Workshops
Six Sigma Yellow Belt Workshop
June 9, 2025: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Six Sigma Certification Topics
- Six Sigma Fundamentals
Define
- Project Charter
- Process Maps
- SIPOC
- Matrix Diagrams
- Critical to Quality (CTQ) Metrics
- DPMO
- Pareto Chart
- QFD
Measure
- Process analysis
- Probability, Statistics and Distribution
- Data collection and analysis
- Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R)
- Process capability
- X-Bar Charts, Run Charts, Moving Average Charts, EWMA Charts, and Attribute Charts
- Takt Time and Standardization
- Spaghetti Diagrams
- Setup Reductions
Analyze
- Value Stream Map
- Hypothesis Testing
- Goodness of fit test
- Regression Analysis
- Cause & Effect Diagrams
- Scatter Diagrams
- ANOVA
- Confidence Interval
Improve
- Lean Tools to reduce NVA: 5S, Kaizen, Seven Zeros and TPS Principles
- FMEA
- Simulation
- Design of Experiments (DOE)
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
- Solutions Validation
Control
- Control Plan
- SPC
- Tracking
- DFSS
Dr. Ahad Ali
Associate Professor
Director, Doctor of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing
Director of Industrial Engineering Program
A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA
Executive Director, IEOM Society International
Dr. Ahad Ali is an associate professor, director of doctor of engineering in advanced manufacturing and director of industrial engineering programs (BSIE & MSIE) at A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering of the Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Southfield, Michigan, USA. He established the Siemens Electro-Matic Industrial Engineering Lab at LTU. Dr. Ali was the primary author of the ABET self-study report of the BSIE Program at LTU in 2022. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, a Master’s in Systems and Engineering Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA. Dr. Ali was an Assistant Professor in Industrial Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, a Visiting Assistant Professor in Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Toledo, and a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Khulna. He received an Outstanding Professor Award from the Industrial Engineering Department, University of Puerto Rico -Mayaguez. Dr. Ali has been recognized with a Fulbright Award. He has published 75 journal papers and 150 conference papers. Dr Ali conducted research projects with Chrysler, Ford, DTE Energy, New Center Stamping, Whelan Co., Delphi Automotive System, GE Medical Systems, International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC), and Rockwell Automation. His research interests include manufacturing systems, quality, lean, six-sigma, simulation, artificial intelligence, supply chain, and optimization. He supervised 11 doctoral students in Doctor of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems (DEMS). He is a founding team member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEOM Society International. Dr. Ali is a Co-Chair of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Dr. Ali organized IEOM conferences around the globe on six continents including Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Bali, Dubai, Orlando, Detroit, Rabat, Bristol, Bogota, Paris, Washington, DC, Lima, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Pilsen, Toronto, Costa Rica, Monterrey, Sao Paulo, Riyadh, Manila, Melbourne, New Delhi, Sydney, Augsburg, Tokyo, and Muscat. He is an associate editor of the IJIEOM. Dr. Ali is a member of IEOM, INFORMS, SME, and IEEE.
June 10, 2026 (Wednesday) – Session: 16:30 – 18:00
AI Workshop
The Four Quadrants of AI Value: A Classification Framework for Industrial AI Initiative Selection and Prioritization in SME Operations
Tariq Alam
Founder & Strategic AI Lead
DEN Agentic AI
Toronto, Canada
Tariq Alam is the Founder and Strategic AI Lead of DEN Agentic AI LLC, USA, an AI enablement firm dedicated to helping mid-market and enterprise organizations move from AI experimentation to measurable, governed AI performance. With over 20 years of experience spanning data engineering, digital transformation, and organizational capability building, he guides organizations through the full AI adoption journey — from strategic readiness assessment to agentic product deployment — using proprietary methodologies including the AI Capability Maturity Model, the Four Quadrants of AI Value, and the Strategic AI Initiative Canvas.
As the architect of a four-course corporate AI curriculum delivered via a proprietary AI-Native Learning Management System, Tariq has developed structured training programs covering AI literacy, professional upskilling, leadership strategy, and applied agentic AI engineering. His courses are built on practical frameworks designed to make complex AI decisions immediately teachable and applicable across all levels of an organization.
Tariq is also the designer and lead architect of the Agentic Knowledge Engine (AKE), a governed enterprise intelligence layer that connects large language models to proprietary business data through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), grounded retrieval, and semantic modeling. His professional background includes roles as a Data and Analytics Consultant at AMD and Market Intelligence Manager at ADT Security, where he led data strategy, dashboard development, and stakeholder analytics across large-scale enterprise environments.
He holds a Master of Science in Information Management from the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Bangladesh. Tariq is a practitioner in workforce AI capability building, responsible AI governance, and agentic systems architecture, with a focus on delivering sustained business value for SMEs and mid-market organizations.
June 11, 2025: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Simulation with DOE Workshop
Dr. Ahad Ali
Associate Professor
Director, Doctor of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing
Director of Industrial Engineering Program
A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA
Executive Director, IEOM Society International
Dr. Ahad Ali is an associate professor, director of doctor of engineering in advanced manufacturing and director of industrial engineering programs (BSIE & MSIE) at A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering of the Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Southfield, Michigan, USA. He established the Siemens Electro-Matic Industrial Engineering Lab at LTU. Dr. Ali was the primary author of the ABET self-study report of the BSIE Program at LTU in 2022. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, a Master’s in Systems and Engineering Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA. Dr. Ali was an Assistant Professor in Industrial Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, a Visiting Assistant Professor in Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Toledo, and a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Khulna. He received an Outstanding Professor Award from the Industrial Engineering Department, University of Puerto Rico -Mayaguez. Dr. Ali has been recognized with a Fulbright Award. He has published 75 journal papers and 150 conference papers. Dr Ali conducted research projects with Chrysler, Ford, DTE Energy, New Center Stamping, Whelan Co., Delphi Automotive System, GE Medical Systems, International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC), and Rockwell Automation. His research interests include manufacturing systems, quality, lean, six-sigma, simulation, artificial intelligence, supply chain, and optimization. He supervised 11 doctoral students in Doctor of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems (DEMS). He is a founding team member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEOM Society International. Dr. Ali is a Co-Chair of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Dr. Ali organized IEOM conferences around the globe on six continents including Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Bali, Dubai, Orlando, Detroit, Rabat, Bristol, Bogota, Paris, Washington, DC, Lima, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Pilsen, Toronto, Costa Rica, Monterrey, Sao Paulo, Riyadh, Manila, Melbourne, New Delhi, Sydney, Augsburg, Tokyo, and Muscat. He is an associate editor of the IJIEOM. Dr. Ali is a member of IEOM, INFORMS, SME, and IEEE.
4:30 – 6:00 pm, June 11
PPAP Workshop (Online)
- Overview of the PAPP Process
- PPAP Effectiveness
Chair
Steven Sibrel
Supplier Quality Manager
Harman International, Novi, MI
Past Chair – ASQ Greater Detroit
Steve Sibrel is a business process improvement trainer, coach and auditor with over 35 years of experience in the business and manufacturing world. He is currently working as a Supplier Quality Manager at Harman International, a manufacturer of audio and infotainment systems for consumer, professional, and automotive industries, with well-known brands such as JBL, Lexicon, Crown, Infinity, Mark Levinson, Becker and Harman-Kardon. Previously he held a number of engineering and management positions in diverse industries at Applied Materials (Semiconductor), NEC (Telecommunications) and Texas Instruments (Military). He has conducted over 200 supplier audits in North America, Europe, and Asia and is a Lead Auditor for ISO/TS16949, ISO9001, ISO13485, ISO17025, and 21CFR820. He has been the Chair for Professional Development for the ASQ Detroit section since 2008. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 2008 and the Leadership Award in 2013 from ASQ. Current ASQ Certifications held are Six Sigma Black Belt, Quality Engineer, Quality Inspector, Quality Auditor, and Manager of Quality/ Organizational Excellence. He is an adjunct facility member at Macomb Community College. Steve has a BSEE degree from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology and an MSEE degree from Southern Methodist University.
Speaker
Brian Martensen
Product Manager
Plex Quality Management System
Plex, by Rockwell Automation
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Brian Martensen is the Product Manager for the Plex Quality Management System at Plex, by Rockwell Automation, bringing over 30 years of experience in quality leadership and continuous improvement. Prior to joining Rockwell, Brian led quality products and services at AIAG, specializing in quality core tools and IATF 16949.
His career spans key quality and engineering roles across multiple Tier 2 automotive suppliers and Visteon/ACH, where he earned several awards for process improvement and efficiency gains. Brian also serves as a guest lecturer on quality core tools at Wayne State University.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering from GMI Engineering & Management Institute (now Kettering University).