one person at a time - they are mined, cut and kept ready in the hope of finding a buyer Overall, the thought is that where the demand for the product is to some extent forecastable, where the lead time is high and the demand needs to be fulfilled immediately, pull system may not work. The supporting ecosystem (eg: the supermarket which supplies the vegetables and fruits / the drugstore which sells the drug etc) may use the pull system, but the product will be manufactured / grown and kept ready for sale even before the customer has demanded it..