Six Sigma

Six Sigma is one of the most important developments in the field of business improvement. It is also one of the most over-hyped and misunderstood initiatives, leading to confusion and controversy. Those studying or working in the area need to understand not only the mechanics of conducting Six Sigma projects, or even implementing the wider initiative. They must also grasp the underpinning principles and logic. This book looks at both the academic and practical aspects of Six Sigma to give a deeper and more subtle understanding of how and why it works, and the limitations of the approach.

1. Development of Quality Thinking
2. Six Sigma: The Next Evolution
3. Definition of Six Sigma
4. Summary

1. Introduction
2. To Improve Financial Performance and Profitability
3. To be Responsive to, and Focused on, Customers
4. To Improve Product and Service Performance
5. Contributing to Organizational Learning
6. Summary

1. Six Sigma is Strategic
2. Six Sigma is About Customers
3. Six Sigma is About Variation
4. Six Sigma is About Process and Scientific Investigation
5. Six Sigma is About People and Learning Not Cost
6. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Vision, Mission and Values
3. Strategic Objectives
4. Hoshin Kanri and Six Sigma
5. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Customer Satisfaction and Customer Value
3. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Special and Common Cause Variation
3. Process Capability
4. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Business Processes: The Reality
3. Scientific Investigation
4. Summary

1. Key Six Sigma Roles
2. Belt System Issues
3. People and Change
4. Organizational Learning
5. Summary

1. Deployment Model: Kotter
2. Deployment Logic: System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK)
3. Steps 1 to 3: Envisioning the Transformation
4. Steps 4 to 7: Enacting the Transformation
5. Step 8: Institutionalise the New System
6. Summary

1. Basic Statistical Concepts
2. Variation, the Normal Distribution, DPMO and Sigma Levels
3. The Scientific Method and the DMAIC Cycle
4. The Four Focuses of a Six Sigma Project
5. Process
6. People and Change
7. Summary

1. Introduction
2. The Define Stage
3. The Measure Stage
4. The Analyse Stage
5. The Improve Stage
6. The Control Stage
7. Summary

1. Introduction
2. What Does the Customer Value?
3. What is the Value Stream?
4. What Design/Process Elements Affect Customer requirements?
5. Quality Function Deployment
6. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Building and Using Control Charts
3. Responding to Out of Control Conditions
4. Process Capability
5. Responding to Incapable Processes
6. Evaluating the Measurement System
7. Summary

1. Learning in and Between Projects
2. People in Improvement
3. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Supplier-Input-Process-Output-Customer (SIPOC) Diagram
3. Process Flow Chart
4. Value Stream Mapping
5. Soft Systems Methodology
6. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Service is Different
3. The Dimensions of Service Quality
4. Contribution of Six Sigma
5. Potential Modifications to Six Sigma in Service Environments
6. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Project Background
3. Selection of a Quality Characteristic
4. Methodology
5. Summary

1. Introduction
2. The DFSS Process
3. The Voice of The Customer
4. Impact of Late Design Changes
5. Design for ‘X’
6. DFSS Tools
7. Summary

1. Introduction
2. Accepted Strengths of Six Sigma
3. Reasons for Failure and Critical Success Factors
4. Inherent Conceptual Issues
5. The Future
6. Summary