What Is Six Sigma?

2.3. SIX SIGMA AS A SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT

A significant difference between Six Sigma and seemingly similar programs of past years is the degree to which management plays a key role in regularly monitoring program results and accomplishments. When Jack Welch introduced the Six Sigma program at GE, he told senior executives that 40 percent of their annual bonus would be based on their involvement and success in implementing Six Sigma.

That focused executive attention on turbocharging Six Sigma in their individual divisions. Training in GE was given a huge boost, and thousands of teams were trained in large sessions. At the same time, executives throughout GE participated in days and sometimes weeks of Six Sigma training.

But training alone is not ...