Smart Things to Know About Six Sigma

Smart Things to Know About Six Sigma lets managers and executives bridge the gap between the theory and the practical application of Six Sigma. With its track record as an effective way to cut down production defects and costs, Six Sigma has become hugely popular since Jack Welch used it to famous effect during his time at General Electric. This book offers an integrated approach to Six Sigma that combines best practice examples with a practical mechanism for implementation. It is also unique in showing how companies can close the performance gap between what they can do and what they actually achieve. The book also examines the top twenty Six Sigma Analyses and explains their use. What is Smart?

Acknowledgements.

Preface.

Introduction.

Assessing the Pontential Benefits of Six Sigma.

The DMAIC Define Phase and Charter.

DMAIC - The Measure and Analyse Phases.

The DMAIC Process - Improve.

The DMAIC Process - Control.

Successfully Managing Six Sigma Change to Deliver Financial Benefits.

Introducing Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).

Appendices.

Bibliography.

Glossary.

Index.

Six Sigma Table.

ANDREW BERGER is CEO of Continuous Innovation Culture Ltd, London UK - a Six Sigma software company. He has helped major corporations to deliver significant improvements in performance and to increase their delivery of financial benefits. He has worked with a range of multinational companies including BP, BOC, Powergen, Sony, BAT, UK government and Shell. He has worked on improvement programmes in 13 industries in over 24 countries. Andrew was co-author of Supply Chain Cybermastery (Gower) and has also contributed a number of articles and chapters to recently published books. Smart is a breakthrough series that offers a completely new learning experience for hassled business people. The books deliver all that the fast-track executive needs to shine and perform. Each book delivers a sharp introduction to the basics as well as experiences and tips from the frontiers of the subject and the insights of the hottest gurus.

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Six Sigma is a target for operational performance and the name originates from the statistical term that uses the lower case Greek letter to mean standard deviation. If you improve the sigma (or standard deviation) of any process you are in effect reducing failure or defect rate of that process. But don’t let this description put you off. Six Sigma has long left its precise definition behind. It has now turned into a generic term – one which denotes the disciplined and relentless pursuit of higher levels of quality and lower levels of cost. And with companies such as GE, Honeywell, Texas and Polaroid claiming to have delivered financial benefits of more than $1 billion it’s easy to see why Six Sigma is growing at a phenomenal rate - across all sectors and geographies.

In Smart Things to Know about Six Sigma Andrew Berger shows managers and execs how to bridge the gap between the theory and the practical applications of Six Sigma. Berger offers a unique and integrated approach combining best practice examples with a practical mechanism for implementation.

Smart managers know they can’t ignore the growing trend, and in Smart Things to Know About Six Sigma Andrew Berger reveals the tools for becoming a Six Sigma Black Belt:

What are the problems you could solve with Six Sigma? How do you select the right projects? How do you devise the timescale?

The main process for Six Sigma is DMAIC (Define – Measure & Analyse – Improve – Control), and is the best methodology for ensuring that targets are met.

Time spent in reconnaissance is rarely wasted. Learn what the ‘Define’ and ‘Project Charter’ phase is. How do you get started?

Data collection and analysis is the art and the science of Six Sigma. What are the best practice tools and benchmarks to help project teams in the Measure and Analyse phase?

Next step. It’s time to move to the IMPROVE phase. No problem… this is when the fun begins. But what should the project team really want to achieve during this phase? It’s all about prioritising and testing solutions and building the case for change.

Change is only complete when people in the organization adopt a ‘new way of doing things’ as the accepted way of doing things. But what are the wider implications for taking on the change and how do you sustain the change? Welcome to the CONTROL phase.

How do you successfully manage Six Sigma change to deliver real financial benefits? (Hiieeeeyah. Please come forward and pick up your belt).

Six Sigma can be used to improve any process. From product cycle times to defects reduction, and it can be used in almost any range of business. From high street financial institutions, to hospitals and to cardboard box manufacturers. In the next 3-4 years, you’ll see around 60% of companies implementing some form of Six Sigma. Be Smart. And see what all the fuss is about…

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Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.

Lao Tzu