TOPIC: "How To Think About Data"

In grade school and in high school you learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Throw in a little algebra and trigonometry, perhaps some geometry and calculus ... then it's off to college you go. Universities reinforce what you have already learned about mathematics, but not how to think about data. You are taught formulas, theories, postulates, axioms, but not how to think thoroughly about data ....then it's off to graduate school you go. Still, we are not taught how to understand data, you will begin to understand the remedy during this presentation.

For the quality professional data is the voice of the process. This voice is used to distinguish between satisfactory and not satisfactory products and services. It is frequently used to adjust processes and make predictions on what is likely to occur. Whether it is used for predictive modeling, controlling processes or inspection, data is the difference between opinion and empirical evidence.

Data shows what the process has been doing, exactly what it is doing, and gives us the ability to predict what it is likely to do.

Many statistical models have been assembled to assist in making sense of data. Many of these have been misused and abused and poorly understood by the quality community. During this presentation you will examine some of the pitfalls that are common when seeking proper knowledge from data.

One of the most recurring issues is separating signals from noise. Way too many processes are tampered with by reacting to non-signals. This generates greater variation and a degrading of the process capability.

We'll begin to demystify data analysis and turn chaos into actionable knowledge!

SPEAKER: Robert Skillman

Kent State lead Lean Six Sigma Green, Black and Master Black Belt training and certification facilitator, Robert Skillman, is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Lean Master Sensei, who has been training and certifying Black Belts in Six Sigma and Lean methods since 1997.

Skillman received his Lean Master certification from the Shingijutsu Limited Group, the founders of the Toyota Production System. Skillman is an engineer with 35 years of experience. He is also currently a Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor and RAB Certified.

His background includes extensive experience in automotive, aerospace, nuclear and service industries. Skillman has held quality, Master Black Belt and metallurgical engineering, as well as senior management director and vice president-level positions with organizations such as TRW, RB&W, Cleveland Container and SPS Technologies.

Skillman facilitates Kent State’s public offerings of the Lean Six Sigma Certifications, as well as many of the contracted Lean Six Sigma training and certifications.