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

Chapter 6. Sustaining Momentum and Growing

“To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often.”

—Winston Churchill

You have successfully launched your Six Sigma initiative (Chapter 4), and have been working on putting in place those systems that are needed to effectively manage the deployment (Chapter 5). Many Six Sigma initiatives begin to hit a lull at this point as other priorities gradually erode the momentum. Now is the time to implement systems and processes that will instead help you sustain the energy. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense, and growth of the program can be a good offensive tactic that helps maintain momentum. This chapter focuses on the defensive effort needed to sustain impetus, and the offensive effort ...