Archive for May, 2008
05.27.08
Posted in Sports Center at 3:56 pm by admin
The Mariners had 4 strong years before collapsing over the past 2. Their ballpark is not very hitter friendly and top hitters do not want to play there. Just ask Adrian Beltre how he feels to be a Mariner after having an MVP caliber season with the Dodgers the year before.
The Mariners were a combined 132-192 (-49 units) the past 2 seasons. Las Vegas has not properly adjusted the odds for this team by overvaluing them an average of 15 points per game.
These Mariners were a pretty bad team in the second game of a series if they lost their first game. Betting against them in that spot was 20-6 (+12 units) in 2005. When betting baseball, momentum is very important and losing the first game of a series can demoralize some teams. The Mariners were just so bad the past 2 years, everything should have demoralized them.
The Mariners hit lefties better than righties in 2005. I am sure a lot of that has to do with left handed hitting Ichiro Suzuki at the top of their lineup.
Since Ichiro is a very lethal instigator at the top of their lineup, I like betting against these Mariners when I see them going up against righties. Look for those spots when handicapping the 2006 season.
We are the experts at Online Baseball Betting and we recommend you to check out our free picks.
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Posted in Better Relationships at 4:35 am by admin
Sure you want your guests to enjoy themselves at your wedding
reception, but if you don’t want to break the bank or the law here’s what
you will need to know, including how to calculate how much to buy.
Unquestionably, one of the hottest topics that must be dealt with when
planning a wedding reception is whether to have an open bar or a cash
bar. Why does this particular topic tend to be so controversial?
Well, for one thing, some people will tell you that it would be rude to
invite guests to your reception, then ask them to pay for their own drinks.
On the other hand, an open barat which your guests drink for free,
perhaps into the wee hours of the morning if they last that longcould
leave you with a bill that will forever remain etched in your memory.
Both points of view are well taken. It’s true that one wouldn’t ordinarily
invite people to dinner or a party with the expectation that they will pay
for what you serve. But it is equally true that people tend to be overly
indulgent, not to mention downright wasteful, with alcohol they aren’t
paying for. They will take a sip or two, set their glass down and begin
talking, then walk away. Later, instead of returning for their glass, they
will head for the bar to order yet another drink. So, what’s the answer?
Options, Anyone
There really isn’t a correct answer, but there are options. You could:
*Serve free champagne punch. Since it is relatively light in terms of
alcohol content, your guests aren’t as likely to become obnoxious, even
if they’ve had more than their fair share.
*Have an open bar for the first hour or two. This approach will prevent
you from feeling, and looking, like a cheapskate but will allow you to
keep your bank account in the black.
*Have each table set to include the allocated bottles of wine or
champagne. For example, a table seating six to eight people might be
decked with two bottles of wine or champagne. Since you can expect
each bottle to hold between 4 and six glassfuls, everyone will have one
to two glasses for dinner and the toast. (Obviously, you will want to have
the toast as early as possible to avoid an embarrassing situation in
which guests will be forced to hold up empty glasses.)
*Use the open-and-shut-case approach. This requires purchasing beer
kegs or cases of good-quality beer, plus several cases of good-quality
wine. Since you have purchased the supply in advance, you will
determine just how much is being spent on drinks.
For guests who insist upon drinking until the cows come home or would
like something stronger, make a cash bar available.
*Have waiters and waitresses serve drinks from a tray. This approach is
not only stylish, it is also quite cost effective because you remain in
control of how much is consumed.
Choose a few different drinks to be served, including beer and wine.
Then have the staff circulate throughout the reception area at
pre-scheduled intervals. Perhaps the waiters and waitresses might offer
drinks when the reception starts, then just before or during dinner, then a
few times later in the evening but not throughout the night. With tray
service, you guest will not pay for their drinks, but this will still be a lot
cheaper than having an open bar.
At-home Receptions
If you are planning to have your reception in a home or backyard and
you will not be using a caterer, here is what you will need to know.
In this situation, a cash bar is simply not one of the available choices. It
is against the law to sell alcohol without a liquor license. (You wouldn’t
want to spend your honeymoon in the pokey.)
If the home is not equipped with one, you will need a rented bar (or a
sturdy table or two, dressed to the floor or ground with linen). Plan to
stock the bar or table(s) with beer, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, cordials
(liqueur), brandy, gin, wine, sparkling juice, and possibly punch.
Offering a sparkling white wine is also nice. If you are planning to serve
champagne (Although only a sparkling white wine made in the
Champagne region of France can be truly called champagne, people
often refer to any bubbly by that name.), expect to pay more. A decent
bottle (You will only disappoint the true connoisseur, and they are a
dying breed.) will cost between $10 and $12 and will serve seven to
eight glasses. Even at these prices per bottle, you may want to reserve it
for the toast.
Borrow or shop for a bartender’s guide (Mr. Boston Deluxe Official
Bartender’s Guide, for example). For your mixologist, you might also
stock such things as lemons, limes, celery, maraschino cherries, and
olives. You’ll also want to have soda water, tonic water, sparkling water,
coke, ginger ale, and a few other soft drinks, plus swizzle sticks and
cocktail napkins. Last, but not least, remember to have an ample supply
of ice (crushed and cubed) on hand.
Standard Guidelines for Consumption
Expect each guest to have four to five drinks at the reception. You’ll get
twenty-five drinks from a fifth of liquor, providing you’re using a
one-ounce pony to make them with one ounce of alcohol each. Using
one and a half ounces of alcohol (that is, a one-and-a-half-ounce jigger),
you’ll get eighteen drinks per fifth of alcohol. A single case of alcohol
contains twelve bottles. Assuming that you’re using one ounce of
alcohol to make every drink, then one case will yield 300 drinks.
If you would like to serve beer on tap, half a keg will yield 260
eight-ounce glasses of beer. Seven cases of beer will yield the same
amount.
With regard to unopened bottles of alcohol, don’t be too concerned
about over stocking. It is better to have too much, rather than not
enough. Besides, unopened bottles of alcohol can usually be returned
to the store.
The Law and Your Liability
Needless to say, it is against the law to serve alcohol to anyone under
the legal drinking age. The sobering fact is that courts have consistently
ruled that restaurants, caterers, and hosts are financially liable when
minors who are served alcohol are injured, become involved in a car
accident, or break the law.
You can also be held liable for an adult who suffers an injury, become
involved in a car accident, or step outside of the law after drinking too
much in your home. Caterers and restaurants are subject to the same
liability.
Your best protection against legal liability involving alcohol is to plan
ahead and react sensibly. If your reception is to be catered, discuss a
plan of action with the caterer before hand. He or she undoubtedly will
cooperate.
Avoid serving salty foods since they make people thirsty. Foods high in
proteinsuch as meat, fish, eggs, and cheesewill help to keep your
guests sober.
Once a person is drunk, it’s too late to reach for the pot of coffee. Giving
your happy drunk coffee will only make him or her hyper and jittery. If
you need to sober someone up, try to get the person to drink water,
which will dilute the alcohol in their system and flush it out.
By no means, let that person driveno matter what they say. Instead,
call for a taxi or find another driver to take the person home.
About the Author
Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director, founder of Bachcroft
and Aloha Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and
Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday,
and year-round mailing and return address
labels, visit Bachcroft Mailing and Return Address
Labels and
Aloha Return Address Labels
For
bargains and
bargain shopping articles, visit Town and Country Shopping
Bargains.
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Posted in Animal Care at 4:21 am by admin
How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say, “I hate it when he barks non stop… or he utterly embarrassed me when he mounts people’s leg”. Dog owners usually have no problems to fill in tons of their dog behavioral problems into the above statements.
I have to admit that I feel disappointed, even sad whenever I hear dog owners say that statement. Why? Because, these owners have failed to see things from their dog’s prospective! To put it simply, I should say that they don’t understand their dogs at all.
Dogs do not misbehave because they’re spiteful, or are out to annoy or anger you. They just behave in a manner which is expected of a dog!
The fact is that dog behavioral problems that we can’t stand are not problems at all to the dogs. In fact, do you know that dogs “misbehave” for a reason or two? To list a few:
1. Dogs bark because they have something to say, something to tell you.
2. Dogs dig because they smell something underneath the ground.
3. Dogs chew because they are teething and are feeling uncomfortable.
4. Dogs chase after moving objects because they are following its instinct.
5. Dogs turn aggressive because they want to protect you.
For your information, most dogs actually misbehaved (in our eyes) because of the lack of care, concern and training from their very own owners:
1. Health Issue - Many behaviorists & dog trainers believe that at least 20% of all behavior problems are related to the dog’s health in some way or another. For all that you might know. Your dog could be misbehaving because he is sick or in pain. Bring him to the vet for a thorough check-up if he misbehaves suddenly when he has always been a good dog.
2. Imbalance Diet - Feeding your dog the wrong food, with too high in protein, fat or carbohydrates is known to cause hyperactivity. Sugars, starches and many other factors in your dog’s diet can also cause behavioral problems in your dog. Always read the label of the food before you feed him, seek advice if necessary. Remember that dogs need different type of food in different stages of their life.
3. Exercise - Lack of exercise also cause plentiful of problems. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise is unhealthy and tends to be hyperactive, and display destructive behaviors. Dogs depending on breed type need plentiful of exercises - Do consider this factor before you get a puppy.
4. Lack of Leadership -I can’t stress enough on the importance of the leadership issue. Dogs display TONS of behavioral problems when they lack a leader. Aggressive & destructive behaviors, leg lifting, marking, mounting, barking & etc… It’s very important that you assume the role of the alpha leader!
You must understand that all dog develop behavior problems. These dog behavior problems never develop in a vacuum. They are always the outcome of the interaction between a dog and its environment, including you! Most canine behavioral problems can be controlled if not solved completely. You just got to put in some effort and understand that prevention is better than cure.
Lastly, do try to see and comprehend things from your dog’s prospective the next time your dog misbehaves. You’ll soon find that you love him even more!
Moses
Chia is a dog lover and owner of
DogsObedienceTraining.com - The resource site for dog obedience training
tips and dog obedience training books review. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content
and live link intact.
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05.25.08
Posted in Business Opps at 5:17 am by admin
It is a crisp, clear autumn afternoon. About 1:30. A full sun hangs in a bright blue sky. A large crowd mills about.
The date is November 19th. The year is 1863. And the place is Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Imagine, for a moment, that you are there. You jostle for position. You strain your neck to get a glimpse. And you cup your hand behind your ear…as the 16th President of the United States steps to the center of the platform and begins his “few appropriate remarks.”
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Thus begins one of the most memorable pieces of American prose ever written. Pick any adjective of praise to describe The Gettysburg Address and it’s probably appropriate. Elegant. Eloquent. Evocative. Profound. Poetic. Poignant.
Yet at the heart of this speech is a simple collection of mostly one syllable words. To be exact, two hundred and twenty out of two hundred and seventy one. What is it then about this memorable speech that causes it to so completely communicate its message? What lessons can we learn from it that will make our own communications efforts more memorable and effective? These are the questions I want to address in today’s article.
The Central Idea of the Occasion
The day after the Gettysburg dedication ceremonies Lincoln received a letter at the White House. It was from Edward Everett. Everett was the most renowned orator of his generation and it was he, not Lincoln, who had been the featured speaker at Gettysburg. By all accounts, Everett had delivered a stirring 2-hour oratory replete with a virtuoso verbal re-enactment of the battle itself. And yet, his letter to Lincoln read in part:
“Dear Mr. President,
I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”
Everett’s correspondence hits on a key point. The Gettysburg Address communicates so effectively because it captures, encapsulates, and illuminates a monumental moment in American history. It does so with clarity and brevity while at the same time informing us and fully engaging our emotions. A good example of this clarity and brevity can be found in the opening lines of Lincoln’s conclusion wherein he says:
“But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.”
With these two eloquent lines Lincoln simply, effectively and beautifully articulates “the central idea of the occasion.” And, offers a moving and prayerful tribute to those who struggled there.
A Great Writer At Work
In a February, 1991 Life magazine essay, Garry Wills wrote: “Abraham Lincoln is our only Chief Executive who became a great president because he was a great writer.” To study the Gettysburg Address is to witness a great writer at work. A writer so in step with the rhythm of his language and so vivid in his imagery. A writer with an attentive heart and keen ear for just the right word, just the right phrase. A few examples:
“conceived in liberty,” “engaged in a great civil war,” “a final resting place,” “who here gave their lives that that nation might live,” “the last full measure of devotion,” “a new birth of freedom.”
In studying the Gettysburg Address we gain an acute awareness of all the power and all the beauty that great prose can possess. And although the speech is meant to dedicate a graveyard its rich rhetoric reverberates with the rhythm and imagery of life. It is precisely this rhythm, this imagery and this breath of life that has enabled Lincoln’s magnificent words to live beyond that November day in Gettysburg, seven score and 2 years ago.
As business owners, salespeople, and marketing professionals our livelihood and well-being depend in large part on our ability to communicate. And as we prepare for our next sales presentation, public speaking opportunity - or, produce marketing communications - we would do well to call to mind the lessons to be learned from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
We should, for example:
Focus on the “central idea of the occasion”
Write and speak from the heart, with clarity and brevity
Infuse our communications with rhythm, imagery and life.
For if we do, while it’s doubtful we’ll make history, I do believe our presentations and communications will be duly noted and well received.
© 2006 Ernest Nicastro
Ernest Nicastro, a direct marketing consultant, copywriter and lead-generation specialist, heads up Positive Response, an award-winning marketing firm specializing in B-to-B marketing and lead-generation. For your FREE copy of the Positive Response Special Report, 77 Sure-Fire Marketing Tips Guaranteed To Boost Results, email Ernest (subject line Tips) at ENicastro@positiveresponse.com Or, contact him by phone at 614.747.2256. For more information visit http://www.positiveresponse.com
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Posted in Uncategorized at 4:05 am by admin
Whisky syndicates are groups of private owners and many have been around for years. The main purpose is to bring together a group of like-minded people to enjoy the benefits of cost sharing in order to invest in whisky casks and to eventually bottle for private consumption. As it will take over five years for one person to get through one cask at a bottle per week, remembering that this is at cask strength which is more like 1 bottles at 40%, it follows therefore that a syndicate of five could organise one cask per year between them and have a regular supply with more variety.
Here is where companies that promote whisky syndicate communities can help; they provide a forum site where syndicate groups and private owners looking to join syndicates can exchange information. This way a syndicate community can be developed and help you find the right partner or partners to share your love of whisky.
This way a syndicate community can be developed and help you find the right partner or partners to share your love of whisky.
Using syndicates can be fun not to mention reducing the cost burden. A private syndicate which is not trading, i.e. buying and selling casks for profit, can be treated in the same way as an individual private owner and do not currently need to be registered with Customs and Excise.
Not only can companies help you to find like-minded whisky enthusiasts but they may also are able to offer you the facilities to support your syndicate.
Many supporting companies can have access to large numbers of casks with whisky from virtually all areas of Scotland being available although the currently fashionable distilleries will of course be scarce and relatively more expensive.
Casks of whisky can be stored in their bonded warehouse until required for bottling when they can withdraw them for processing including reduction of strength, colouring and chill filtration (if required), bottling, labelling (bespoke for each syndicate member if required), through to packaging and despatch.
Most companies will take cask samples at regular intervals that allow you to monitor the development and maturation of your whisky. If you feel that you wish to add a different finish to your whisky you can request a re-rack into a variety of different casks. These vary according to availability and can include cognac, armagnac, rum or freshly re-coopered oak.
Bonded warehouses are also able to store the finished product for you in bonded storage. The majority of expense when bottling is incurred in the form of duty and VAT with VAT also being levied on the duty. You can store your whisky under bond and pay the duty and VAT as and when you remove the goods for use.
N.B. - It is always advised to state the terms of your syndicate in writing.
Kevan Jones is the Director of Craigton Packaging Ltd., they are a small privately owned company that specialises in very short run bottling operations. They focus in catering for the needs of whisky syndicates and offer a whisky forum for their users and have a number of whisky casks available to purchase. Craigton Packaging present a variety of services to support syndicates from re-racking of cask (if required), colouring, labelling, bottling and storage of end product in their bonded warehouse.
Craigton Packaging Ltd. are based in Paisley and service UK and international customers.
t: 0044 (0)141 887 0244
f: 0044 (0)141 887 5462
e: info@craigton.com
w: http://www.craigton.com
Forum: http://craigton.forumsplace.com
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:50 am by admin
Are you preparing a romantic dinner? A party? Want to feel great eating alone? Whatever the reason, champagne is a definitely must. What to serve it with before the main meal, though?
There are some appetizers that suit with champagne better than with any other beverage or alcoholic drink: caviar, as an example, is so well known it doesn’t even require presentation.
What more?
Foie gras
OK, liver. I just used the French term that chefs will use; please don’t shoot me for that. I mean, champagne is French, isn’t it? Anyway, try goose or duck liver. This soft, smooth type of dish will certainly increase your drinking experience.
Raw Oysters
A good combination but you should not use it if you prefer the oysters with lemon or vinegar. These are serious taste decreases when regarding champagne.
Sushi
Just a perfect combination. Almost everybody likes sushi and champagne will surely be the catalyst to a great dinner or party.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Every appetizer that uses mushrooms is a good match for champagne. Of course, do not use any heavy sauce. Cheese filled mushrooms are a great appetizer.
Raw Shrimp
Shrimp is a good appetizer for champagne at any time. Raw shrimp, especially, will make the taste of your drink a lot better. This is of course, when you avoid the heavy sauce.
Cheese
Well, one of the most sought for appetizers with champagne is cheese. But - yes, there is a but- there are so many types of cheese that it needs a new article. Stay put if want to find out what champagne to use with what cheese.
The appetizers are the introduction to a great meal but, when paired with champagne, they are even more: they are the start of a happy time, of a celebration. Why don’t you just try to make every occasion a celebration? Maybe we could be a lot happier then…
About the Author
Bogdan Voicu is the owner of Choose Champagne, a site that will make your life a lot easier at times of celebration and not only.
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05.24.08
Posted in Home Improvement Infos at 7:57 pm by admin
Before you begin to disassemble your garage door’s
counterbalance system, inspect your garage door thoroughly for
any damage that may have been the result of the spring’s
failure. Make sure the center support is securely fastened, as
well as the track’s flag brackets, jamb brackets and rear track
hangers. Check for damaged cables, etc. Any discrepancies should
be addressed before you work on that spring.
Ensure that
there is no tension on the spring or springs before you
disassemble.
If your door has only one spring:
1. Unbolt the stationary cone from the center support and slide
it over towards the drum.
2. Take note of the position
of the end bearing plate, then unbolt the bearing plate and
slide it off the shaft.
3. Loosen the drum’s set screws
and slide the drum off the shaft. (You will probably have to
tap it with a hammer and wrestle it off due to possible
indentations made on the shaft by the drum’s set
screws.)
4. This will be a good time to file down
any indentations that you may find on the shaft.
5.
Slide the broken spring off the shaft.
6. Carefully
slide the new spring onto the shaft. Avoid nicking or scraping
the spring’s wire.
7. Slide the drum back onto the
shaft.
8. Slide the end bearing back onto the shaft and
bolt it down in the same spot it was originally at.
9.
Refasten the spring to the center support plate.
10. Go
the opposite drum and ensure that the drum’s set screws are
tight and that the cable is wrapped properly around the drum.
Clamp a “Vise Grip” onto the shaft so that it is up against the
wall preventing the drum from turning allowing the cable to go
slack.
11. Go back to the loose drum, reconnect the
cable then turn the drum so that the cable wraps securely around
the drum. Tighten the drum’s set screws.
12. Check both
cable’s tautness, they should be the same. Adjust as
needed.
13. Wind the spring with a couple of steel rods
that fit securely and all the way into the winding plug’s four
holes. There is a chart at
http://www.garagedoorsupply.com/torsionspringinstallation.html
which will tell you how many turns to wind your spring to. This
chart is only a guide, you must test your door’s balance after
the spring is wound and adjust the tension as needed.
NOTE: If your door has two springs that share the center support
then you MUST remove the tension completely from the
spring that is not broken before you undo the stationary cone
from the center support.
As you may have realized by now, this repair is not rocket
science. Anyone can do it provided they have a little mechanical
aptitude, exercise caution and common sense.
If you
are unsure of your mechanical abilities, please do not attempt
to replace a torsion spring. Refer to your Yellow Pages for a
qualified garage door repairperson in your area.
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Posted in Animal Care at 5:41 am by admin
Weaning normally occurs at 4-5 weeks of age, but keep in mind that some kittens take longer, particularly without their mom to show them the ropes. You will know that a kitten is ready to begin the weaning process when it is biting the feeding nipple and is able to lick formula from your finger.
The next step is to persuade the kitten to lap up formula from a spoon. Once they’ve accomplished that hurdle, try offering formula in a small, flat dish.
If the kittens appear to need encouragement to lap from a bowl, dip your fingertip in the formula and let him lick it off your fingers as you move them down to the bowl. DO NOT push their nose into the dish as they can aspirate the fluid and develop pneumonia! Once the kittens become accustomed to lapping liquids you can add weaning formula or baby cereal by combining them with the formula. While the kittens are grasping the art of eating from a bowl you will still need to bottle-feed them and monitor the amount of formula and food they are consuming. Always offer food from the bowl first, and then offer the bottle. When you see they are eating well from the bowl begin to decrease the amount of formula they are receiving from the bottle.
At that point, you can mix the kitten formula with baby food into a gruel and try to get the kittens to lap it up from a dish or a spoon. We recommend Chicken Baby Food but any meat flavor will do, just be absolutely sure there are no onions in the list of ingredients. You can also try using Dr. Hill’s A/D brand which is sold at any veterinarians. Eventually, you can mix canned kitten food (we recommend Wellness, Avo Derm, Nutro Max Kitten or any other premium brand of kitten food) with formula, gradually reducing the amount of formula until the kittens are eating just the food. Try to buy high quality food for the kittens (from the vet or pet food stores). Much of what is sold in supermarkets is junk food and will not help your kitten thrive. It is not uncommon for weight gain to slow and minor, temporary diarrhea to occur during weaning.
Some kittens grasp the concept right away; others take days. Keep bottle feeding while weaning to make sure they get enough to eat. Reduce bottle feeding as their solid-food consumption grows. If you give dry food, moisten it, because kittens can’t chew dry food well until they are about 8 weeks old.
Never make the mistake of rushing the weaning process. It may seem slow and often messy, but it is an essential part of learning for the kittens and they are doing the best they can without their mother to help them. Never give up and NEVER get upset!
Remember, these changes in diet can quickly cause diarrhea, so keep an eye on your kitten’s stools. Diarrhea can be life-threatening to a young kitten if left untreated; however a dose of antibiotics prescribed by your vet will get them back on track again.
Anne Pottinger is the owner, director and publisher of 4PetsOnline.com a pet and domestic animal website with a difference. This user-friendly website contains hundreds of pages of information covering pet selection and care advice, as well as many humorous and often poignant articles.
She is always available to answer pet and domestic animal related questions.
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05.23.08
Posted in Finance, Lawyers Portal, Payday Loans at 10:50 am by admin
Mortgage loans that have been specifically designed with the objective of providing financial help to people with bad credit records are better known as bad credit mortgage loans. It is a fact that almost one out of every four has a bad credit record that arises due to improper financial planning. As a result, people end with high credit balance. Banks and other financial organizations do not encourage issuing loans to bad credit loans since they are considered as not credit worthy.
Bad credit mortgage loans are high interest loans that have slightly different terms and conditions in comparison with conventional mortgage loans. Since bad credit people form a significant proportion of the market, there are several mortgage lending companies offering bad credit loans for buying a property or making renovations in the home. The best way to obtain a bad credit loan at lower interest rate is to shop around, compare and negotiate. Lenders offer loans at varying interest rates so as to sustain in the competitive market. Another way is to pay a higher down payment. Higher the down payment lower is the interest rate. A little bit of effort on improving credit scores by making timely payment of bills and rent also helps in reducing interest rate on the loan. One can even try for a bad credit loan through any of the registered online mortgage lenders. Online mortgage companies offer loans at considerably lower interest rate than conventional lenders.
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Posted in Management Tips at 5:53 am by admin
Six Sigma is about numbers. Six Sigma produces a flood of data about your process that are critical to your success. If you don’t measure it and understand what you are measuring, you can’t manage it. Six Sigma’s clear strength is a data-driven analysis and decision-making process not someone’s opinion or gut feeling.
The value of statistical analysis cannot be underestimated. Through an analysis of all of that data, you begin to understand your process and develop methodologies to identify and implement the right solutions to improve your process. Statistical evaluation of the data identifies key areas which can have an adverse effect on product quality if not controlled. Once you have identified these key areas you can focus your process improvement efforts
Given the importance of intelligently handling all of this data, you need to find an efficient and powerful method of crunching the numbers. Naturally, you want to avoid the drudgery of manual calculations and save a whole lot of time by using a statistical software application. You may be tempted to use Excel or another spreadsheet application as a calculator and database to store your statistical process control data. However, you will quickly find out that a basic spreadsheet is too cumbersome to handle the volume and sophistication of the data keeping and analysis you need to perform in a Six Sigma project.
Advanced statistical software such as Minitab (http://www.minitab.com/) or Statgraphics (http://statgraphics.com), are very useful if not essential for gathering, categorizing, evaluating, and analyzing the data collected throughout a Six Sigma project. Both Minitab and Statgraphics are powerful full standalone statistical process control software applications for performing statistical analysis. Both are highly recommended for Six Sigma use as they are tools that can help you utilize one of Six Sigma’s biggest advantages: the ability to make better decisions based upon data. They will work with the DMAIC Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control methodology and Lean Six Sigma.
Both Minitab and Statgraphics are designed to support the Six Sigma philosophy offering a range of tools for graphical analyses, collecting powerful statistics, quality analyses with potential for a range of custom designed uses.
Statistical Process Control Charts
Analysis of Variance and Regression Analysis
Design of Experiments
Factorial and Matrix Plots
Relationships between variables
Life Data Analysis and Reliability
Process Capability Analysis
Hypothesis Testing
Correlation and regression
Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
Measurement Systems Analysis
Regression Analysis
Multi-variation analysis
ANOVA tools and techniques
Six Sigma Quality Assessment
Both applications provide you with nearly real time statistical data, enabling you to respond quickly to prevent further defects. Statistical evaluation of the data identifies key areas to focus process improvement efforts on, which can have an adverse effect on product quality if not controlled.
However, while it is easy to purchase a statistical software application, it is harder to use it effectively. It is smart analysis of the data that create real change. All too often, Six Sigma/DMAIC teams collect and load data into Minitab or Statgraphics only to find themselves overwhelmed by the prospect of where to start and how to use their new tool to successfully analyze their data that comes up with, not just any answers, but meaningful and useful answers. As a result, Six Sigma/DMAIC projects often fall far short of the productivity expectations associated with statistical software.
Training in use of Minitab is often offered integrated with Six Sigma training. Minitab training will focus on solving practical problems with Minitab. This includes learning the practical aspects of major statistical tools like Control Charts, Capability Analysis, Regression Analysis, and ANOVA. There is a strong emphasis on learning how to get data into Minitab, learning how to manipulate data once in Minitab and learning how to display graphically major findings from the data. Proper training will teach you how to drive Minitab like a pro and thus bring greater statistical power to your Six Sigma projects.
www.6sigma.us
Peter Peterka is the Principal Consultant in practice areas of DMAIC and DFSS. Peter has eleven years of experience performing as a Master Black Belt, and has over 15 years experience in industry as an improvement specialist and engineer working with numerous companies.
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