Strategic Insights from Research and Practice in Lean Six Sigma

Aitken, Robert (Bobby) Russell Scott, Australian Team Leader, Continuous Improvement, SGS Australia Pty Ltd

Bobby Aitken is currently the Australian Team Leader for the Continuous Improvement function within SGS Australia Pty Ltd. This involves coordinating 20 active projects nationally across many different business streams and also supporting similar projects across the South East Asia Pacific region.

He has been involved at various levels of projects management for the past 5 years, having started out in IT projects he progressed into operations projects through which he went on to train as a Green Belt and more recently a Black Belt Return to Abstract or. Return to Program

Gill, Kerri-Anne, Executive Manager CommWay (CBA) and Doctoral Research Student (MGSM), CBA / MGSM

Kerri Gill is a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and a Registered Psychologist.

She has been working in process improvement for the past 6 years and is currently undertaking part-time doctoral studies through Macquarie University, investigating quality project success factors.

Kerri is a founding member and the current president of the Australasian Association of Six Sigma Practitioners.
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Hilton, Roger J; Researcher and Trainer/Assessor, Monash University and Australian Combined Resources

Roger Hilton is currently workplace trainer and assessor with Australian Combined Resources with responsibilities with training in Lean and Six Sigma at workshop, supervisor and senior levels.

Previously, Business and Quality Improvement Manager with PPG Industries responsible for Quality Systems Improvement in Australia & NZ.

Holds qualifications in Applied Statistics, Business Management and Operations Research. Currently completing a doctorate in business administration specialising in lean six sigma research.

Is the chairperson of the Six Sigma Division of AOQ-QLD with an interest in training and competency of six sigma facilitiators in Australia.  Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Peter Holtmann has over 10 years of experience in the service and manufacture industries. He received his BSc in Chemistry from the University of Western Sydney, Australia and worked in industrial chemicals, surface products, environmental testing, pharmaceutical and nutritional products before joining Quest International, Unilever in 1994 as the Technical Services Controller.

He was appointed Regulatory and Quality Services Manager in 1996 and oversaw the Unilever Chemical Safety Management Program implementation and the Quest International Quality System development.

He accepted a role in private industry as an auditor trainer and consultant to the food production and manufacture industries in 1999 and then as a consultant and business developer to the manufacture and service industries.

Peter presently is working with RABQSA International, a personnel and certification training certification body. His role as Director Business Development & Marketing sees him developing the future direction of personnel & training certification into the international market, seeking innovative industries to engage.

Mr. Holtmann is the Managing Director of ElectInspect Pty Ltd in retail, manufacture and insurance services, and provides services in over 20 countries throughout Asia Pacific.

Mr. Holtmann teaches and develops course materials for, technical colleges in Australia and the University of Kagoshima, Japan; in food science and technology, risk management and quality management.

He is a member of the National Product Liability Association, the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Throughout his career he has also served on international committees for the National Food Processors Association in the United States and auditor certification review for SQF.

He is a frequent speaker at food science conferences and has written several feature articles on food safety, quality assurance and risk management. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Dan Jackson specialises in the "dark art" of systematic improvement. He is the Principal of CALM Consulting and the Founder of the 7SIM Improvement Method. He has been in business since leaving the Navy as a logistics specialist in 1998.

Dan sometimes instructs MBA students in exciting subjects like statistical modeling, operations management and performance improvement. He previously examined for national business excellence awards. He loves popular classical music because it combines both innovation and structure to produce a beautiful outcome. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Mike has designed and implemented continuous improvement programmes in Australia and internationally; co-authored with Saeed Sadek an internationally sold Problem Solving Guidebook; a Continual Improvement Tools and Techniques book and the interactive software 'Q-Skills for Six Sigma' with Dr Tony Burns. He has conducted Six Sigma briefings in the American University Mathematics and Science Faculties Cairo, Egypt; Public Sector Six Sigma Malaysia; Qatar and United Arab Emirates Executive Quality Leadership Sessions.

He co-designed the Customer Service Management programme for Changi Airport Singapore achieving #1 Customer Service Award and CK Tangs Singapore Service Strategy attaining the AMEX Gold Award.

His Continuous Improvement and Strategic Quality Management implementations include BHP, Pasminco, Coal & Allied, Anglo Coal, CSR (BIQ), RAAF (RAAFQ), RAN (NQM), Brambles-Wreckair, GM Holden, Orrcon Steel, Suncorp, Agility, ACS, ATO, NRMA (AIG), Comalco, Chase AMP Bank, Zurich/NZI Life, Westinghouse and for Boral where they achieved a 414% ROI for 'Kaizen' Projects and 17% for Breakthrough Continuous Improvement projects.

His next book due for publishing in 2007, is co-authored with GPT Capt (Retd) RAAF Doug Hurst called "The Main Game".

He is the Australian Automotive Technical Specialist for the AusAID/ASEAN Auto Supplier Improvement Programme across the 10 ASEAN Member nations through AMSAT/Cardno-Acil.

As Regional Director (Asia) WDScott, he leads Manufacturing and Mining Production Systems assignments. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Jonathan O'Donnell-Young specializes in helping companies achieve world-class performance. He has nineteen   years experience in leading teams in high tech organizations using continuous improvement methods such as TQM, Six Sigma and Lean.

Jonathan's previous roles include Business Manager for an Australian network management software development company, General Manager- R&D for a software development company and Australian Services General Manager for a multinational telecommunications equipment provider.

Jonathan has delivered impressive results in business development, project management, process management and customer service.  

A strong believer in empowering employees and developing human capital, Jonathan has successfully initiated and led many successful performance improvement programs. He is the author of numerous articles and co-author of the book - Practical Six Sigma.

Mario Pennisi is the Chairman, Australian Organisation for Quality Queensland Inc (AOQ-QLD). He is a former President of the Australian Organisation for Quality Inc (the National AOQ Body) and former Chairman of AOQ Inc. He is a Fellow of AOQ-QLD (FAOQ), a Fellow of the Institute of Metal Finishing (FIMF), a Senior Member of the American Society for Quality (SMASQ) and an Honorary Life Member of the Australasian Institute of Metal Finishing (now the Australian Institute of Finishing). Mario Chairs the Gold Awards committee for AOQ-QLD. He also edits and publishes Quality Australia-The Business Improvement Journal for AOQ Inc and Coatings and Fabrication, a trade magazine for the coatings and fabrication industries.

Mario has trained and consulted in quality systems for many years, particularly in the Coatings industry. He chairs 7 Standards Australia Committees and sits on a further 7 committees as well as being a member of the Management and Business Standards Sector Board of Standards Australia.

In previous years he managed an electroplating shop, a University Department's laboratory staff, facilities and budget and built up a conference management organisation. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Pilotto, Rudy, Director, Serious Consulting Pty Ltd

Rudy Pilotto specializes in organizational change, leadership, teamwork, performance improvement and total quality management.

A registered organizational psychologist with over eighteen years experience in the field, Rudy consults to companies seeking to achieve cultural change that will deliver peak performance and sustainable, measurable benefits.

He has worked on some of the largest cultural change initiatives undertaken in Australia, and has worked closely with many multinational companies, including Ericsson, Alcatel, Microsoft, GE, Symbian and Alcoa in many countries including the USA, UK, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Hong Kong and The Netherlands. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Potamianakis, George, Director, Process 2 Customer

George Potamianakis is a Director of Process2Customer (P2C) and is currently working with a number of large financial organisations assisting with the development and implementation of their Lean Six Sigma programs.

With a background in Lean Six Sigma and Quality, George's corporate roles include Asia Pacific Manager for IT Quality and Six Sigma Plus in Honeywell, and Master Black Belt in Telstra.

Prior to P2C, George was part of the original team which developed and implemented the Commonwealth Bank's Lean Six Sigma Program, branded CommWay. George and CommWay colleague Ian Ritchie formed P2C in 2006. Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Dr. Daniel Prajogo is a lecturer at Department of Management, Monash University . He obtained his PhD from Monash University with the topic on the relationship between TQM and innovation. He earned his Master of Engineering in Quality Management from RMIT University where he was awarded AOQ Prize for the Best Graduate in the course. He is currently teaching operations management at postgraduate program at Monash University and actively doing research in the areas of quality, operations, supply chain, and innovation management Return to Program or Return to Abstract

Sohal, Amrik, Associate Dean, Research Development, Monash University