Articles

Image: Six Sigma Failures

The Unspoken Truth About Six Sigma Failures: Guide to Prevention & Profitability

It’s a figure that should concern any executive: studies suggest that over 50% of Six Sigma projects fail to deliver their expected financial and operational returns. These initiatives, launched with high hopes and significant investment, often end in frustration, wasted resources, and a team cynical about future improvements. Concerned about the 50% failure rate? Don’t […]

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Building a Lean Culture: The Foundation for Lean Six Sigma Excellence

Are your process improvement efforts stalling? You’ve implemented the 5S charts, you hold daily stand-ups, and you’ve mapped out your value streams, but the changes never seem to stick. The momentum fades, and old habits creep back in. If this sounds familiar, the problem isn’t your tools; it’s the foundation they’re built on. So, what is […]

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Supply Chain Cost Optimization: A Blueprint to Slash Costs with Lean Six Sigma

Uncontrolled supply chain expenses are not just a line item on a balance sheet; they are a critical business vulnerability. From fluctuating fuel prices and geopolitical disruptions to shifting consumer demands, the pressure on supply chain leaders has never been more intense. Simply reacting to these challenges is no longer enough. To survive and grow, […]

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Overcoming the 7 Biggest Six Sigma Challenges: A Real-World Guide

You have the executive mandate. You’ve read the books and perhaps even have the certification. So why does implementing Six Sigma feel like pushing a boulder uphill in a hurricane? You’re not alone. Most initiatives, even in well-run organizations, face a predictable set of hurdles that have more to do with people and politics than […]

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Guide to Crafting a Winning Six Sigma Business Case

Did you know that a lack of clear goals is a primary reason for project failure? A powerful Six Sigma business case is your first and best defense against this, turning abstract ideas into approved, funded, and successful projects. This guide will move beyond simple definitions. We provide a step-by-step framework, real-world examples, and expert […]

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The 7 Core Pillars of Operational Excellence: Your Complete Guide

Operational excellence represents the systematic pursuit of flawless execution across all business functions. It’s not merely about reducing errors or cutting costs—it’s a holistic approach that transforms how organizations deliver value to customers while maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. Transform your organization’s performance with proven improvement strategies Learn the systematic approach to driving sustainable business success […]

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The 7 Core Competencies of SAFe: A Comprehensive Guide to Business Agility

Market conditions shift overnight and customer expectations grow rapidly. Competitors emerge from unexpected quarters. The ability to respond quickly to these changes isn’t just advantageous—it’s essential for survival. This is where business agility becomes critical. But achieving true agility at scale remains elusive for many enterprises. Learn how to recognize and eliminate process wastes Transform […]

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Operational Risk Management: A Guide for Modern Businesses 2024

One in three companies has faced major operational disruptions in just the last five years. We’re talking about losses that run into billions. Be it cybersecurity breaches to supply chain failures, these incidents highlight a critical truth. Operational risk management (ORM) isn’t just a regulatory requirement; it’s a business imperative for survival and success. Key […]

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Lean Leadership: Principles, Practices & Future of Operational Excellence

With 20+ experience in the field I have learned continuous improvement is crucial to staying ahead of the competition, and lean leadership serves as the driving force behind this relentless pursuit of excellence. Lean leadership is a philosophy that empowers organizations to meet their full potential by fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and continuous […]

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Six Sigma Motivates and Inspires Company Staff

There are many ways businesses have tried to motivate company staff members. If administration is now noticing that their staff is unmotivated, chances are they have been feeling this way for awhile and may be ready to quit. Without an engaged workforce, your company may slowly start to diminish, and customer complaints and dissatisfaction will start […]

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Kaizen continuous improvement

A Review in the Basics of Six Sigma: Kaizen

The word Kaizen means “improvement” in the Japanese language. When the same word is used in the workplace, it means a continuous improvement that involves the entire staff. It is a philosophy or mindset; the entire organization is involved and engaged in its own improvement. It is a company culture where everyone is truly interested […]

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implementing six sigma importance

The Importance of Implementing Six Sigma Correctly

When a company decides to implement Six Sigma, first and foremost they need to follow the entire protocol of Six Sigma. In other words, don’t skip and go right to what you think is important — all of it is important. Skip any one part and failure will ensue. For example, if in all your […]

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Taking Legal Action with Six Sigma

In the worst scenarios, illegitimate practitioners will try to copy your organization and even steal your employees. Equally, business fraud of any kind almost always requires you to take legal action. It’s an unfortunate fact that Six Sigma does not have its own governing body, which means that anyone can get away with anything. For […]

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Six Sigma and Business Analytics: Detecting Fraud

Six Sigma’s usefulness goes well beyond process improvement. It’s also a powerful tool for detecting fraud in accounting data. You should always remain vigilant, as it is often unexpected and difficult to identify. Are you worried about your organization being compromised by fraud? Six Sigma can help. Once you know what to look for, you […]

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Six Sigma and KPIs: Customer Complaints

Your customers are the most important factor for generating revenue. Think about it. Without customers to pay for your products and services, you have no revenue, which means no profit. Plain and simple. Without customers, your business can’t exist. Make sure you know and understand what your customers want. Understanding customer demand is essential to […]

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How to Manage Difficult Team Members

Let’s face it; we all have to deal with difficult team members from time to time. Whether it’s little issues, such as not showing up to work on time, or bigger ones, like failing to complete tasks on time, it’s important to effectively manage the situation. Six Sigma focuses on providing innovative improvement methods for […]

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Practicing Due Diligence: Signs of a Legitimate Professional

When searching for your first, or next, Six Sigma course, it’s important to be on the lookout for illegitimate practitioners. These practitioners may talk you in to paying more for a course than you should, falsely advertise their program, or fall through on their certification promises. Regardless of the reason, there will always be a […]

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uber

Six Sigma Leadership Profile: Uber

At 6sigma.us, we like to analyze a variety of companies in our ‘Leadership Profile’ articles to showcase how they use Six Sigma. These companies exhibit innovative and resourceful skills that help further progress their organization’s success. Whether you’re a non-profit organization or an industry-leading manufacturing company, there’s always a use for Six Sigma methodologies. In […]

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Six Sigma Case Study: Whole Foods

It’s impossible to avoid the growing footprint of Whole Foods across the United States. Since the company’s creation in the late 1970’s, the grocery store chain has become a household name. Seen as a premium brand, its business model focuses on a set of strict criteria and a specific customer base. However, with its strict […]

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