Because our brains are built for pictures not for numbers and text we find it nigh on impossible to cope with multi-variable data. Spreadsheets are excellent for storing volumes of data in tidy rows and columns – but come the time to fully understand what it all means and we resort to multitudes of graphs that plot two or three variables at one time. To make life easier we state our assumptions and proceed to ignore the subtle effects that some variables in the data have on others. We then expect to pull pearls of wisdom from this myriad of information and come up with brilliant results. However difficult we make life for ourselves we do tend to find some answers and nuggets of opportunity – hence the black belt heroes.

But why settle for that? PPCL’s Visual Explorer (CVE) provides a break-through in data visualisation and enables technology to move toward six sigma success. Interactions, dependencies and inter-relationships are all displayed and the best operating zone and any black holes exposed. Exploring how the data shows how the processes and the business really work.

Consider how easy it would be if we could see all the data and have a full picture of all the rows and columns in one simple view. Imagine the power of being able to plot 30 or 40, or even more, variables in one go. The interaction between variables that were previously considered totally unrelated will leap out at you. Within no time the cost saving opportunities can be picked out and the areas for improvement clearly identified.

All of this pictorial power can easily be used by anybody; it is not limited to the spreadsheet creator or data guru in the organisation. It is quick to install on any PC running Windows and readily works with your electronic data to reveal the whole story. This type of insight and capability will elevate you beyond Sixth Sigma Black Belt status and into 7th Dan territory before you know it!

Ever thought how much easier it is to look at a graph than at a spreadsheet full of numbers? Our brains are built for pictures, not for numbers and text.

But when the spreadsheet has too many columns for one graph, what then? A multitude of graphs of 2 or 3 variables each perhaps? You would need to work out which point in one graph was associated with a particular point in another but the bigger problem is that the number of graphs of 2 or 3 variables quickly becomes too large to manage even when your spreadsheet has as few as 20 columns. You will find yourself looking at only the graphs of variables against time, for instance, and will miss out on all the relationships between variables across time.

You’ll also be forced to combine variables to simplify your problem down to 2 or 3 new variables that you can plot in one graph. You’ll have to make simplifying assumptions and ignore some of the interactions which might or might not have mattered. This has been the weakness at the heart of 6-Sigma.

But it is past tense because you CAN plot a graph of 30 or 40 or even more variables and anyone in your organisation can quickly learn to understand it and you CAN quickly build a model, without equations or mathematics, with 20 or 30 variables in which ALL the interactions are included and which ANYONE can use to explore how your process or business activity REALLY works. Knowledge is the key to all improvement so at last we are at the stage in implementing 6-Sigma where the limit on improvement is you and your willingness to use these new simpler and more powerful methods.

No longer is the limit to improvement the weakness of methods designed for 2 variables that struggle to cope with real-life improvement opportunities containing more than 4 or 5 variables. It is YOU. Use them and find bigger savings faster, get your Black Belt sooner and get to enjoy weekends too.