Customer Reviews

The Six Sigma Project Planner : A Step-by-Step Guide to Leading a Six Sigma Project Through DMAIC

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After reading through The Six Sigma Handbook, there was something about the process that bothered me--beginning a project, collecting data, analyzing, and then improving. It felt that the cart was placed before the horse because I was bothered with the nagging feeling that one should already have the data in place prior to project selection showing that a system needs improvement and what the actual improvement and gains (financial, quality, etc.) would be. There's a great figure in the planner that shows exactly how and where DMAIC fits within project selection and planning and that figure made a difference. There's a chapter on project planning itself, from Charter to WBS to Schedule to Change Control Plan, but if you're already familiar with the PMBOK that won't provide you with any value. There are examples of six sigma project worksheets shown throughout the book that one can use. Unfortunately, now, eight years after the book was published, McGraw-Hill no longer provides electronic copies of those worksheets for you as is stated in the book so you'd have to create them from scratch. My suggestion to you is, until another edition of this book is made and one with a proper link to a place where you can download these files, buy a used copy or, better yet, see if your local library has one. It's a good complement to Pyzdek's Handbook, but it isn't the do-all end-all. You'll still have to look at other sources to get a better feel for things.

The most valuable component of this book is the series of templates and forms that can be used in many of the 6 sigma processes. One of the major issues facing organizations when adopting 6 sigma, is the design and standardization of both materials and reporting tools. This collection of tools and worksheets helps move this process along at a much quicker pace. Please note, this book is not for self teaching, nor is it designed to be a single stand alone resource on project management or the 6 sigma process. The main focus of the book is to provide SS practitioners a good source of templates and forms they can use for their SS projects.

I expected more from this book.

I pick "Six Sigma and Minitab: A complete toolbox guide for all Six Sigma practitioners (2nd edition) [Spiral-bound] By: Quentin Stephen Brook" as Best in Class to lead, guide an track Six Sigma Projects.