How TAMKO’s Six Sigma Program Optimizes Project Management Processes

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

For the past 20 years, TAMKO has found success and increased productivity with their Six Sigma program. 

Continuous improvement is a top priority for any company seeking success. TAMKO not only understands this but has been implementing their Six Sigma program for the past 20 years as a way of optimizing their project management processes. The leading roofing shingle manufacturer has found great success in implementing the program’s methodology that focuses on quality.   

In a recent podcast, TAMKO representatives spoke highly of the success of the program and how it all came to be. Although the Six Sigma program has been around for 20 years, the company has began using continuous improvement methodologies long before that. In 1980, TAMKO adopted the Deming philosophy, a holistic approach to management that uses continuous training and effective management. 

“This idea of continuous improvement, it really didn't grow legs until we really found the Deming continuous improvement philosophy back in the '80s,” said Mike Shifferd, TAMKO Director of Six Sigma. “In the early 2000s, we were exposed to Six Sigma as a methodology, and it really provided us with a couple of different things beyond what Deming did.” 

While the tools of the Six Sigma processes are similar to the Deming philosophy, the program focuses more on ownership of projects and the improvements made in the process. In the program, there are project managers they refer to as “Black Belts” who have ownership over their projects as a way of driving continuous improvement. The program focuses on reducing the variation of TAMKO’s products in order to improve quality. 

True to the philosophy of the program, TAMKO is working on taking the Six Sigma program to the next level with new developments in data science and AI. “We created measurement systems and metrics and a whole new language around data driven decision-making that we didn't have before,” Mike said. “This still continues today, so, over the next 20 years, we'll continue to develop this.” 

Learn more about TAMKO in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.tamko.com. 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about TAMKO’s successful Six Sigma program. 

Photo credit: TAMKO