General Electric's Six Sigma Revolution: How General Electric and Others Turned Process Into Profits

Having graduated from Jack Welch's School for Wayward Boys, I found George Eckes' "The Six Sigma Revolution" to be a revelation.I left GE some months ago quite frustrated with the company's application of Six Sigma. Even though all salaried employees were trained as Green Belts, even though all managers took great care to spout the proper nostrums at the proper times, nothing really changed much in how we operated.I worked on a new product program which served more as salve to the egos of engineers than to improve our product for our customer. I and a few others fought valiantly to ensure that the voice of the customer was injected into the process, and that the design capability was measured and reported through Six Sigma scorecards. This was all deemed to be unimportant in the rush to get the product to market.Eckes' book reveals why this was so.Early on, he had counseled Jack Welch that Six Sigma rests on two pillars: customer satisfaction and process capability. It's quite simple: ask the customer what he wants and fine tune your process to efficiently deliver it. Thus you both increase revenue (through customer loyalty and product quality) and decrease costs (by eliminating the hidden factory and focusing only on customer CTQs). Welch being Welch, he completely ignored the former and focused on the latter, to great effect.In 1999, Welch realized that this was a mistake, as customer after customer inquired why they didn't notice a change in GE's products and services after the Six Sigma introduction. While shareholders realized double-digit growth year after year, customers saw the same old mixed bag of products and services. Welch immediately launched a major initiative to reduce customer span and inject the voice of the customer into GE processes.Eckes, to his credit, indulges in a bit of well-deserved "I told you so." After all, it's not often one proves the most admired CEO in the world to be wrong.This is an excellent book covering the whys and wherefores of a Six Sigma introduction. For those of us in the trenches trying to effect lasting change in our companies, this is an indispensable resource. If you're looking for an in-depth guide to the tools employed in Six Sigma project execution, grab "Implementing Six Sigma" by Forrest Breyfogle instead.

I read the Six Sigma Revolution because of my facination with exploring ways to improve the quality of life, both as it relates to business as well as to relationships and life generally. Every now and then an author comes along who not only has technical expertise but also has both feet on the ground. George Eckes has painted a picture that illustrates not only mastery of Six Sigma content, he also exemplifies giftedness by communicating profoundly detailed concepts and principles with clarity and simplicity. And he paints his picture with splashes of fun and humor.I believe that anyone who is committed to improving effectiveness and efficiency in their world, whether in their business or in their personal lives, can benefit significantly by reading the Six Sigma Revolution. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of his next book, Making Six Sigma Last.

This booh is more appropriate for managers who want to know what Six Sigma is. The main merit of the author is that he gives two examples: one in manufacturing ando other in service. For a first reading into the theme that is ok.

Excellent layperson's introduction to six sigma project management. The author leads you through the process in a very easy to understand way that, by the end of the book, has you ready to start tackling your projects in a systematic way.

Yes it is good

this book is good if you are trying to get in to six sigma for the first time.it may not be your main text book for a full semester but is very clean cut and simple without any statistical wording.you will find that six sigma is easy if you start with this book!

As an Organizational Development consultant I had heard of Six Sigma. I knew that it had to do with quality-but that was about the extent of my knowledge. Then, I came across this book by George Eckes, The Six Sigma Revolution. I must confess I am on my third reading of this book. No, it's not that I'm slow-quit the contrary. It is simple that George supplies the reader with so much information-it's not something that a beginner will be able to absorb all at once. Let's remember Mr. Eckes is a Six Sigma expert. My first read was for general understanding and pleasure. Pleasure? Yes, this book was a pleasure to read. I must admit I was expecting and ready to delve into a highly techno-speak, two cups of coffee to stay alert book. George you surprised me! You give the reader real business and personal examples of Six Sigma concepts so that even the beginner can grasp what Six Sigma strategies and tactical components are all about. For example, what better way to learn about DOE then through Eckes mother-in-laws'lasagna recipe. George shows the readers what is needed to be in place before an organization even considers implementing Six Sigma, through holding the gains that Six Sigma achieved. I have read two other books on Six Sigma since picking up George Eckes, The Six Sigma Revolution. One, was a cute fable about implementing Six Sigma, this added nothing to my knowledge. And the other, let's just say that I don't have enough coffee in the pot to make it through the book. George your books takes center stage in my learning and understanding the power of Six Sigma. When done right you show us all it will be nothing less than a revolution.

Great service, item meeting description.