Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Acquainted with Six Sigma Basics 7

Chapter 1: Better Business and Better Performance: Defining Six Sigma 9

Chapter 2: Linking Quality and Business 17

Chapter 3: Examining the Principles and Language of Six Sigma 31

Chapter 4: Organizing for Improvement 43

Part II: DMAIC: Defining and Measuring 61

Chapter 5: Identifying and Right-Sizing Projects 63

Chapter 6: Launching a Project 77

Chapter 7: Mapping to Identify Possible Factors 87

Chapter 8: Diagramming to Identify Possible Factors 101

Chapter 9: Describing Performance with Numbers 113

Part III: DMAIC: Analyzing 133

Chapter 10: Depicting and Analyzing Data through Charts and Graphs 135

Chapter 11: Analyzing for Value 155

Chapter 12: What’s Normal? Recognizing Normally-Shaped Variation 165

Chapter 13: Assessing Capability: Comparing the Voices of the Customer and the Process 179

Chapter 14: Gauging Gauges: Measurement System Analysis (MSA) 199

Chapter 15: Mining Data and Processes for Insight 209

Chapter 16: Making Confident Decisions 227

Part IV: DMAIC: Improving and Controlling 241

Chapter 17: Forecasting Future Performance 243

Chapter 18: Designing, Conducting, and Analyzing Experiments (DOE) 259

Chapter 19: Standardizing on Improvement 281

Chapter 20: Maintaining Gains through Statistical Process Control 291

Part V: Looking at the Six Sigma Technology Tool Landscape 309

Chapter 21: Eyeing Process Characterization and Optimization Technologies 311

Chapter 22: Tools for Performing Six Sigma Analysis 323

Chapter 23: Managing Six Sigma 331

Part VI: The Part of Tens 343

Chapter 24: Ten Top Do's and Don’ts of Six Sigma 345

Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Gain Synergies with Lean and Six Sigma 349

Chapter 26: Ten Places to Go for Help 353

Index 357

About the Author

Craig Gygi is Executive VP of Operations at MasterControl, a leading company providing software and services for best practices in automating and connecting every stage of quality/regulatory compliance, through the entire product life cycle. Bruce Williams is the Senior Vice President & General Manager of Software AG, a global leader in business process excellence.