Skip to main content

Abstract

Six Sigma originated from Motorola as a simple statistical technique to reduce defects in manufacturing in the 1980s with an objective to improve quality by improving manufacturing processes. Today, Six Sigma is an important corporate strategy used by many companies to improve their business processes, create a competitive advantage, and to increase market share and profitability. A recent study conducted by DynCorp, USA, has revealed that the effectiveness of Six Sigma as a tool for process improvement is the highest compared to other process improvement tools such as total quality management (TQM) and ISO 9000. The main objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of Six Sigma and discuss emerging trends in Six Sigma such as Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Lean Six Sigma (LSS).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 429.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Kwak YH, Anbari FT. Benefits, obstacles and future of Six Sigma. Technovation: The International Journal of Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Management 2006; 26(5–6):708–715.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Reichheld FF, Sasser WE. Zero Defections: Quality Comes to Services. Harvard Business Review 1990;105–111.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Harry MJ. Six Sigma: A breakthrough strategy for profitability. Quality Progress 1998; 31(5): 60–64.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Krupar J. Yes, Six Sigma can work for financial institutions. ABA Banking Journal 2003; 95(9):93–94.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Antony J. Six Sigma in the UK service organizations: Results from a pilot survey, Managerial Auditing Journal, 2004; 19(8):1006–1013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chakrabarty A, Tan KC. The current state of Six Sigma application in services, Managing Service Quality, 2007; 17(2):194–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Antony J, Fergusson C. Six Sigma in a software industry: Results from a pilot study. Managerial Auditing Journal 2004; 19:1025–1032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Moorman DW. On the quest for Six Sigma. The American Journal of Surgery 2005; 189:253–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bertels T (Editor). Rath and Strong’s Six Sigma Leadership Handbook, Wiley, New York, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dusharme D. Six Sigma survey: Big success... but what about the other 98 percent? Quality Digest, accessed on 10th February 2006 at http://www.qualitydigest.com/feb03/articles/01_article.shtml.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dinesh Kumar U, Nowicki D, Ramírez-Márquez José Emmanuel, Verma D. Optimal selection of process improvements in a Six Sigma implementation. Forthcoming International Journal of Production Economics 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gowen RC, Tallon WJ. Effect of technological intensity on the relationship among Six Sigma design, electronic business, and competitive advantage: A dynamic capability model. Journal of High Technology Management Research 2005; 16, 59–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Abramovitz M, Stegun IA. Handbook of Mathematical Functions. Dover, New York. 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dinesh Kumar U, Crocker J, Chitra T, Saranga H. Reliability and Six Sigma, Springer, Berlin, 2006.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Pande PS, Neuman RP, Cavanagh RR. The Six Sigma way — How GE, Motorola and other top companies are honing their performance. Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harry MJ, Schroeder R. Six Sigma: The breakthrough management strategy revolutionizing the world’s top corporations. Currency Doubleday, New York, NY, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Banuelas R, Tennant C, Tuersley I, Tang S. Selection of Six Sigma projects in UK. The TQM Magazine 2006; 18(5):514–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Antony J, Banuelas R. Design for Six Sigma. IIE Manufacturing Engineering 2002; 81(1):119–121.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Brue G, Launsby R. Design for Six Sigma. McGraw Hill, New York, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Arnheiter ED, Maleyeff J. The integration of lean management and Six Sigma. The TQM Magazine 2005; 17(1): 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. George ML. Lean Six Sigma. Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Antony J, Banuelas R. Key ingredients for the effective implementation of Six Sigma program. Measuring Business Excellence 2002; 6(2):20–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Buss P, Ivey N. Dow chemical design for Six Sigma rail delivery project. IEEE Computer Society; Proceedings of the Simulation Conference 2001; winter; Dec.9–12, Arlington, VA, U.S.A.: 1248–1251.

    Google Scholar 

  24. De Feo J, Bar-El Z, Creating strategic change more efficiently with a new design for Six Sigma process. Journal of Change Management 2002; 3(1): 60–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. McClusky R. The rise, fall and revival of Six Sigma. Measuring Business Excellence 2001; (4)2:6–17.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Weiner M. Six Sigma. Communication World. 2004; 21(1):26–29.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kumar, U.D. (2008). Six Sigma — Status and Trends. In: Misra, K.B. (eds) Handbook of Performability Engineering. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-131-2_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-131-2_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84800-130-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84800-131-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics