About APICS > Press Room > Press Release

For more information, contact: 
Mary King
Senior Manager, Communications Division
(800) 444-2742 or (703) 354-8851, ext. 2251

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Research Investigates Integration of
Six Sigma and Knowledge Creation

Alexandria, VA (March 11, 2002)—A proposal to study knowledge creation and organizational learning in companies using six sigma is the APICS Educational and Research (E&R) Foundation’s George and Marion Plossl Doctoral Dissertation Competition winning research topic. The foundation is the research arm of APICS—The Educational Society for Resource Management. 

Adrian S. Choo, a doctoral candidate in operations and management science at the University of Minnesota, is awarded $2,500 for his doctoral thesis proposal—Knowledge Creation in the Structured Improvement Approach: Toward an Integration of Quality and Knowledge.

According to Choo, “The connection between knowledge management and six sigma has not been studied. Case studies in manufacturing and service will define the theory that will be tested on recently completed six sigma projects. The research findings will contribute to theory that explains how knowledge is created by using an improvement approach such as six sigma.

“The research will be translated into guidelines for implementing six sigma for managing knowledge creation in companies,” said Choo.

The Plossl Endowment Fund established in 1994 provides the financial resources for the annual dissertation competition. The competition is named to honor the Plossls who are long-time supporters of and leading volunteers for the foundation. George Plossl, an authority in production and operations management, is a widely read author and consultant to major manufacturers.

Foundation President James F. Cox III, CFPIM, CIRM, Jonah’s Jonah, said the dissertation topics are evaluated on the “importance and potential contribution to business and academia,  originality, and application to the practitioner in the resource management field.” Choo is the sixth recipient of the award selected by the E&R Board of Directors Operations Committee in conjunction with the Plossls.

APICS—The Educational Society for Resource Management provides lifelong learning for lifetime success.  APICS’ certification programs, training tools, and networking opportunities increase workplace performance. The society supports nearly 60,000 members in 20,000 manufacturing and service industry companies worldwide.

The APICS Educational and Research Foundation fosters education and development in the field of resource management. By building working relationships between industry practitioners and academicians, the foundation is able to promote applied research on significant real-world industry issues.

To learn more about APICS and the foundation, go to www.apics.org.