Customer Reviews

Design for Six Sigma

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good book for a novice or executive who wants a quick and high level overview of DFSS. Don't expect to learn the details of DFSS or any substantive methods to implement DFSS.

The book lacks substance and pertinent examples. Chapter Six on Optimize the Design is very weak. The sections on Taguchi Loss Function, Parameter design, Tolerance design, and TRIZ provide a superficial coverage with no in-depth explanation or detailed examples. Additionally, the discussion on concept evalutions (criteria or prioritization matrix and Pugh matrix) are also very superficial.

The book is an easy read and provides a nice high-level overview, but those looking for details and solid examples should not consider this book.

This book may appeal to middle management or executive level managers who are taking a first pass at DFSS and are not familiar with Six Sigma in general. Frankly, this book is a waste to time if you are looking for a meaty how-to on how to implement design for six sigma at your company. The author keeps telling the reader about the power of DFSS but lacks the substance to get you there. It is written as if it were a lengthy abstract to another textbook.

If you want to buy a gift for your boss--you're all set.

If you want a useful reference volume on DFSS look elsewhere.

Sean
ASQ Six Sigma Blackbelt

This is a good book if you only want to know what DFSS is about.
It describes the tools like QFD, TRIZ, FMEA and Taguchi Robust design but really doesn't teach you to apply any of these. There aren't real life examples with calculations so you can learn to apply these methods. The book spends too much on the management side and very little on applying the real DFSS tools.

That book is good for a coast-to-coast flight. Has virtually no substance, can't learn anything from it. Has some value for novices. Misassigned quotes, incorrect dates, off the cuff graphs, fluffy fluff.
Borrow it from a library, do not buy for you bookshelf. If you have a backwards looking manager, buy it for him as a gift.

I would tend to agree with most of the reviewers on this book; it is a good primer for people that have not been exposed to DFSS, or for someone that has been away from DFSS for a spell and need a refresher. It is certainly worth the $12.

It is a good book, well structured and well-written. Chapter 4, "Identify and Define Opportunity" is well illustrated and explained - the "House of Quality" proves that this is not the "only way to achieve Six Sigma", as it is an illustration of the correlation between the who, what, where, when, how and how much of an initiative - the mantra of most process improvement methodologies.

What this book does really well, is bring home the point that you must design the end of the process - control - to make a process deliver what it should - performance & quality. Improvement for a reason.

This is a good quick read for management that wants a broad understanding of DFSS. However if you are looking for a book with substance and a lot of application info, consider "Design for Six Sigma : A Roadmap for Product Development." By Kai Yang and Basem EI-Haik.

An easy read that provides a 50,000 foot view appropriate for management or a non technical staff.

Strong on concept and short on substance - properly applied, this is a good reference for those not requiring substantial methods for implementing a DFSS strategy.

This book by Quality Guru Subir Chowdhury is EXCELLENT PRIMER for managers and executives. As Mr. Chowdhury has been credited in the prestigious Industry Week magazine for introducing this new book and popularizing DFSS in the world.

I loved this book's easy style of writing and STRONGLY RECOMMEND it to anyone who wants to know what is DFSS and its applicability.

The claim on this book's dust jacket that Chowdhury offers "the only [in italics for emphasis] way to achieve Six Sigma" is obviously ludicrous. Presumably he would be the first to agree with Michael Hammer who wrote The Agenda to repudiate the idea that there is one and only one "silver bullet" to hit the "target" of organizational transformation. In fact, there is a full arsenal of weapons. "Six Sigma's trademark methodology of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) has become a standard operating procedure in companies around the globe." Quite true. The challenge is to select what is most appropriate to the specific needs and objectives of a given organization. One of Chowdhury's many and substantial gifts is his ability to explain even the most difficult of concepts to those who lack his understanding of highly sophisticated production and measurement systems. This talent was demonstrated in his previously published The Power of Six Sigma which I view as an invaluable "primer" for non-engineers such as those in marketing and sales.

In this volume, he carefully organizes his material within seven chapters. Everything Chowdhury shares, directly or indirectly, explains how to use Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) to `start from scratch to design the product or process to be virtually error free." Chowdhury is absolutely convinced that what sets DFSS apart from other variations of Six Sigma methodology is getting it right the first time. If I understand what seems to be one of Chowdhury's key points (and I may not) it is absolutely essential during the process of designing any new product or service to anticipate literally everything that could go wrong with it, then complete the design so as to prevent those defects. For m,e, this is the single greatest value of the DFSS methodology. So viewed, constant verification during each step of the design process is absolutely essential.

Throughout his book, Chowdhury explains why DFSS is (he's obviously convinced) "the ONLY way to achieve Six Sigma," how to formulate an effective DFSS strategy, what various roles are for everyone involved, how to identify and define appropriate opportunities, how to develop concepts during Phase II of the process, how to optimize the design, and then how to verify and then re-verify it. He concludes by asserting that "the real power of Design for Six Sigma is realized as you mature the integration of DFSS into your new product and service introduction process" and promises that those companies "that effectively accomplish this level of maturation in DFSS will command almost insurmountable competitive advantages. The tsunami of DFSS is coming. Ride the leading edge to win the new global competitive race that has already begun."

Those who share my high regard for Chowdhury's book are urged to check out the previously mentioned book by Michael Hammer (The Agenda) as well as Bossidy and Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Pande et al's The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies Are Honing Their Performance, Eckes's Making Six Sigma Last: Managing the Balance Between Cultural and Technical Change, George's Lean Six Sigma: Combing Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed, and Kaplan and Norton's The Strategy-Focused Organization: How Balanced Scorecard Companies Thrive in the New Business Environment.

Design For Six Sigma by Subir Chowdhury is the timely book on the topic. This book is about DOING RIGHT at the first time. This book is about FIRE PREVENTION rather than Fire Fighting. If American corporations want to lead the world, they MUST adopt DFSS. And to understand this complex topic, MANAGERS and LEADERS MUST READ this book. Take Chowdhury's advice very seriously. The book explains the common misconceptions about the topic and its usage of tools. By writing this valuable book, Chowdhury filled the gap for the first time.

Definitely Chowdhury's bestseller THE POWER OF SIX SIGMA is a 2 hour easy read story book, which is enjoyable and fun reading. Even though this book is written in business style, still it is fun reading. Chowdhury's style of writing excites the reader on the process.

Six Sigma Corporate Executive Champions from Caterpillar, Johns Manville, Merrill Lynch, Sunbeam, and Dow Corning highly endorsed this book. After finish reading the book, I understand why all of these Six Sigma devotees are so high on this book.

Thank you, Chowdhury!!! We look forward to your NEXT MASTERPIECE!!!

If you are serious about Six Sigma or DFSS, READ THIS BOOK. I strongly recommend it.

Design For Six Sigma by Subir Chowdhury is the timely book on the topic. This book is about DOING RIGHT at the first time. This book is about FIRE PREVENTION rather than Fire Fighting. If American corporations want to lead the world, they MUST adopt DFSS. And to understand this complex topic, MANAGERS and LEADERS MUST READ this book. Take Chowdhury's advice very seriously. The book explains the common misconceptions about the topic and its usage of tools. By writing this valuable book, Chowdhury filled the gap for the first time.

Definitely Chowdhury's bestseller THE POWER OF SIX SIGMA is a 2 hour easy read story book, which is enjoyable and fun reading. Even though this book is written in business style, still it is fun reading. Chowdhury's style of writing excites the reader on the process.

Six Sigma Corporate Executive Champions from Caterpillar, Johns Manville, Merrill Lynch, Sunbeam, and Dow Corning highly endorsed this book. After finish reading the book, I understand why all of these Six Sigma devotees are so high on this book.

Thank you, Chowdhury!!! We look forward to your NEXT MASTERPIECE!!!

If you are serious about Six Sigma or DFSS, READ THIS BOOK. I strongly recommend it.