www.littletikescommercial.com
Farmington
PlayPower LT Farmington, Inc. is a good example of a medium sized manufacturer that has enjoyed great success in using Six Sigma tools and techniques to reduce variation and improve quality and profitability.
PlayPower LT Farmington, Inc. began operations as Iron Mountain Forge in 1979 and has grown into one of the nation’s leading designers and manufacturers of indoor and outdoor commercial playground equipment.
Between late 2004 and 2006, a number of the company’s key employees participated in Missouri Enterprise Six Sigma Training and earned their Greenbelts and Blackbelts.
They learned to use the DMAIC process which means Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control and other techniques of the systematic, data driven change management system.
The company has recorded many significant improvements since the Six Sigma training, including a reduction in customer service claims and improvements in on-time and complete shipments and first-pass yield on shipped orders.
“Our Six Sigma training has enabled us to evaluate and improve our processes and create an ongoing culture of continuous improvement,” said Bernie Thebeau, company continuous improvement manager.