1st Edition

Quality Beyond Six Sigma

Edited By Ron Basu, J. Nevan Wright Copyright 2003
    200 Pages
    by Routledge

    200 Pages
    by Routledge

    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.

    Preface; Acknowledgements; Why fit sigma?; History of the quality movement; The enigma of six sigma; Case studies; Lean enterprises; The methodology of fit sigma; Fit sigma and service organisations; Project management and fit sigma; Implementation or making it happen; References; Glossary.

    Biography

    Ron Basu, Nevan Wright

    " Unilever has always subscribed to and practised the concepts of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Total Preventative Maintenance (TPM). Quality Beyond Six Sigma provides a practical framework for building
    on TQM and TPM using the statistical approach of Six Sigma so as to comfortably 'fit' any size or type of organisation."

    - Richard Greenhalgh
    Chairman, Unilever UK and President, British Quality Foundation