Larry R. Smith

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Why TRIZ is Important for Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma
Described as “the single most important factor in determining America’s success through the 21st century,” innovation is increasing recognized as a key to competitiveness in today’s global environment.  Today’s problem solving teams are provided many tools to help them “define,” “measure,” and “analyze” on the front end of a problem solving process.  When they get to “improve,” they are often on their own to come up with an innovative concept or idea.  Innovating new concepts is more than just asking teams for ideas – there are tools that can help.  This session provides a model for relating TRIZ, an innovation tool, with six sigma and design for six sigma.  Results of using TRIZ in problem solving and product development are discussed.  A TRIZ tool for guiding brainstorming to foster innovative solutions to system functional conflicts (Altshuller's original matrix and 40 solution principles) will be provided as part of the session.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Larry R. Smith “graduated” (retired) from Ford in 2005 where he was quality coach of the Ford Motor Company's Heritage team, a team charged with revitalizing the Ford Rouge manufacturing complex.  Larry's career emphasis has been in quality engineering and product development.  He was instrumental in initiating a six sigma effort at Ford Motor Company and acted as deployment champion for the Superduty Truck Platform, whose six sigma projects saved $49 million in the first year of operation.  He was also champion of a volunteer Ford Environmental Idea Process Team, focused on developing ideas related to design and manufacture of vehicles whose use improves conditions for human beings and the environment.  Larry has held a variety of quality management positions in his 27 years at Ford, primarily in Vehicle Operations, North American Truck, Powertrain Operations, and Casting Operations.
Since Ford, Larry has consulted and conducted training on quality and innovation methods with his own company, The Quality Smith, and for Ideation, GOAL/QPC, Global Productivity Solutions and the Juran Institute.  He has worked with corporations such as Abbott, Delphi, Unilever, Raytheon, Apple, Bosch, organizations such as the American Society for Quality, the Public Health Foundation, and consulting firms in China, India, and Malaysia.
A fellow of the American Society for Quality and elected national director from 2004-2006, Smith is a past president of the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies and has been involved in numerous applications of TRIZ since 1993.  A member of the Board of Directors of GOAL/QPC from 1994 to 2007, Larry is also a past president of the Detroit Chapter of ASM International.