![]() You will notice that I bulletized the list instead of numbering it. So, what should you look for in your next Black Belt? Here is my personal top ten list. It is generally expected that a Black Belt will move into a Master Black Belt or significant business role after the Black Belt assignment is completed in 18 months to three years. Black Belts coach Green Belts and receive coaching and support from Master Black Belts. Black Belts are knowledgeable and highly skilled in the use of the Six Sigma methodologies and tools, as well as facilitation and change management, and lead subject matter experts to increase customer satisfaction levels and business productivity.īlack Belts have typically completed four weeks of Six Sigma training, and have demonstrated mastery of the subject matter through the completion of project(s) and an exam. Black Belts are full-time Six Sigma project team leaders responsible for implementing process improvement projects (DMAIC or DFSS ) within the business. Six Sigma Black Belts are most often referred to as change agents, and there is no doubt that the Black Belt role is a leadership position within an organization (please note that I intentionally did not say “within the quality department or Six Sigma organization”). What should you look for in a Black Belt candidate or how should you develop yourself for a Black Belt position? This article will address these questions. ![]() Or, you may be a Green Belt or quality engineer with aspirations of someday working full-time as a Six Sigma Black Belt. "If you are putting the right people on the right problems, that have the right skill sets, the money eventually will flow out of that, and thats something important for people to realize.Whether you are a process owner, Master Black Belt or Champion, you will at some point need to interview candidates for an open Black Belt position. "What we want to do is match skill on problem as opposed to dollar amounts, which is a fictitious type of program management metric that's out there." So, if I have a problem that requires a ton of linear regression and a DOE and all these types of analyses that clearly are the skill set of a black belt or a master black belt, then I should assign them to that regardless of the dollar amount, especially if I dont have a million-dollar project sitting out there," he says. ![]() "The conversation should be about matching the skill necessary to the problem. "Thats a very activity-driven approach and what we look at are results."Īren't the numbers the results? No, says the BMGI chief operating officer. So they backed into the math, Waldo points out. Carrying out their calculations further, the organization determined a black belt could complete two projects per year, therefore requiring each project be worth $300,000 for a total of $600,000 per year in cost savings, or a 4x return on that black belt's time. The organization then determined it required a 3X return on that engineer's time, for example, and calculated that cost. The programs often were kicked off in engineering-driven organizations, which looked at the typical allocated cost of an engineer, recognizing all the training necessary to turn that person into a dedicated black belt. Where did that $300,000 figure (or similar high figure) come from? It dates back to the measurement system that existed when Six Sigma programs first launched, explains Waldo. Thats what makes it a black belt project." All black belt projects must be worth at least $300,000. ![]() Waldo voiced his objection first by outlining a typical conversation surrounding the selection of a black belt project: The conversation begins with a black belt project proposal, which is met by the question, "How much is the project worth?" Told that it is worth $50,000, the response becomes, "That cant possibly be your project. That concept is wrong, says William Wes Waldo, COO of consulting firm BMGI, who shared his observation during a recent online training event "Performance Metrics: How to Select Them, Adjust Them, and Tie Them Into Your Strategy." There exists a concept that cost savings is the measure that must be met for a project to qualify as a Six Sigma green belt project or a Six Sigma black belt project. ![]()
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![]() ![]() I had an HSA because Forbes had put $2,500 in it for me. But the real gotcha here was that I wasn’t claiming the HSA deduction, because I had not put any of my own money into the account. When the HSA money is withdrawn it isn't taxed, provided it's used for a qualified medical expense. As an aside, for 2016, you can put up to $3,350 pretax into an HSA for a single or $6,750 for a family, plus another $1,000 if you're 55 or older. Turns out that TurboTax Federal Free Edition (which, remember, is the non Free File service) is offered only for forms 1040EZ or 1040A, which are simplified tax returns. This “upgrade” was deemed necessary because you can only claim the Health Savings Account deduction on a full-fledged 1040 and HSA holders must also submit Form 8889. ![]() This IRS code told TurboTax that Forbes provides me with a Health Savings Account based on this TurboTax told me I would need to upgrade to the Deluxe edition, which at that moment Intuit was selling for $34.99. Other tax software works similarly, including the H&R Block product, which was used to file 7 million returns last year, and TaxAct, which was used for about 5.5 million.įor me, the first sign of trouble popped up when the software spotted the letter W in box 12 of my W-2. It then walks you through a questionnaire to determine the deductions and credits you might be eligible for, as well as what documents the IRS will need from you. In case you are not one of the 30 million people who filed with TurboTax last year, the program begins by importing your W-2s. Of course I had no clue about any of this last year, which is how TurboTax cost me over $100. In my case, however, that's irrelevant, since I wouldn't have qualified for TurboTax's Freedom Edition, with its $31,000 income cut-off. Moreover, if a low-income person who would qualify for the Free File Freedom Edition starts doing his or her taxes with Turbotax's Federal Free Edition and needs a form that is not supported in Federal Free, but is supported in the Freedom Edition, Intuit will not transfer the user to the Freedom Edition. What about that $62,000 cut-off? It turns out that while all 13 members of the Free File Alliance offer free filing to some subset of people making as much as $62,000 this year, they restrict that by age, state of residence or military status. That’s up to the budget strapped IRS.Īnd get this: Intuit only offers its Free File service to taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $31,000 or less for tax year 2015, unless they're active duty military. Bob Meighan, vice president of customer advocacy for TurboTax, responds that it is not the company’s responsibility to market the Free File Alliance product. Moreover, Intuit is barred from selling other services such as audit protection within the Freedom Edition (the company sees this as a weakness-you decide).Īnyway, the non-Free File Alliance version is what I found myself using through the TurboTax website. Turns out the Freedom Edition (the one that is part of the Free File program) supports a wider array of free tax forms. ![]() Now here's the key point, one I didn't realize last year: the TurboTax Federal Free Edition isn't actually part of the Free File program, whereas the TurboTax Freedom Edition is. (The cut off this year is $62,000 in 2015 adjusted gross income.) They agreed to provide free filing for low- and moderate-income taxpayers, but maintained the right to each set eligibility criteria around an income threshold. The companies, Intuit included, launched a nonprofit in 2003 under threat of free tax preparation by the IRS. This was because of something called The Free File Alliance, which is comprised of 13 tax software companies. That detail and my plain vanilla finances seemed, as far as I understood things, to easily qualify me to e-file my federal return for free. I have no investments outside of my 401(k) and my apartment is a rental.īut the most important thing to know for this story is that my 2014 income was less than $60,000. My living comes from one job at a company (Forbes Media) that counts me as an employee and thus reports my wages to the Internal Revenue Service on a W-2 and provides me with access to health insurance. A few basics should tell you I’m a fairly standard Millennial taxpayer. ![]() ![]() ![]() The company ended production of consumer level tools, and repositioned itself as a manufacturer of professional power tools. acquired Rockwell's power tool group - consisting of Porter-Cable and Delta Machinery - and restored the Porter-Cable name. These tools had numerous reliability problems and harmed the brand's image. Rockwell made numerous changes, including phasing out the Porter-Cable name, relocating the company's base of operations to Jackson, Tennessee, and creating a lower end of power tools to compete with Black & Decker. In 1960, the company was sold to Rockwell International. In 1929, Emmons invented the helical drive circular saw, a compact, lightweight design that is still the most widely used circular saw design produced today. In 1926, Porter-Cable began to develop a niche in portable electric power tools when Chief Engineer Art Emmons invented the portable electric belt sander, called the Take-About Sander. Three years later, the company bought a plant on North Salina Street. ![]() In 1914, the company began to focus on power tools, starting with a line of lathes. Cable, who invested $2,300 in a jobbing machine and tool shop the trio ran out of a garage. Porter-Cable was founded in 1906 in Syracuse, New York, by R.E. Known for pioneering the portable belt sander, helical-drive circular saw, and portable band saw, it is a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker. Porter-Cable is an American company that manufactures power tools. ![]() ![]() ![]() However, he accidentally spilled a mysterious substance called "Chemical X" into the mixture, creating three girls and granting all three superpowers including flight, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman senses, nigh-invulnerability, x-ray vision, red heat vision, energy projection, space survivability, and thermal resistance. From left to right: Bubbles, Blossom, and ButtercupĪs depicted in the opening sequence of each episode, the Powerpuff Girls Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup were created by Professor Utonium in an attempt to create the "perfect little girl" using a mixture of " sugar, spice, and everything nice". In his review of The Powerpuff Girls Movie, movie critic Bob Longino of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, "the intricate drawings emanate 1950s futuristic pizzazz like a David Hockney scenescape," and that the show is "one of the few American creations that is both gleeful pop culture and exquisite high art." Episodes Townsville is depicted as a major American city, with a cityscape consisting of several major skyscrapers. The show is set mainly in the city of Townsville, USA. The cartoon always tries to keep different ideas within each episode with some small tributes and parodies thrown in. Episodes often contain hidden references to older pop culture (especially noticeable in the episode "Meet the Beat Alls", which is a homage to the Beatles). In addition, the girls have to deal with the normal issues that young children face, such as sibling rivalries, loose teeth, personal hygiene, going to school, bed wetting, or dependence on a security blanket. The plot of an episode is usually some humorous variation of standard superhero and tokusatsu shows, with the girls using their powers to defend their town from villains and giant monsters. The show revolves around the adventures of three kindergarten-aged girls with an array of various superpowers: Blossom (pink), Bubbles (blue), and Buttercup (green). The series has been nominated for six Emmy Awards, nine Annie Awards, and a Kids' Choice Award during its run. Various spin-off media include an anime, three CD soundtracks, a home video collection, comic books, a series of video games, a 2016 reboot series, and an upcoming second reboot, as well as various licensed merchandise. A total of 78 episodes were aired in addition to two shorts, a Christmas special, the film, a tenth anniversary special, and a special episode using CGI technology. The Powerpuff Girls aired on Cartoon Network for six seasons, three specials, and a feature film, with the final episode airing on March 25, 2005. Network executives gave McCracken the greenlight for a full series, which debuted as a Cartoon Cartoon on November 18, 1998. Following a name change to Powerpuff Girls, McCracken submitted his student film to Cartoon Network, who aired the series' refined pilot in its animation showcase program World Premiere Toons on February 20, 1995, along with its follow-up, "Crime 101", which aired on January 28, 1996. While attending his second year at CalArts in 1992, series creator Craig McCracken created a short film, Whoopass Stew!, about a trio of child superheroes called the Whoopass Girls, which was only shown at festivals. The girls all live in the fictional city of Townsville with their father and creator, a scientist named Professor Utonium, and are frequently called upon by the city's mayor to help fight nearby criminals and other enemies using their powers. The show centers on Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers. The Powerpuff Girls is an American superhero animated television series created by animator Craig McCracken and produced by Hanna-Barbera (later Cartoon Network Studios) for Cartoon Network and distributed by Warner Bros. ![]() ![]() One of the reasons the island is famous is its peacefulness, the way a resort should be.Unsaturated beauty and a combination of sweet smiling natives made the island as it is now. The stunning sunset will really spice those romantic walks on the beach. Many of these foreigners even settled down on the island to spend the rest of their lives. Tourists as far as Europe fall in love with its fine white sand and crystal clear blue waters. Lot For Sale In Bantayan Island Madridejos 300 sqm Location : Madridejos Cebu Lot For Sale in Madridejos, Bantayan Island Cebu, the shining tropical paradise in Asia is commonly known as an island paradise in Philippines. Water System (Daan Bantayan Water District & Water Tank) NOTE: Approval depends on the income of the buyer. NOTE: Monthly amortization are indicative values. PRICE and AVAILABILITY is subject to change without any prior notice. SPOT CASH EQUITY/DOWN PAYMENT WITH 2.5% DISCOUNT.ĪLSO OFFERS IN HOUSE FINANCING, THRU DEFFERED CASH AS LOW AS 10,833 MONTHLY, PAYABLE FOR 48 MONTHS ONLY! ![]() Reservation Fee: 10,000 pesos(Deductible to the Equity)Įquity: 30% (Php159,000) f the TCP payable within 36-monthsīalance: 70% (Php371,000) of the TCP loanable thru Bank/Pag-ibig/Deferred Cash Shoreline frontaģe : approximately 70 sq.mĪccessibility: By Sea and By air(domestic airport will operate end of the year).This lot has right of wayĪccessibility: By Sea and By air(domestic airport will operate end of the year)Īs low as 3,861/month(MONTHLY DOWN PAYMENT) Lot potential includes a luxury resort and spa, or a secluded exclusive residential seaside community, or both!It'sĪside from the port, A DOMESTIC ARIPORT WILL SOON OPERATE making it more accessible to tourists.Tourism is expected to boost in this area. View 5 photos of 101 NW 30th Street, Oak Island, NC 28465. This lot is located in Bantayan Island, a paradise on the north of Cebu which is famous for its whitesand beaches, laidback culture and serene atmosphere!This beach lot has big stones on both sides making the beach exclusive/private.It's well maintained and has abundant plants/trees(coconut,mango,bamboos,etc). ![]() Rush Sale:Good investment for Resort business or private rest house ![]() |