62 Comments

1. BobbyCat says:

   November 8, 2007 at 6:57 pm

   I have just begun to absorb the new term, “Six Sigma”. Never heard of it before.

   What amazes me, is the number of Six Sigma experts who have magically fallen out of the trees like commandos. They’re everywhere and tell us that its all bogus, a sham, they have experience, they have statistics, we can’t afford it, Chris Collins is Willie Sutton-esque. Why, we should march him straight to the pen.

   Holy cow, the ink is barely dry on the write-in ballots and all these friggin experts have it all figured out, like lightening.

   I wish some of these smart guys had run for office. Where were you when we needed ya?

   Maybe we should give County Exec elect the benefit of the….aww nevermind.
2. Jack R. says:

   November 8, 2007 at 7:32 pm

   no need to apologize bobbycat…being behind is nothing to be ashamed of…

   but seriously, any business process so childish as to name a person who is good at it a black-belt needs to be mocked. chris collins said he wanted a six-sigma black belt to be his county executive…how do you not laugh at that?!?
3. dtwarren says:

   November 8, 2007 at 9:23 pm

   Six Sigma has been in this area for years. Being a former employee of a GE Capital company I have had Six Sigma training (green belt going back to 2001). In this area we have/had a number of GE subsidiaries, holdings, etc. that utilize Six Sigma Combine that with a number of other conglomerates that have implemented Six Sigma and their respective holdings I am surprised that anyone in business has not heard about it.

   While I agree that it will take a considerable amount of resources to fully implement I believe it would be to our benefit to do so. Although to obtain its maximum benefits it should be completely implemented, I do not subscribe to the opinion of some that it must be implemented completely or not at all. Even if it is not fully implemented the County could benefit from from the application of some of its process improvement methodologies (SIPOC Charts, DMAIC review of processes, etc.).
4. Derek J. Punaro says:

   November 9, 2007 at 11:06 am

   It’s humorous how people will criticize Six Sigma, but many of them will applaud a system like CitiStat. Software doesn’t fix problems, it allows you to collect data. Six Sigma is a process you can use to analyze that data and implement changes.

   Everyone wants to hear plans for how a politician is going to fix the problems in government. Collins said he’ll use Six Sigma, which is a hell of a lot more concrete a plan than I’ve heard from anyone else.
5. BobbyCat says:

   November 9, 2007 at 11:06 am

   Look Warren, you’re being much too rational and making waay too much sense for this blog. If you’re looking for the common sense blog, its across the way. This blog is for screamers and loonies.
6. starbuck says:

   November 9, 2007 at 7:29 pm

   Yeah Warren’s comment seemed out of place somehow. Couldn’t quite figure out why, but Bobby nailed it. It’s rational, informative, and constructive the whole way through. It might’ve blended in if he’d just added a few words to attack somebody.

   Derek, one thing to keep in mind is he didn’t totally rule out the possibility of finding a BB to take the DCE job. I agree with your earlier point that there might be a BB somewhere who will want it. The resumes will start flowing in to him, so we’ll see pretty soon.

   As others pointed out, he never in the debate promised he’d find a BB. Just said he’d try, and in same breath mentioned other possible qualifications for the position – “TQM background”, etc. and clearly was describing a concept rather than guaranteeing one specific qualification as Bauerle wrongly claimed.
7. Greg says:

   November 10, 2007 at 12:34 pm

   Like most of these corporate buzz words I’m reminded of Dilbert
   So I wasn’t surprised to find a Dilbert cartoon specific about Six Sigma

   http://www.rokblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/dilbert.jpg
8. Greg says:

   November 10, 2007 at 12:59 pm

   Serious question, how does one get the different belts in six sigma? Memorize some test questions like a lot of the computer industry certifications? Have a proven track record of cost savings?

   With martial arts that use the belt systems you have to show you can actually do the various forms, kicks, punches, etc. So is the belt system in six sigma also performance based, or can anyone study and pass a written test?
9. Joe says:

   November 10, 2007 at 6:26 pm

   The minute someone says something critical of Collins, some of you jump on them and practically accuse them of being unpatriotic. People have plenty of reason to be suspicious of Collins. He is a totally unknown person. Based on what is out there, it is fair to conclude that he is a greedy businessman who pays his employees low wages, and keeps millions for himself. There is internet data showing that Collins’ businesses have poor credit ratings because he has liens on equipment, as well as present and future accounts receivables. If he runs the County like that, we are going to have a big mess because he obviously likes to borrow. There is also internet information leading to the conclusion that Collins’ “success” in business corresponds with gov’t contracts that in turn correspond with political contributions. Think Chris Alf. There is also talk that Collins’ transition team will include Jimmy Griffin and Nancy Naples. That is scarry. As for Six Sigma, that really does sound like a fad, and Collins has never really explained it at all. In fact, he has never really explained anything about what his term of office will look like. In essence, he has told us the following: he is a uniter, not a divider; he is a successful businessman; his opponent was a career politician, who ought to be ashamed of himself; and that he’ll “run it like a business.” We know nothing, but he was elected. Based on what we know, it seems really bleak. I really hope he proves me wrong!!