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Sean Goffnet, assistant professor of marketing and logistics, helped create an online Six Sigma training program. The Dow Chemical Co., CMU to benefi t from online Six Sigma training program As companies continue to face increased competition, the need to consistently improve business processes remains a priority. The Dow Chemical Co. is one of many Fortune 500 companies getting ahead of the curve by using Six Sigma to improve their business processes. Six Sigma is a methodology that seeks to improve business processes using data- driven decision methods to reduce or eliminate causes of defects, errors and ineffi ciencies. Successful application reduces costs, increases revenue and adds value. "If Six Sigma is used properly, companies can experience signifi cant fi nancial returns and enhance their competitive position," says Sean Goffnett, assistant professor of marketing and logistics at CMU. While working at Johnson Controls, Goffnett saved his company $1 million by locating inventory and production ineffi ciencies after intensive Six Sigma training. Dow and CMU have a history of collaboration on Six Sigma. This new agreement continues the relationship while increasing Dow's capability for training its employees and offering CMU students the opportunity for industry-level training incorporated into university curricula. Need meets expertise As a global company, Dow has thousands of employees throughout the world, creating the need for fl exible training options. 4 Through the fi ve-year agreement, CMU is using Dow Six Sigma proprietary materials to develop and deliver, in an online learning format, Virtual training

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