Leading Six Sigma: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Experience with GE and Other Six Sigma Companies

Chapter 2. Four Case Studies: What Works and What Doesn't

“Those who remain ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

Now that we know what Six Sigma is and why leaders need to be very careful in how they implement it, it's time to look at how it works. Two case studies in this chapter illustrate very successful implementations. However, because Six Sigma is not a silver bullet—there are no guarantees of success—two other case studies show much less successful efforts.

In Chapter 3 we will compare and contrast the very successful implementations with the less successful ones, showing the key implementation factors that ultimately determine how successful an organization will be with Six Sigma. We then incorporate these ...