Dr. Jim Watson, Associate Director of TexED and TexLabs, joined TexED in 1993. He has worked in the textiles industry for over 40 years. He uses his vast experience to develop textiles-based professional development courses and to develop tailored training programs to meet each client's unique needs. In addition to his education and training work, Jim oversees TexLabs, the applied research arm of the College of Textiles. Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963 and his Doctor of Business Administration from California Coast University in 2006.

Q:   What is meant by ripstop fabric?

Dr. Lori Rothenberg, Associate Director, Extension Education and Quality Programs, has worked for 20 years in the areas of applied statistics and program evaluation. She coaches and trains Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts, Green Belts, Black Belts and Master Black Belts. In addition to her Lean Six Sigma teaching, Lori is a faculty member in the College of Textiles, collaborating on grant proposals and serving as program evaluator on the projects. Lori received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991.

Q:   What are some examples of the use of DOE in the service industry?

A:    Design of Experiements (DOE) has long been used in manufacturing settings; however, the use of DOE in a service or transactional setting is not used as often. Part of the reason for the lack of use may be the difficulty in envisioning when they could be used. So, what are some examples of the use of DOE in the service industry? DOE can be done in several places. Here are a few examples:

1. A store wants to make sure that sales associates adhere to a policy for the use of coupons by customers. They looked at the used of written instructions (yes, no) and oral directions from the manager (yes, no).


2. A credit card company is interested in whether the Rewards Offer, the Intro APR, and the Creative Designer of the mailer have an effect on whether a person accepts or rejects the credit card offer. They design a full factorial experiment with Rewards (Yes, No), Intro APR (0%, 2.99%) and Creative Designer (Firm A, Firm B).


3. A retailer is interested in whether they can make the screens on the registers easier to read. They design a full factorial experiment with Font Size (14, 16), Font Type (arial, times new roman), and Background (white, black). Readability is assessed by asking associates for their preference.


4. A large company wanted to reduce their receivables from 200 to only 44 days. They designed a full factorial using Bill Delivery (With Shipment, Separate Invoice), Followup (Letter, Telephone), and Billing Service (Contract, In-house).


5. A sales team wanted to improve the percent of successful closures. They designed a full factorial experiment using Attire (suit, casual), number of sales people (one, two), and presentation (high pressure, low pressure).


6. A physician’s office wanted to reduce the wait time to see the doctor after arriving at the doctor’s office. The office manipulated two variables: type of sign in (electronic kiosk, sign in with receptionist) and where vitals were taken (in a common area, in the examining room).

Karl Mayer Opens US Training Academy
-Brian Davis, knitting lab manager, attends inaugural course

The Karl Mayer Academy held its first training course in the United States this summer. Brian Davis, Knitting Lab Manager for TexLabs at NC State University College of Textiles, attended the inaugural course in Analysis and Design of Warp-Knit Textiles.

The course, the first Karl Mayer has held in the United States, was held at the KARL MAYER Academy. Topics such as innovative machine components, layout of pattern chains, design and analysis of tricot fabrics, and use of analytical equipment were taught by training instructor Robert Kuna.

The overwhelming response to the course showcased the increased need for technical training for American textile companies due to many manufacturers focusing on technical textiles. The Karl Mayer Academy will help meet client training needs in the US and joins partner training academies in China and Germany.

Source: Kettenwirk Praxis, Karl Mayer, 3rd Quarter, 2010 p. 40.

Six Sigma Benefits Industries for the Blind

When Barry Self of Forsyth Community College had to select a project for his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, he chose to work with Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind (IFB). During his work with this organization, Barry not only assisted IFB in recognizing significant savings, he helped save the jobs of over 250 people.

Barry’s project revolved around improving materials management, including increasing throughput capabilities and improving visibility of all materials. His main focus was on the elimination of errors that were resulting in large variations in inventory value. Through the use of an integrated bar coding system, reorganization of the warehouse storage locations, and implementation of warehouse management software, IFB is expecting to see savings of more than $500,000 over the next year. These improvements in materials management and the added capability for voice directed picking have also expanded employment opportunites for the blind and visually impaired workers at IFB, allowing them to work in inventory management in the pick/pack finished goods area for the first time.