Six Sigma: Product Improvement and Culture Change at AutoAlliance 2002-01-0766

Six Sigma is a comprehensive and flexible methodology for achieving, maintaining, and maximizing business success by sustaining a disciplined use of facts, data, and statistics while managing, improving, and reinventing business processes based on customer requirements and cost targets. Six Sigma is a holistic approach to reducing concerns tied directly to achieving organizational objectives. AutoAlliance uses structured processes based on problem-solving methodologies known as D-M-A-I-C: define - measure - analyze - improve - control. Six Sigma deployment involves hard work, frustration, starts/stops, and disappointments that go along with launching a long-term culture change. AutoAlliance's goal is to have the entire workforce utilizing the methodologies in their everyday work. At that point, the “Six Sigma” change is complete.