here

Just when you thought the console war was nearing the end it seems that all the tricks are being pulled out of the hat. Eight weeks ago it seemed pretty simple to choose which console you needed. If you were a parent with several kids, a recreational gamer with a lot of friends, or just a Nintendo fanboy it was pretty clear that the super popular Wii was your choice. Like online play, an endless amount of games to choose from, and great integration of Netflix and Media Center for your home entertainment? Then the Xbox 360 was your obvious choice. A single adult gamer with large amounts of money to spend on a console and blu-ray movies, then you might enjoy the PS3 the most.

Then Sony announced that they were not only dropping the price on their console but dropping it on a brand new version. In response Xbox dropped the Pro and Elite prices (discontinuing the Pro). Finally Wii announced its own price drop starting this week and just like that everything is up in the air again.

But choosing one of these consoles requires more than just looking at the new consumer appeasing price drops. With your purchase you're investing in the console's future and what it will have to offer you. With that mindset, the best console could very well be the last place PS3 that was originally thought to be a bad investment for Sony. Along with the price drop and comes a more efficient console. From this you can expect more games (developers love the new price drop because it means more sales), better looking games with the only console with games in true 1080 HD, and a possibly faster processor that will make games run faster without as many hiccups. Also there is the promising motion controller that should be due sometime next spring. Should I mention that the online play is completely free as well? Always a nice bonus.

Xbox 360 is not giving up their share of the market so easy. They've already recently released huge games in Halo 3: ODST and Beatles Rockband, and there's more to come. They have the best online community around. You pay for it but it's so polished that it's completely worth it. Then there's Media Center and Netflix integration, that should be exclusive for quite some time. I'm not the hugest fan of the Media Center on this thing (the only experience I've had with it has been riddled with lag) but the Netflix is unlike anything any other system can offer right now. And at this year's E3 conference they announced Facebook, Twitter, and Last FM integration as well. Project Natal is worth noting here because it's a very cool idea, however there's no confirmed release date, and I'm not completely sold on how well it will actually work. I'm thinking it'll end up being more of a sales gimmick than anything to use reasonably right now.

Where I think you can pass on a system (unless the system is for your kids) is the Wii. Originally when this all started I was more excited about the Wii than the other two. However Nintendo has stuck to their guns about refusing to release content for a more mature gamer, and refusing to acknowledge the now crucial role of online play and an online community. The best thing they have on the horizon is a remade Super Mario Bros. which looks like great fun but cannot save a console that has absolutely no high definition support.

While I think Sony has the most to offer from here on, grabbing a 360 wouldn't hurt you at all. I'd still limit Wii purchases to families and people with several friends who come over with nothing to do.

from: Sokws Site
Devs Weblog

ALIGNING HUMAN CAPITAL TO LEAN SIX SIGMA

Learn the Latest Techniques and Tools in TPS & Lean Six Sigma (Human Lean Six Sigma) To Earn Your Certification!  Learn also why traditional Lean Six Sigma fail or lack sustainability

TPS International Inc., Miami Beach, Florida, offers a unique Green Belt and Black Belt Lean Six Sigma Certification training that facilitates corporations in reducing variation and eliminating waste in a sustainable way based on the TPS & Lean Six Sigma Methodology. We show you how to implement Lean Six Sigma and reduce process variation in everything you do. By reducing variation, your organization can significantly reduce cost, improve cycle times, eliminate customer complaints, and drastically improve your corporate bottom line. This powerful program will provide participants with the proven Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques, plus practical experience to catapult their organization toward “World Class” status.

TPS & Lean Six Sigma is Human Lean Six Sigma approach that helps organizations in any environment – service or manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, government, etc. – boost financial performance by assessing, managing, and improving the employee-customer encounter. It’s based on our new book TPS-Lean Six Sigma; Linking Human Capital to Lean Six Sigma. It entails a new blueprint for creating high performance companies.

Many companies around the world are adopting the Lean Six Sigma Methodology in an effort to increase quality, reduce cost and increase customer service. TPS International Inc., Miami Beach, Florida offers a TPS & Lean Six Sigma Certification training for Green Belt and Black Belt to educate participants on TPS & Lean Six Sigma Management, methodologies and tools.

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training includes a two weeks of classroom training and the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training includes a four weeks of classroom training. The first two weeks of the Black Belt course is the same as the Green Belt. This 2+2 format allows for Green Belts and Black Belts to attend this training together, thus improving internal synergy while providing greater organizational flexibility. Emphasis is on gaining knowledge in all aspects of product and process life cycles. The success of our program obviously rests, for the most part, on the quality of our instructors. Our Master Black Belt instructor, Mr. Asif Raza, and TPS & Lean Six Sigma guru, Dr. Hubert Rampersad, have experience implementing TPS and Lean Six Sigma in a variety of organizations and assist the students with their particular needs as they work their way through their first project during the training. Black Belt participants become certified through TPS International Inc. after completing the 4 week training program successfully and upon completion of their project. Green Belt participants become certified after completing the 2 week training program successfully. We provide the training and mentoring required for successful implementation of TPS & Lean Six Sigma in your organization.

This program will provide you with a top level, world-class education program that extends far beyond the classroom. You can expect a rigorous and demanding program as well as a powerful and challenging intellectual environment. It will be a life-changing experience!

Highlights of this Learning Experience:

-       Integration of Lean and Six Sigma Process Management Techniques and concepts using the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) methodology
-       Integration of Lean Six Sigma and Human Lean Six Sigma using the Total Performance Scorecard Methodology.
-       Hands-on training with Minitab Software for Black Belts
-       Strategic Process Improvement
-       Process Analysis and Management Tools
-       Understand Six Sigma Management
-       Develop the ability to solve a problem using the DMAIC methodology
-       Learn organizational and structuring skills using lean concepts
-       Illustrate the conditions for a 3-sigma process and a 6-sigma process and illustrate the improvement in percent output between its lower and upper specification limits
-       Discuss the costs and benefits of Six Sigma management and the roles and responsibilities of the individuals and bodies involved
-       Statistics for Effective Business Decisions, plus much more
 
Our focus is to create success for you personally, and for your organization. We guarantee you will be delighted with the results of this learning experience.

 Who Should Attend

• Anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of the Lean Six Sigma process
• Anyone who has been given the challenge to implement (Lean) Six Sigma
• Anyone working in an organization already deploying (Lean) Six Sigma
• Any employee of an organization participating in (Lean) Six Sigma teams
• Executives who wants  to decrease defects and cycle time, improve customer satisfaction, and generate business growth and improve profitability

Workshop Facilitators:
Dr. Hubert Rampersad, co-author of the book TPS-Lean Six Sigma; Linking Human Capital to Lean Six Sigma (Information Age Publishing Inc., Connecticut, 2007; SaraBooks, New Delhi, 2008) and Master Black Belt, Mr. Asif Raza.

 Rates:
- Green Belt Candidates: $5,500 per person  
- Black Belt Candidates: $ 7,500 per person  

What’s Included in the Price

The course price includes:

• breakfast, lunch, and refreshments each course day
• a student manual developed by experienced instructional designers
• a copy of the standard forms, templates, and worksheets for use back at the workplace
• certificates upon completion of course requirements

Training Dates for Lean Six Sigma Green Belts and Black Belts:

Call +1-786-284-8652, fax +1-714-464-4498 or email tpsi@comcast.net
 for 2010 training dates 

Location: Miami Beach Florida 

Enrollment:
Call +1-786-284-8652, fax +1-714-464-4498 or email tpsi@comcast.net

Call TPS International Inc. at +1-786-284-8652 for additional information on our Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt Certification Training.

Course Description

In this Green Belt and Black Belt training course, you will learn the skills and tools required to implement the Lean Six Sigma and the Human Lean Six Sigma philosophies within an organization. Through lecture and classroom exercises, you’ll work through example problems and complete assignments individually or in a group. Along with other extras, this course includes the following topics:

1. Deployment

• Lean Six Sigma and the Corporate Enterprise
• Leadership in Lean Six Sigma
• The Foundations of  Lean Six Sigma
• The Foundations of  TPS & Lean Six Sigma / Human Lean Six Sigma
• Overview of Business Process Management

2. The Define Phase

Participants will be taught tools to identify and validate their improvement project, illustrate their business processes, define customer requirements and prepare themselves to be an effective project member.

• Corporate Balanced Scorecard
• Define the Lean Six Sigma Opportunity
• Project Balanced Scorecard
• The Lean Six Sigma Project Charter and Plan
• Personal Balanced Scorecard
• Lean Six Sigma Team Leadership  and Choosing the Team
• Lean Six Sigma Team Dynamics and Performance
• The Lean Six Sigma Change Agent
• Lean Six Sigma Management and Planning Tools
• Lean Six Sigma and the Voice of the Customer
• Lean Six Sigma and Critical Customer Requirements
• Defining and Mapping the Lean Six Sigma Process
• Scoping the Lean Six Sigma Project  and
• SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Output, and Customers)
• Kano Analysis

3. The Measurement Phase

Participants will learn and practice employing tools to determine critical measures necessary to satisfy customer requirements and develop a measurement plan to document process performance. They will also learn the basics of variation and measure process sigma.

• Process Analysis and Documentation
• Input, Process, and Output Measurement
• Probability and Statistics
• Calculating Six Sigma
• Collecting and Summarizing Data
• Properties and Applications of Probability Distributions
• Measurement Systems
• Analyzing Process Capability
• Calculating Process Capability
• Simple Data Presentation

4. The Analyze Phase

Participants will learn how to analyze the performance data to further refine the opportunity for improvement. They will also use stratification and root cause analysis, and determine true sources of variation and customer dissatisfaction.

• Exploratory Data Analysis
• Hypothesis Testing
• Common Tests
• Variance, Contingency Tables, and Nonparametric Tests
• Pareto Analysis
• Determining Potential Root Causes
• Brainstorming Techniques
• Validating Root Causes
• Historical Data
• Problem Solving Techniques

5. The Improve Phase

Participants will learn how to generate creative solutions that eliminate the root cause of customer defects. They will be introduced to various methods of solution identification, prioritization, and implementation and learn how to gain approval for the solution and plan for impacts the changes will have on the organization.

• Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Design and Analysis
• Taguchi and Quality Improvement
• Experimenting for Process Improvement
• Change Management
• Solution Selection Techniques
• Criteria Selection and Solution Ranking
• Pilot Planning and Implementation Schemes

6. The Control Phase

Participants will learn how to execute against the plan by determining the approach to ensure achievement of the targeted results. They will discuss how to disseminate lessons learned, standardization opportunities, and develop a process monitoring and management plan to assure new process performance is sustained.

• Lean Six Sigma – Statistical Process Control
• Control Charts and the Pre-Control Process
• Lean Tools for Control
• Measurement System Re-analysis
• Implementing the Solutions
• Change Management Issues
• Rewards and recognition

7. The Lean Enterprise

• Lean Concepts
• Non-value added Steps and Tasks
• Lean Tools
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)\

8. Design for Six Sigma Black Belt

• Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
• Robust Design and Process
• Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
• Design for X (DFX)
• Special Design Tools

Hands-On Exercises

• Corporate Balanced Scorecard Exercise
• Project Definition and Project Balanced Scorecard Exercise
• Personal Balanced Scorecard Exercise
• Personal Coaching with the Personal Balanced Scorecard
• Central Limit Theorem Exercise
• Components of Variation Exercise
• Basic Calculations Exercise
• Variable MSA Destructive Testing Exercise
• Distributional Plots Exercise
• Minitab Distribution ID Function Exercises
• Minitab Basic Graphs Sample Problems
• Optimization Designs Exercise
• Response Optimization Exercise

This course follows the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) model and teaches the soft skills required to participate in projects effectively. The Green Belt training does not address the area of statistics in depth, as it is part of the Black Belt’s job to provide this training to their team.

Learn more about our  Yellow Belt TPS & Lean Six Sigma program by clicking on this link.

 CONTACT:
TPS International Inc.

P.O. Box 601564, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, USA

Phone: +1-786-284-8652, Fax: +1-714-464-4498

tpsi@comcast.net   www.Total-Performance-Scorecard.com  www.rampersad.wordpress.com

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On Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 the brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma will be host their annual Grundy Run.  They will start running from the Wadsworth Hall lobby through campus to the Sigma Tau Gamma house in order to raise money for the local BigBrother /Big Sister chapter.
Aside from collecting regular donations, the brothers will also conduct a ‘sponsorship’ program where individuals, student organizations, or businesses can sponsor a brother during the run.  It is $3 dollars for an individual, $5 dollars for a student organization, and $10 dollars for a business to sponsor a brother.
In addition to the Grundy Run, the brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma will also host a pancake breakfast Saturday Feb. 6, 2010 from 10am-2p.m. at St. Albert the Great University Parish  located at 411 MacInnes Drive, Houghton, MI 49931.
Tickets are $5 dollars for adults and $3 dollars for children under the age of 13.
The brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma will be selling tickets up to the day of the event at the door.  No price inflation will occur.

To purchase tickets in advance, view below the following dates, times, and location the tickets will be sold. Thursday, Jan. 28 from  3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. in  Wadsworth Hall; Friday, Jan. 29 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in  Fisher Hall; Monday, Feb. 1 from  10:00 am-2:00 p.m. in Fisher Hall; Tuesday, Feb. 2 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in  Fisher Hall.

For information about the events or Big Brothers/Big Sisters, contact Marc Starnes at mastarne@mtu.edu or the director of the local chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Maggie Munch, at bethechange.mm@gmail.com.