Six Sigma: Definition and underlying theory

Six Sigma has been gaining momentum in industry; however, academics have conducted little research on this emerging phenomenon. Understanding Six Sigma first requires providing a conceptual definition and identifying an underlying theory. In this paper we use the grounded theory approach and the scant literature available to propose an initial definition and theory of Six Sigma. Our research argues that although the tools and techniques in Six Sigma are strikingly similar to prior approaches to quality management, it provides an organizational structure not previously seen. This emergent structure for quality management helps organizations more rigorously control process improvement activities, while at the same time creating a context that enables problem exploration between disparate organizational members. Although Six Sigma provides benefits over prior approaches to quality management, it also creates new challenges for researchers and practitioners.     

The evolving theory of quality management: The role of Six Sigma

While Six Sigma is increasingly implemented in industry, little academic research has been done on Six Sigma and its influence on quality management theory and application. There is a criticism that Six Sigma simply puts traditional quality management practices in a new package. To investigate this issue and the role of Six Sigma in quality management, this study reviewed both the traditional quality management and Six Sigma literatures and identified three new practices that are critical for implementing Six Sigma's concept and method in an organization. These practices are referred to as: Six Sigma role structure, Six Sigma structured improvement procedure, and Six Sigma focus on metrics. A research model and survey instrument were developed to investigate how these Six Sigma practices integrate with seven traditional quality management practices to affect quality performance and business performance. Test results based on a sample of 226 US manufacturing plants revealed that the three Six Sigma practices are distinct practices from traditional quality management practices, and that they complement the traditional quality management practices in improving performance. The implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed and further research directions are offered.     

实施六西格玛的四大陷阱

文章首先简述了六西格玛管理的应用,进而详细分析了实施六西格玛管理中的人才配备陷阱、项目管理陷阱、实施力度不够陷阱以及急于求成的心态这4个方面的常见陷阱,以帮助企业搬开六西格玛成功之路上的绊脚石。     

现代产品的质量改进和六西格玛管理

高度自动化是现代制造系统的主要特征,自动化设备的广泛采用对质量提出了越来越高的要求。这就要求产品的质量不断的改进和提高,而六西格玛(6σ)理论是一套建立在统计学基础上的质量管理系统模式。它的本质是不断减少偏差,持续追求高品质。文中综述了现代产品的质量研究改进和六西格玛管理理论。     

试论6σ管理在物流企业的实施

建立和强化以顾客为中心的服务质量意识是入世后国内物流企业参与国际竞争的前提和基础。6σ（西格玛）质量管理在提高物流企业的服务水平、降低企业成本、提升企业核心竞争力等方面具有重要作用。本文分析探讨了6σ管理在物流企业的实施方法与途径。     

基于平衡计分卡的六西格玛项目选择指标体系构建

企业如何对六西格玛项目进行选择,选择一个科学的评价体系至关重要。文章借鉴了六西格玛平衡计分卡原理和SWOT企业战略管理分析理论,通过财务、顾客、内部业务流程以及学习和成长四个维度分析,最后经过咨询质量管理专家,对指标进行修正,构建了基于六西格玛平衡计分卡的评价体系,希望能够为六西格玛项目选择提供一个有益的借鉴。     

基于六西格玛管理的材料库存优化

提高材料库存管理效率是企业赢得并保持竞争优势的必然选择。首先介绍了六西格玛管理的概念和实施方法。然后将其运用于某电器企业材料库存管理,通过定义、测量、详细的数据分析,制定流程改进方案,并实施控制,实现了从上到下的材料库存管理流程优化。     

中小企业推行六西格玛管理研究与分析

根据目前中国企业实施6σ管理的现状,从我国中小企业的现状和特点出发,运用SWOT分析法来说明我国中小企业实施6σ管理的必要性和可行性,运用动态演进的方法导入6σ管理并建立管理体系。     

以六西格玛驱动供应链精准管理探析

本文以数据和事实为驱动,探讨了供应链引入六西格玛管理的关键技术,以及如何提高供应链精准管理水平。     

Six Sigma: The role of goals in improvement teams

The tenets of goal theory have been well established as a motivation mechanism in the management literature. However, some quality-management advocates, such as W. Edwards Deming, often criticize the use of goals. This research investigates the tension between goals and quality management in the Six Sigma context. We find empirical support that goals can be effective in Six Sigma improvement teams when teams adhere to the Six Sigma tools and method. However, challenging goals are counterproductive when Six Sigma teams do not use the tools and methods rigorously. This research reconciles the differences between quality management and goal theory by showing that the Six Sigma tools and method interact with goals.     

Role of explicit and tacit knowledge in Six Sigma projects: An empirical examination of differential project success

This research develops a conceptual model for predicting success of process improvement projects as a result of knowledge-creation practices employed in the projects. The model is empirically examined in the context of Six Sigma black belt projects. New scales are developed to measure explicit- and tacit-knowledge-creation practices in process improvement. Data is gathered via a cross-sectional sample, and the hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression. Our results support the notion that knowledge-creation practices influence the success of process improvement projects. Specifically, the inclusion of softer, people-oriented practices for capturing tacit knowledge explains a significant amount of variance in project success, as much as the more analytically focused practices that capture explicit knowledge. This research offers practical insights about the influence of practices that project managers use to create new knowledge by capturing explicit and tacit knowledge, and seeks to advance theoretical understanding of process improvement.     

基于六西格玛流程改进的库存管理优化

库存管理是企业用来控制实际库存问题的方法，主要帮助企业经营者确定何时补充订货、补充订货多少以及安全库存等问题。现有的库存控制研究往往只关注数学建模阶段的精确性，而对库存波动根源认识不足，导致数学模型越来越复杂、完善，但库存仍然居高不下、难以控制。本文针对该问题，提出了在库存管理中糅合六西格玛管理理念的思想，通过六西格玛方法揭示库存积压的根源，从源头着手，进行流程改进，从而达到库存优化、提高客户满意度的目的。文章通过实际案例证实了基于六西格玛理念的库存优化管理的有效性。     

六西格玛管理——企业竞争制胜的利器

激烈的市场竞争要求企业具备低成本、高质量。六西格玛管理能有效识别并消除变异、提高质量、持续改进,是企业增强竞争优势的有效途径。本文通过分析六西格玛管理模式的内涵,提出当前金融危机环境下实施六西格玛管理的必要性。通过分析我国实施六西格玛的现状,阐述了当前我国企业实施六西格玛的重要现实意义。作为一种有效的质量管理模式,六西格玛不是单纯的技术方法的引用,它代表了先进的质量管理发展方向。此研究将有助于我国企业管理层科学地认识六西格玛,也有助于该方法在我国企业的推广。     

Information systems project management in PMJ: A brief history

The Project Management Institute (PMI) plays an important role in the training, career development, and recognition of information systems (IS) project managers. Indeed, not only do IS professionals account for a large proportion of the PMI constituency, but PMI is also influential in the training of IS project managers. This study explores further the contribution of PMI to IS project management by means of its main publication outlet, the Project Management Journal (PMJ). To do so, the contents of the 39 IS project management articles published in PMJ during 1988–2005 were analyzed. The article focuses on the following dimensions: the relative importance of IS project management articles published by PMJ; the profile of the authors of IS project management articles in PMJ; the main issues, in terms of IS project management, covered by PMJ; and the major gaps, in terms of IS project management, in the coverage of this domain by PMJ.     

精益六西格玛应用实例

现今,精益六西格玛管理方法已被越来越多的企业所用,它所能够创造的价值也被更多的企业所认知。文章通过具体的实例对精益六西格玛在企业的应用进行总结,并就如何做好持续改进进行有益的探索。     

推行六西格玛质量文化,提升装备质量

基于十八大强调发挥文化软实力的背景,提出装备质量建设中推行六西格玛质量文化的论述,分析了六西格玛质量文化的内涵及特征,并从装备质量建设实际出发论证了推行六西格玛质量文化的必要性,最后给出装备质量建设中推行六西格玛质量文化的方法策略。     

中国企业六西格玛管理实施模型研究

随着六西格玛管理的迅速推广,不少中国企业通过实施六西格玛取得了显著的效益,当在实施六西格玛管理过程中也存在很多问题。因此,了解六西格玛在中国的实施现状,总结适合中国企业实施六西格玛管理的模式至关重要。文章基于对六西格玛管理关键成功因素的分析,构建了适合中国企业的六西格玛管理实施模型。为中国企业通过实施六西格玛管理建立一套持续改进的管理模式奠定了基础。     

六西格玛理论在高职单独招生管理中的应用

本文从介绍六西格玛质量管理基本内容入手,就当前高职招生管理中的一些突出问题,有针对性地提出应用六西格玛质量管理方法加以改进的意见与措施。     

中小型服务企业实施六西格玛的SWOT分析

对于我国的中小型服务企业能否有效的应用六西格玛管理方法解决质量问题,并提高企业的竞争能力和盈利能力,目前还存在着争议。文章拟在介绍六西格玛成功实施的关键因素的基础上结合了中小型服务企业的特点,对我国的中小型服务企业能否实施六西格玛进行了SWOT分析,并提出了决定实施六西格玛与否和如何有效实施六西格玛的几点策略。     

Constructing useful theory: The case of Six Sigma

Organizational practices related to Six Sigma are believed to have resulted in improved organizational outcomes. The academic community, however, continues to lack understanding of the constructs and causal relationships underlying Six Sigma. Hence, discussion of Six Sigma is buffeted by anecdotal experience reported from practice. We evaluate Six Sigma through the lens of literature on theory development to explain why the Six Sigma constructs, assumptions, and causal relationships are inconsistent with theory development principles. Dr. Anilkumar N. Kharkar has retired from Corning Incorporated.