Cost reduction, productivity improvement, customer retention, and enhanced bottom line are among the benefits we expect from the implementation of a six sigma management program. But what is six sigma? What are the secrets of its success? Six Sigma and Beyond: Foundations of Excellent Performance (the first of a seven volume set) provides a roadmap to successful six sigma implementation that you can adapt to your organization. The book provides a model of six sigma methodology and explains frequently asked questions in a Q & A format for easy application. It outlines the seven steps to six sigma and how to use them to give your organization the competitive edge.

From the Preface: “...This work will attempt to focus on six sigma and beyond for both manufacturing and transactional organizations. Specifically, we will discuss the foundations of quality, and progressively, we will move into what is called the six sigma methodology from a design perspective. We will discuss some of the tools used in the methodology and close this series with an implementation scheme that, if followed, will help any organization improve both their processes and financial status...In this volume, we focus on the very fundamental issues of all quality systems and we give an overview of the six sigma concept...[W]e also include what we think is the body of knowledge for an effective six sigma program. As of now, the body of knowledge has not been officially designated...”

Target Audience: Academics and practitioners who desire to understand quality systems and the six sigma concept, including especially those individuals charged with implementation of six sigma methodology.

Table of Contents:

Quality:

The Foundations of Any Quality System

Six Sigma Overview

Teams:

A General Overview

The Changing Workplace

Communicating Communication

Team Development

Implementation

Team Improvement

General Issues

An Introduction to Problem Solving: Selected Tools and Methodologies as Used in a Team Environment

Appendix A: A Cursory View of the Six Sigma Methodology

Appendix B: The Core Competencies of the Six Sigma Methodology

Cross-Reference List of Terms Used in the Team Environment

Appendix D: Problem Solving/Decision Making

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Note: Six Sigma and Beyond is a seven volume set. The other books in this series are: Vol. 2 (Problem Solving and Basic Mathematics), Vol. 3 (Statistics and Probability), Vol. 4 (Statistical Process Control), Vol. 5 (Design of Experiments), Vol. 6 (Design for Six Sigma), and Vol. 7 (The Implementation Process).