Smithers

After careful consideration of the situation at Sigtek and due deliberation, we would like to present you with our recommendations.

Revival Path for Sigtek

In spite of all the issues and the disappointment you feel, we strongly feel that the Six Sigma initiative can be revived at Sigtek. Patricoff, now being the GM and fully responsible for the Six Sigma initiative will be more interested in the overall success of Sigtek, as it in turn will be judged as his success and means for personal glory. Take advantage of this opportunity and the value that he still sees in you. Schedule time with him to get his support to eliminate the power struggle between the Engineering and Operations Organizations and get his complete buy in into the implementation of the Six Sigma Program. Once you have the buy in from Patricoff, following are our recommendations to revive the Six Sigma Quality Initiative:

Reaffirm the Guiding Coalition, Ensure Commitment and Communicate the Vision

1) A guiding coalition without a strong, unified leadership cannot achieve the power required to overcome the massive sources of inertia at Sigtek.

2) Build the Guiding Coalition - Schedule a week long workshop led by Patricoff to create a vision for Sigtek that aligns with Telwork’s vision and emphasizes on improved product quality and better management practices. Ensure senior management buys into the Six Sigma Quality mission and get their commitment on a plan to end bureaucracy and autocracy at Sigtek, thereby converting management into champions of the program and promoting teamwork and trust.

3) Schedule multiple Six Sigma road shows at Sigtek, ensuring that a mix of employees from the different departments at Sigtek attend each of them, where Patricoff and the key members from the guiding coalition acknowledge the failures in the past, communicate the renewed and unified direction and commit their undivided support to the implementation of Six Sigma mission. Encourage Q&A sessions at each...