by Carlo Scodanibbio http://www.scodanibbio.com An e-course showing how the "zero defects" target of today's Total Quality Management can be achieved. Zero Defects. That's the simple and, at the same time, extremely challenging target set by modern TQM under the Lean Thinking philosophy. Is it achievable? This e-course wants to prove that, YES, it is. By illustrating the main TQM tools available to all enterprises to get to the target - 100% Testing, the 6 Sigma Methodology and the Poka-Yoke Discipline - in rather great details and with lots of examples and case studies, this e-course gives the basis as well as practical guidelines for the purpose. The 6 Sigma methodology is presented in a "no-jargon" fashion, in order to be grasped simply and rapidly. The Poka-Yoke approach is dealt with in a very practical, example-driven way, so that it can become soon effective for the alert reader. Implications, constraints, field of applicability and pre-requisites for both disciplines are covered and debated. Besides, the difference existing between the 6 Sigma and the Lean Thinking approach to the improvement of processes subject to remarkable variability is illustrated in a down-to-earth fashion. Course contents and main topics: * The concepts of World-Class Performance and World-Class Operations * Total Quality Management in the years 2000: the core principles. The ultimate target: zero defects. * TQM 2000: the tools. Why "traditional" Quality Control and Statistical Process Control are rapidly becoming obsolete - 100% Testing: pro's and con's and fields of applicability - 6 Sigma - Poka-Yoke. * The 6 Sigma Methodology. Basic Definitions - 6 Sigma vs. traditional methodology - The role of 6 Sigma - How to calculate a Process' Sigma Level - Yield to Sigma Conversion Table - Why 6 Sigma? - The approach to improvement of processes: DMAIC - Example of practical application - Remarks on use and deployment of the 6 Sigma methodology. * Lean Thinking vs. 6 Sigma. Lean Thinking simplicity vs. 6 Sigma complexity. Practical example. * The Poka-Yoke discipline. Poka-Yoke examples in Product Design. Mistake-proofing in working methods & processes. * Zero Defects: reality, not myth! To see full details of this e-course and of all other e-courses offered by Carlo Scodanibbio visit http://www.scodanibbio.com/site/e_courses.html