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Universal Polymer to Make the Most of the Six Sigma Methodology

Six Sigma is the information driven methodology through which business stakeholders and employees can work together to optimize all possible processes and activities related to manufacturing. It works by using quick and accurate identification of inefficiencies, and by improvement of domains that are not utilizing raw materials and resources to the best of their capabilities.  Carefully developed by great thinkers like Bill Smith, Mikel Harry, Shingo and Taguchi it is a popular manufacturing concept.

The Core Concept of Six Sigma:

The basic goal of Six Sigma is to ensure cooperation and collaboration between the pillars of a business. Employees are trained in the art of using known statistical tools to eliminate waste and redundancy. The leaders ensure that these employees (who hold belts) have access to the data they need to reach their conclusions. The subject matter experts stand by to provide the employees with context assistance to help them understand the results of applying Six Sigma’s statistical framework to the company’s data.

The Advantages of Using Six Sigma:

1. The first thing that Six Sigma does is it identifies the activities which directly impact production and the indirect processes that can be optimized later. Thus employees and workers find themselves focusing on tasks that automatically contribute to increased output of the manufacturing unit and improved productivity.
2. Six Sigma is the basis of lean manufacturing. It uncovers resources – both people and raw material which can be diverted from indirect processes and allocated to high priority tasks that have a positive impact on the bottom-line of the company. Through Six Sigma’s ability to spot trends and patterns and manage inventory, instances of over ordering, over production and just in time orders are reduced.
3. Six Sigma has two frameworks – The Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control which takes existing processes to ‘entitlement’ or perfection and Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify which ensures that processes that have been optimized are executed without glitches. This two pronged approach increases both market share and ultimate profitability.

Universal Polymer is all set to adopt the Six Sigma methodology in April. With its new task force of yellow belt Six Sigma experts it will follow international players like GE, DuPont, Bank of America and LG on the path of process and quality control to provide better service and pricing to its loyal clients.  For more information on our capabilities and Six Sigma process please contact us here.

Earth Day

In 1970 an event was first held to honor the Earth and draw attention and support for environmental protection.  This event is known today as Earth Day, and is celebrated around the world on April 22^nd.  With over 190 countries participating and hosting their own events, it is one of the largest civic observances in the world.  In 2016 the global theme for Earth Day is “Trees For The Earth”  and the goal is over the next five years to plant 7.8 billion trees which will absorb excess and harmful carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and help to produce more oxygen.

This year on Earth Day over 150 world leaders are at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to sign the Paris Agreement.  The Paris Agreement is an arrangement between the world leaders to minimize greenhouse gases emissions.  The goal of the agreement is to reduce global warming and air pollution, and to improve the global climate.  The governments signing this agreement agree to reducing emissions, being transparent with the public on how they are doing to meet pollution reduction targets, and to support the efforts to reduce emissions in developing countries.  This is the first ever universally adopted, legally binding global climate deal, and is a big step forward in helping to protect the environment.

At Universal Polymer & Rubber we understand the importance of doing our part to help the environment.  One way we do that is to recycle our cured and excess rubber.  That rubber is ground up and used in other applications including asphalt and playgrounds to limit the harmful environmental effects of rubber.  Another way we try to help the environment is by using Six Sigma techniques to cut back on the excess waste we produce.  Using Six Sigma helps us improve the quality of our manufacturing process by minimizing the variability of our business and manufacturing processes.

As a manufacturer of rubber molded parts, rubber extruded parts and plastic extruded parts we recognize how important it is to limit pollution and waste that could harm the environment.  For more information on our capabilities and our policies to help the environment contact us here.