Customer Reviews

Process Improvement Essentials: CMMI, Six SIGMA, and ISO 9001

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I've had the dubious "pleasure" of reading process improvement books that would make your eyes bleed. Fortunately, this isn't one of them... Process Improvement Essentials: CMMI, Six SIGMA, and ISO 9001 by James R. Persse. This is a perfect "first look" at the subject for someone who doesn't yet know what they don't know...

Contents:
Part One - Process and Process Improvement: Introduction; The Case for Process; Establishing Your Process Program; Sustaining Process Improvement
Part Two - Three Major Process Improvement Standards: ISO 9001:2000; The Capability Maturity Model Integration (For Development); Six Sigma; Considerations For Adoption
Index

The problem with many books on this subject is that they dive into the details of a specific program before you really understand *why* you're doing this in the first place. That's fine for someone who has already decided on a particular approach, but it's completely unsuited to someone who really just needs to get a broad overview. Persse solves this issue by starting out with a high-level look at Process Improvement... why it's necessary, how it works, and how it's best implemented. Based on his years of experience, he is able to point out the mindsets and approaches that will either jumpstart or doom a process improvement initiative. Only after the reader has the mental framework does he introduce details on the three major process improvement frameworks commonly seen in the market today. There's enough detail in each of the chapters to understand how the framework functions and what it's designed to resolve, but not so much that the reader (at the targeted level) decides it's all too complicated and walks away. After reading this book, you should know what it is that you don't know, have an idea as to what areas to focus on, and be prepared to take *intelligent* next steps. And before you decide to sink hundreds of thousands of dollars into a program, that's a great place to be starting at.

I'd consider this "required reading" for anyone contemplating a process improvement initiative. Time and dollars invested here will ensure much better value for the money you'll end up spending down the road...

There are currently three major international standards in process improvement: CMMI, ISO 9001, and Six Sigma. In the past, I have had a hard time finding insights about the commonalities and differences between these three standards. Most of books and instructors focus on one of these standards. Luckily, I stumbled on this book.

I have never expected a process book to be that interesting and entertaining to read! I found the author's style very engaging; most of the book, except pieces covering specific details of each standard, is *not* "dry" or boring, which I can't say about other process books that I looked at. Secondly, the author's knowledge and experience make everything logical and convincing, even comforting.

The book consists of two parts. The first one is filled with real life examples designed to show an executive or a skeptic (in my past past experience, these words were synonyms) that process must be managed and can be improved. In other words, if one wants a business to succeed, he better understands the processes comprising that business, monitors and measures them, and improves these processes continuously.

The second part of the book is split into three chunks: CMMI, ISO 9001, and Six Sigma. Each of these three chapters have an excellent overview of a standard's history, its main gist, and the differences with the other two standards, as well as a concise descriptions of its concepts and components.

This book will be a pleasant surprise for those who don't have time to compile numerous sources on the topic, or who fall asleep reading traditionally written process books.

This is a good book if you're not bound to a specific model/framework. It gives recommendation for CMMI, Six Sig and ISO process frameworks. Easy read.

This book was very easy to read and understand. Unlike other books out there, this book didn't put me to sleep. It's well organized and got me up to speed very quickly. I needed a quick introduction to CMMI since taking my new job.

I bought this book to familiarize myself with process engineering concepts prior to taking a position as a semiconductor process development engineer. This book is not very useful for engineers, but is useful for managers or laymen who need a basic concept/understanding for Quality Control Systems.

Other than that, it is very easy to read.

This book is a good overall review of the various quality management tools deployed to continuosly improve quality of the processes, products and services.

With a focus on best practices, James R Persse provides good detail on the differences between the "Big Three" process/quality improvement programs. Written in an easy to read manner Persse uses enough examples to help you retain and apply what he is teaching.