(Purdue University MEP: Indiana) -- Purdue University’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center will offer Six Sigma training programs around the state beginning in late January. MEP, a part of Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program, also offers Six Sigma on-site training, implementation, and consulting to individual businesses.

Six Sigma is a customer-focused, waste- and variation-reduction program. It combines a detailed road map with powerful statistical tools to attack and resolve most critical business issues. Successful Six Sigma projects produce measurable results and help increase a company’s success in process optimization and continuous improvement.

With Six Sigma training, employees learn to make decisions based on data. They are trained to look at the business from a customer’s perspective, and the training can lead to a culture change in how employees approach their jobs.

“It’s one thing to talk about it, but we are seeing real results from this partnership with Purdue TAP/MEP,” says Wendell Aldrich, plant manager for Oji Intertech Inc. of North Manchester, Indiana, which serves the automotive, transportation, and industrial packaging industries.

“Productivity has risen more than 20 percent, and we have seen significant cost savings in our molding, extrusion coating, and warehouse units,” adds Aldrich. “The Purdue technical assistance program (TAP) and MEP staff were professional and provided the technical leadership necessary for Oji to implement lean and Six Sigma programs and maintain an edge over our competitors. Oji historically has promoted a culture that encourages our employees to better themselves, and all 85 Oji employees are benefiting from this collaboration with Purdue.”

The MEP provides technical skills-development and implementation services to manufacturers that want to increase productivity and profitability, enhance customer satisfaction, and advance workforce skills. In addition to Six Sigma, areas of expertise include advanced manufacturing processes, lean implementation, quality management systems, green enterprise development, and energy efficiency.

Six Sigma workshops are planned throughout Indiana this winter and spring in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, New Albany, and Evansville. Details about the workshops can be found at www.mep.purdue.edu/events.

For more information on MEP’s Six Sigma training, e-mail tapmep@purdue.edu.