The goal of this book remains the same as for the first edition, namely, to pro-
vide you with the comprehensive guidance and direction necessary to realize
Six Sigma’s promise, while avoiding traps and pitfalls commonly encountered.
In this book you will find a complete overview of the management and organiza-
tion of Six Sigma, the philosophy which underlies Six Sigma, and those problem
solving techniques and statistical tools most often used in Six Sigma. It is not
intended to be an ASQ certification study guide, although it includes coverage
of most of the topics included in the ASQ body of knowledge. Rather it is
intended as a guide for champions, leaders, ‘‘belts,’’ team members and others
interested in using the Six Sigma approach to make their organizations more
efficient, more effective, or both. In short, it is a user’s manual, not a classroom
textbook.
Compared to the first edition, you will find less discussion of theory. I love
theory, but Six Sigma is quite hard-nosed in its bottom-line emphasis and I
know that serious practitioners are more interested in how to use the tools and
techniques to obtain results than in the theory underlying a particular tool.
(Of course, theory is provided to the extent necessary to understand the proper
use and limitations of a given tool.) Minitab and other software are used exten-
sively to illustrate how to apply statistical techniques in a variety of situations
encountered during Six Sigma projects. I believe that one of the major differ-
ences between Six Sigma and previous initiatives, such as TQM, is the integra-
tion of powerful computer-based tools into the training. Many actual examples
are used, making this book something of a practical guide based on the school
of hard knocks.