Summary

While many companies have achieved significant financial benefits, launching a Six Sigma initiative does not guarantee significant success. The initiative must be properly led and managed in order to be successful. We believe the material in this book will help leaders do just this. As we have noted elsewhere, Six Sigma works if you follow the process. If it is not working, you are not following the process.

Certainly anything can be improved and streamlined. However, readers should beware of claims for instant success with no significant investment or effort required. Such claims should be viewed with the same skepticism as fad programs that guarantee large weight loss without dieting or exercise. The saying “no pain, no gain” is true in both weight loss and Six Sigma. Lasting Six Sigma success requires both financial and personal commitment. Committed leadership is the single most important key to success.

We have provided an overall process for Six Sigma deployment that goes from initial decision to launch through ingraining Six Sigma into the fabric and culture of the organization. Each of the major phases of this process has been described in detail in a separate chapter. While this process does not need to be followed religiously, every organization we know of that has followed this general process has achieved significant success (about 20 organizations). Leaders need to monitor success of both the set of individual Six Sigma projects, and also the overall initiative itself. We trust that readers will find the sets of questions to ask during reviews, and lists of pitfalls for both projects and the overall initiative, helpful.

Additional Six Sigma resources that readers may find helpful are given below. Finally, we provide additional information in the form of frequently asked questions about Six Sigma deployment, and our answers to them, immediately after this chapter. These questions are based on numerous leadership interactions we have held since 1995. Good luck with your deployment!