The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance

CHAPTER 11The Key to Successful Improvement: Selecting the Right Six Sigma Projects

WE ONCE CONDUCTED an informal poll of colleagues who have been involved in Six Sigma and other process improvement initiatives, and found an unanticipated consensus: Each person identified project selection as the most critical, and most commonly mishandled, activity in launching Six Sigma. It’s a pretty simple equation, really: Well-selected and -defined improvement projects equal better, faster results. The converse equation is also simple: Poorly selected and defined projects equal delayed results and frustration.

In fact, one of the strongest arguments in favor of following the ideal Six Sigma Roadmap (see Figure 5.1) is that doing so allows you to much more ...