Quality Beyond Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a data-driven management system with near-perfect performance that is a statistical target of operating with no more that 3.4 defects per one million chances. Six sigma has both created avid interest and raised concerns among executives and its practioners. This is all very well for multinationals like Motorola or General Electric but how can it help small and medium-sized enterprises or the service industry? How do you ensure that solutions stick? Quality Beyond Six Sigma responds to this challenge and provides a practical implementation of the issues of Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise and Total Quality and aligns the 'hard' sigma message with the softer sustainable 'strategic issues'. The result is FIT SIGMA.The authors utilize major and minor case studies to support principles and learnings of FIT SIGMA and include review examples and self-assessment that underpin the sustainable process. The three major case studies are contributed by General Electric, Dow Chemical and Seagate Technology.Senior Executives and Managers of organizations of all types and sizes, Management Consultants and Students of all disciplines will find this book a stimulating guide to quality and operational excellence. *Provides a practical approach of FIT SIGMA*Supported by case studies and phased action plans*Focuses on all functions, manufacturing or service, for any size of business

Six Sigma is a data-driven management system with near-perfect performance that is a statistical target of operating with no more that 3.4 defects per one million chances. Six sigma has both created avid interest and raised concerns among executives and its practioners. This is all very well for multinationals like Motorola or General Electric but how can it help small and medium-sized enterprises or the service industry? How do you ensure that solutions stick? Quality Beyond Six Sigma responds to this challenge and provides a practical implementation of the issues of Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise and Total Quality and aligns the 'hard' sigma message with the softer sustainable 'strategic issues'. The result is FIT SIGMA.

The authors utilize major and minor case studies to support principles and learnings of FIT SIGMA and include review examples and self-assessment that underpin the sustainable process. The three major case studies are contributed by General Electric, Dow Chemical and Seagate Technology.

Senior Executives and Managers of organizations of all types and sizes, Management Consultants and Students of all disciplines will find this book a stimulating guide to quality and operational excellence.

Audience: Middle to senior managers involved in implementing excellence and change programmes. Quality mangers and practitioners & operational management specialists. Postgraduate courses on quality, operations management, and manufacturing technology.

Six Sigma is a data-driven management system with near-perfect performance that is a statistical target of operating with no more that 3.4 defects per one million chances. Six sigma has both created avid interest and raised concerns among executives and its practioners. This is all very well for multinationals like Motorola or General Electric but how can it help small and medium-sized enterprises or the service industry? How do you ensure that solutions stick? "Quality Beyond Six Sigma" responds to this challenge and provides a practical implementation of the issues of Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise and Total Quality and aligns the 'hard' sigma message with the softer sustainable 'strategic issues'. The result is Fit Sigma. The authors utilize major and minor case studies to support principles and learnings of Fit Sigma and include review examples and self-assessment that underpin the sustainable process. The three major case studies are contributed by General Electric, Dow Chemical and Seagate Technology. Senior executives and managers of organizations of all types and sizes, management consultants and students of all disciplines will find this book a stimulating guide to quality and operational excellence. This book provides a practical approach of Fit Sigma. Supported by case studies and phased action plans, it focuses on all functions, manufacturing or service, for any size of business Quality Beyond Six Sigma......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 1 Why FIT SIGMA.?......Page 13 2 History of the quality movement......Page 23 3 The enigma of Six Sigma......Page 45 4 Case studies: Six Sigma in practice......Page 65 5 Lean enterprises......Page 80 6 The methodology of FIT SIGMA.......Page 93 7 FIT SIGMA. and service organizations......Page 124 8 Project management and FIT SIGMA.......Page 150 9 Implementation, or making it happen......Page 162 References......Page 186 Glossary......Page 191 Index......Page 197 This chapter considers the world of change and the need for organizations to be aware of the factors required to sustain competitive advantage from the introduction of change programmes.