What Is Six SIGMA? »

Peter S. Pande is president of Pivotal Resources, Inc., a leading organizational improvement consulting and training firm.. He is an experienced executive consultant and has helped guide Six Sigma initiatives at major corporations. He cowrote the bestselling The Six Sigma Way as well as The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook.

Larry Holpp is a consultant with Pivotal Resources. He was previously Vice President, Quality and a Master Black Belt at GE Capital. Holpp is the author of Managing Teams, and The Team Turbo Training Kit, and has published two dozen articles on training and quality in professional journals.

The First Six Sigma Primer Written Especially for Employees

Six Sigma has gained an avid following among executives and managers for its ability to reduce cycle time, eliminate product defects, and dramatically increase customer involvement and satisfaction. But Six Sigma can't work without widespread employee involvement and commitment. What Is Six Sigma? explains, for employees, the core ideas behind Six Sigma, the crucial roles and responsibilities employees have in a Six Sigma initiative, and how Six Sigma can benefit them.

This concise introduction to Six Sigma explains what questions to ask when Six Sigma is first introduced in an organization, then answers those questions in straightforward and easy-to-read style. Look to it for real-world descriptions of:

• The fundamentals and foundations of Six Sigma
• The essential roles employees play in Six Sigma
• The changes and challenges they are likely to see
• Case studies of employees using Six Sigma to identify­­and correct­­major problems

More than a "quality" program, Six Sigma is a business initiative that helps every area of an organization meet the changing needs of its customers, profitably. What Is Six Sigma? will help spread the message of Six Sigma around any organization simply and clearly.

Peter S. Pande is president of Pivotal Resources, Inc., a leading organizational improvement consulting and training firm.. He is an experienced executive consultant and has helped guide Six Sigma initiatives at major corporations. He cowrote the bestselling The Six Sigma Way as well as The Six Sigma Way Team Fieldbook.

Larry Holpp is a consultant with Pivotal Resources. He was previously Vice President, Quality and a Master Black Belt at GE Capital. Holpp is the author of Managing Teams, and The Team Turbo Training Kit, and has published two dozen articles on training and quality in professional journals.

Acknowledgments

1: The Six Sigma Success Story ..... 1

2: Six What? What's a Sigma? ..... 6

3: Six Sigma in Your Organization ..... 17

4: The Six Sigma Teams Problem-Solving Process: DMAIC ..... 27

5: Survivor's Guide to Six Sigma ..... 42

6: A Look Inside the Six Sigma Toolkit ..... 51

7: Six Sigma in Action: Some Success Stories ..... 68

8: A Note to Managers: How You Can Help Lead Six Sigma ..... 74

9: A Note to Six Sigma Employees: Nine Things You Should Do and Five Skills to Develop ..... 81

Appendix ..... 87