The Evolution of Six Sigma

The Evolution 1

Running Head: The Evolution

The Evolution of Six Sigma

August 16, 2009

GM 588

Keller Graduate School of Management

The Evolution 2

The Evolution of Six Sigma

Six Sigma can be described as a business improvement approach that seeks to find and eliminate causes of defects and errors in manufacturing and service processes by focusing on outputs that are critical to customers and a clear financial return for the organization. Evans, Lindsay (2008) Six Sigma has its roots in the early industrial era of Europe during the 18th century and was introduced with just one conceptual normal curve metric by Carl Frederick Gauss. In the 1920s Walter Shewhart explained how three sigma deviations from the mean required process correction. The ever quality-conscious Japanese perfected the Six Sigma concept when they took over a Motorola factory in 1970, which manufactured TV sets. The new Japanese management placed high emphasis on all activities leading to production. Later, in 1986, a Motorola engineer, Bill Smith, coined the term Six Sigma. Mike Harry, who is regarded as the godfather of Six Sigma, along with Bill Smith wrote a research report on the quality management system, which highlighted the correlation between the performances of a product in the market with the amount of adjustment required at the point of manufacturing. This report clearly established the lesser the number of nonconformities at each stage of manufacturing, the better the performance. The report paved for implementation of logical filters, a key approach to problem solving. With Bob Galvin, the Motorola CEO at the time, playing a key role, later this four stage logical filter came to be known as the skeleton for the present Six Sigma. The four stages identified, were Measure Analyze, Improve and Control. Since its introduction at...