Six Sigma Introduction

Chapter

First Online: 16 November 2019

Part of the Management for Professionals book series (MANAGPROF)

Abstract

Six Sigma is a concept with at least three meanings:

1.
William B. Smith and Mikel J. Harry (1986) developed Six Sigma at Motorola. The trigger was a specific quality problem in Motorola’s semiconductor division and one customer explicitly required a performance level of 6 sigma.
2.
This requirement was the impetus for the development of the DMAIC method and the origin of the name for the whole improvement program (personal message from Motorola).
3.
Jack Welsh (1995) at General Electric perfected the implementation, penetration, and sustainable establishment of the improvement program in the whole organization (Fig. 2.1).

This is a preview of subscription content, to check access.

Harry, M. J. (1988). The nature of six sigma quality. Schaumburg, IL: Motorola University Press.Google Scholar
Leyendecker, B., Schindewolf, S., Hutwelker, R., & Weigel, H. (2011, July). Erfolgsfaktoren für die Etablierung von Six Sigma. QZ—Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit.Google Scholar
Shewhart, W. A. (1939). Statistical method from the viewpoint of quality control. Washington, D.C: Reprint of the Graduate School, Department of Agriculture.zbMATHGoogle Scholar