Simons-White & Associates

Simons-White & Associates adds E-Consulting

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:42:27 -0400

The E-Consulting components include: Information Gathering You will be required to use an on-line, self-evaluation tool to examine your current performance management system and submit it for evaluation Customized Webinar Based on the results from the assessment, we will design a customized webinar to address the issues that are identified; as well as, provide a suggested implementation plan that will enable you to make the necessary changes Implementation One-hour weekly webinars can be arranged that would provide you with coaching in specific areas and would require you to complete assignments in preparation for next session Reporting A monthly report will be submitted to your management or sponsor on the steps that have been implemented and changes required going forward On-site Visits (Optional) The on-sites are scheduled (only as needed) for more extensive assistance. Benefits and Features of E-Consulting: Provides consulting and coaching from a qualified team of consultants Offers customized assistance based on your specific needs Provides assistance at a reduced cost (support is done on-line and no travel expenses are incurred) Offers companies/groups regular support from our consultants for an hour each week. This enables us to provide step-by-step guidance as the necessary changes are made to your system Promotes an efficient use of time and resources. Teams are only involved for a short time each week, allowing them to continue to work and receive assistance to implement critical improvements.

Simons-White & Associates Receives Women's Business Enterprise Council Certification

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:50:16 -0500

Ann Arbor, MI Simons-White & Associates, Inc., a business specializing in, performance improvement training and consulting firm, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Michigan Women’s Business Council, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Why Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:09:53 -0400

Survival in today’s environment requires organizations to deliver a focused response to heightened customer expectations and demand for superior overall product and service performance. Providing defect free products and services therefore is not only preferred but assumed by the customer

Six Sigma: An Effective Tool for Health care

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:38:40 -0400

The Institute of Medicine defines quality in health care as “ ..the extent to which services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge” (Institute Of Medicine 1990). This concept is widely accepted and it has seen the health care industry use a large variety of quality initiatives and metrics to track and respond to issues that impact patient care. Most of these initiatives have provided incremental improvement over the last several years. However the Institute of Medicine reports that medical errors may cause 98,000 deaths annually which results in the financial toll of $17 to $29 billion per year. With these and other challenges facing the industry there is a need for a more revolutionary approach to improving the quality of patient care. Six Sigma is a business model that has demonstrated in several industries that when properly used has enabled companies to achieve considerable reduction in defects and waste resulting in impact to the bottom-line.

The Pain of Statistics

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:34:09 -0400

“Why do we have to know and use statistics? I was never good at mathematics in school. I am not smart enough to understand”. These are the comments I hear very often whenever I teach our consult on a project that has anything to do with problem solving. What is Statistics? Quite simply the ability to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. What does this mean? - Every time we are faced with data we need to understand the context of the data before an intelligent decision is made. Without this understanding then we are guessing. I often meet with engineers, managers and production personnel who do not understand the importance of statistics. This means that in many cases their ability to problem solving and understand logic and come to a root cause is often flawed.

The Misuse of Measurements

Thu, 9 Aug 2007 10:42:58 -0400

“When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers, you know something about it but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind”. This famous quote by Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) and others used such as “You cannot manage what you cannot measure” have made people realize that there is a need to use measurements. This week I came across some examples of the use of measurement that was hilarious if it was not so sad.

Simons-White What's New Norma Simons does Actuate Webcast: "Effective Metrics: Taking Your Performance Management Initiative to the Next Level"

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:08:41 -0400

An effective Performance Management System is the catalyst to the success and achievement of desired results in any organization. If it is hardwired to strategy and if properly aligned, it will ensure organizational efficiency and can facilitate the quick response to the changing needs of the external environment. An effective Performance Management system enables employees to gain an understanding of how the organization’s goals are achieved, and how they can grow, develop and add value.

Performance Management Assessment/Evaluation

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:16:54 -0400

Performance Management is the practice of actively using data to enhance the overall performance of any group or organization. Companies that have embraced the basic concepts of performance management or may wish to begin a journey of establishing a totally integrated system may begin with an evaluation of the current state.

Performance Management: Customized Facilitation

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:18:49 -0400

Customized Facilitation: Performance Management moves away from considering only the performance of employees to a focus on the total organization, the metrics used to evaluate results, the review process, the actions taken to respond to poor performance and the alignment of all activities. Companies, who may have areas where they have experienced difficulties implementing a performance management system, may need a customized facilitation. This enables the development of a hands-on structure that will fit with the rest of the organization in a short period of time.

Performance Management: Full-Scaled Implementation

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:20:53 -0400

Full-Scaled Implementation: Performance Management is focused on the organization as a whole and involves departments, processes, products and services, projects and teams working together to accomplish desired results. A full-scaled implementation is designed for organizations that have not yet started a formal program of performance management or who may have only portions of the system working.

Simons-White Catalog

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Books and courseware for sale form Simons-White & Associates, Inc. We hope you find the following resources valuable. We also specialize in customized training programs that drive corporate strategy for optimized learning results. In addition, all the course material for sale here can be delivered on site, by one of our highly experienced trainers or formatted for web-based delivery.

Simons Says Blog

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Choosing Business Solutions: “Got Mine” Versus “Grow Ours” by Lisa Barley A question that seems to emerge from the “grow ours” perspective is: How can we create an organization where employees experience being valued and that exchange of value allows for exponential returns for the company, the employee’s family, the community, and the world?

Simons-White What's New Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training Program

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Ohio State University’s Alber Enterprise Center in partnership with Simons-White & Associates offers Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Program Ann Arbor, MI February 15, 2007- The Ohio State University’s Alber Enterprise Center in partnership with Simons-White & Associates, a performance improvement firm, now offering a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program.

Simons-White News Room

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:54:07 -0400

DELTA STAFFING FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH SIMONS-WHITE & ASSOCIATES April 13, 2007-- Delta Staffing, a full service staffing and recruiting provider headquartered in Clarkston, Mich., has announced a new partnership with Simons-White & Associates, Inc., a training and consulting firm based in Ann Arbor. This business venture will allow Delta Staffing and Simons-White to provide complementary services to their respective clients and other companies seeking both training and recruitment services from a single source.