Norma Simons, Master Black Belt
Norma's Publications and Presentations
Norma S. Simons, the president and co-founder of Simons-White & Associates, is a widely published author and popular speaker on the urgent topic of improving business processes and performance through quality initiatives. You’ll get some of Norma’s latest perspectives on performance improvement here:
Speaking Engagements
- Aligning Quality with Business Results
This presentation offers approaches for meeting today’s major market challenges, including: the shift in leadership within the automotive industry, global outsourcing, emerging markets (China, India, Brazil, Russia, etc.), decline in manufacturing jobs, and industry consolidation. Download PDF (636 KB)
- A Cost-Effective Way to Develop a Quality Management System
This presentation raises the questions: What is a QMS? Why invest in a QMS? How can you ensure that your QMS has value? In answer, the presentation discusses: linking the QMS to your Business Management System, establishing a business scorecard, and using the process approach. Download PDF (1.4 MB)
- Keys to Developing an Effective Business Scorecard
This presentation begins by identifying the elements of a successful business, then details the guidelines for developing business measures, establishing causal models, and developing the measurement plan. Download PDF (2.5 MB)
- Preparing for the Global Economic Shift
This presentation summarizes the market challenges and major trends driving the global economic shift, and tells the impact on the Quality professional. A course of action for Quality professionals is prescribed. Download PDF (812 KB)
Educational Seminars
- Quality from the Inside Out
This seminar goes beyond quality as it relates to the overall organization to explore quality issues at the individual level. The theme: “What gets measured gets done.” Students learn how to answer these questions: “Am I efficient?” “Am I effective?” “How can I reduce waste?” “Am I using the right measurements to evaluate my performance?” Download PDF (1.2 MB)
- Survival in a Price-Competitive Environment
This seminar helps organizations discover how to create added value that raises their business offerings far above the level of price-driven commodities. Topics covered include: the business scorecard, the Quality Management System (QMS), the Six Sigma initiative, and perhaps most importantly, “Where do we go from here?” Download PDF (2.4 MB)
White Papers
- Implementing a Business Operating System (BOS): A Systems Approach for Achieving Bottom-Line Results
Articles
- ISO 9001:2000 and Design for Six Sigma: Do Your QMS Design Procedures Aim for Defect-Free Product? (PDF, 372 KB)
(Norma S. Simons, The Informed Outlook, October 2001)
- Supplier Development and the Value Proposition: From QMS Standardization to Improving Supply Chain Output (PDF, 340 KB)
(Norma S. Simons, The Informed Outlook, July 2001)
