SlideShare a Scribd company logo
INTRODUCTION
Why six and Why Sigma?
Slide 2
AGENDA
• Definitions:
– What is Six Sigma? … Why six and why sigma?
– Six Sigma as a statistical measure.
– Six Sigma as a management Philosophy.
– Six Sigma as a combination of people power and process power.
• Process Power "DMAIC":
– Define.
– Measure.
– Analyze.
– Improve.
– Control.
• People Power, Who does what?
- The 6 Sigma Organization.
- The Driving Force (Champions)
- The Project Owner
- The Black Belts and the Green Belts
- The Financial Representative.
Slide 3
Sigma:  or ?
• Greek Alphabet
• Examples:
–  -  (Omega)
–  -  (Pi)
–  -  (Delta)
–  -  (Zeta)
–  -  (Psi, pronounced si)
Slide 4
Why 6? & Why ?
• The concept
originated by
mathematicians
(statisticians
specifically)
Example: a group of
a thousand people
The resulting curve
Slide 5
m m+m-m-2m-3 m+2 m+3
6
4
2
99.99966%
69.1%
99.379%
Slide 6
2
3
4
5
6
308,537
66,807
6,210
233
3.4
 PPM
Process
Capability
Defects per
Million Opportunity
6 Sigma???
% Non-Defective
69.1%
93.32%
99.379%
99.9767%
99.99966%
Slide 7
Technical definition of
  is a measurement of Variation.
– It is a measure of how widely values are dispersed
from the mean value.
  is the standard deviation of the normal
Distribution
– 6 is a 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
  is a measure of process perfection.
Slide 8
The Focus of a Six Sigma
Organization
Customers
Shareholders Processes
Financial
Results
$
People
Slide 9
• To increase a process
performance, you
have to decrease
variation.
Importance of Reducing Variation
• Less variation provides
– Greater predictability in the process
– Less waste and rework, which lowers costs
– Products and services that perform better and last longer
– Happier customers
Defects Defects
Too early Too late
Delivery Time
Reduce
variation
Delivery Time
Too early Too late
Spread of variation
too wide compared
to specifications
Spread of variation
narrow compared to
specifications
Slide 10
Sigma Area Spelling Money Time
3 Floor space of
a small
hardware store
1.5 misspelled
words per page in a
book
$2.7 million
indebtedness per $l
Billion in assets
3 1/2 months
Per century
4 Floor space of
a typical living
room
1 misspelled word
per 30 pages in a
book
$63,000
indebtedness per $l
Billion in assets
2 1/2days per
century
5 Size of the
bottom of your
telephone
1 misspelled word
in a set of
encyclopedias
$570 indebtedness
per$l Billion in
assets
30 minutes per
century
6 Size of a
typical diamond
1 misspelled word
in all the books in a
library
$2 indebtedness
per $l Billion in
assets
6 seconds per
century
Examples of Sigma performance
Slide 11
 It is a management philosophy
A customer based approach realizing that expensive defects.
 6 Sigma is a problem-solving methodology
For identifying and eliminating waste in any business
process including administration, manufacturing,
customer service and transactions.
 6 Sigma is a process
Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control – DMAIC
A non-statistical definition of
6 Sigma
3.4 defects per million is 1 in 300,000.
As there are 50,000 airplanes over
Europe every day, this means there
will be one crash landing every week!
Slide 12
Would 99.5% defect free
be OK?
• NO! 99.5 % means:----
– 2 or more accidents per day at major airports
– Out of 10,000 parts delivered, 50 are incorrect
– Every 5 of 1000 brake pads are faulty
– 10,000 lost articles of mail every 30 minutes
– 100,000 wrong drug prescriptions each year
– 2,500 incorrect surgical procedures each week
Slide 13
Constant quest for perfection to meet
customer needs
Fact-based, data-driven decision making
Focusing the best people on the highest
priorities
Improving our processes
Precise alignment of actions with strategy
Measuring bottom-line impact
Transforming how people work
6 Sigma is About Success – It is a Culture of;
Slide 14
Seven Principles of Problem-Solving Techniques
 Empower Yourself
 Commit yourself to the vision of 6
Sigma
 Embrace Customers
 Anticipate and deliver what the
Customer wants
 Discover the “$tealth”
factory
 Learn the Real cost of doing it
wrong
 Expose the “Vital Few”
 Identify factors that will give you
“most bang for the buck”
 Empower People
 Train & Trust the “Best of the
Best”
 Harness the Magic of
Data
 Use the method (D-MAGIC) -
without the G for Guesswork
 Improve Constantly
 Persist in the Relentless Journey
to 6 Sigma Success
Slide 15
Marketing
Sales
Product Development
Product Manufacturing
Customer Service
Logistics
Accounts Receivable
Billing/Contracts
6 Sigma Applies to the Whole Business
6 Sigma applies to all
sectors of the Company
A fault in one part of the
sequence affects the whole
process
Right are some core processes that
are common to many businesses.
Slide 16
6 Sigma Triangle
DMAIC: Improve
existing processes,
products, services,
and plants to
6 Sigma quality
Leverage and sustain the gains
achieved by improvement and
creation
DMEDI: Create new
processes, products,
services, and plants to
6 Sigma quality
The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle
• Define
– What is the business case for the project?
– Identify the customer
– Current state map
– Future state map
– What is the scope of this project?
– Deliverables
– Due date
Slide 17
D
The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle
Slide 18
M
• Measure
– What are the key metrics for this business
process?
– Are metrics valid and reliable?
– Do we have adequate data on this
process?
– How will I measure progress?
– How will I measure project success?
The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle
Slide 19
A
• Analyze
– Current state analysis
– Is the current state as good as the process
can do?
– Who will help make the changes?
– Resource requirements
– What could cause this change effort to fail?
– What major obstacles do I face in completing
this project?
The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle
Slide 20
I
• Improve
– What is the work breakdown structure?
– What specific activities are necessary to
meet the project's goals?
– How will I re-integrate the various
subprojects?
The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle
Slide 21
C
• Control
– During the project, how will I control risk,
quality, cost, schedule, scope, and changes
to the plan?
– What types of progress reports should I
create?
– How will I assure that the business goals of
the project were accomplished?
– How will I keep the gains made?
Slide 22
Example of a Process
 An analysis of business Inputs – Process’s - Output
 Measured against the requirements of our customers…
 ……and the market
A simple process - Take a Drinks Vending Machine….
Decide….. Insert Coin
Press ButtonSelects can
Can drops Retrieve can
Open canDrink content
Customer Satisfaction!!
PEOPLE POWER, WHO DOES WHAT?
Karate and the Belts
The 6 Sigma Organization.
•The Driving Force :
The Executive Champion
the Deployment Champion
•The Project Owner
•The Black Belts
•The Green Belts
The Financial Representative
Slide 23
Slide 24
What has this got to do with
Karate?
• Terminology well known, whereas…..
• The terms “Engineer,” “Statistician”, “Auditor”
do not reflect the complexity of the job
• Karate belts denote “expertise & discipline”
– Black belt are skilled tacticians
– Yellow belts are beginners
– Green, in-between
Slide 25
The Belts….. Who are they?
 Yellow Belt
• All employees who have completed an introduction
half day session.
 Green Belt
• Work part time to help Black Belts
 Black Belt
• Full time 6 Sigma project leaders – 100% focused
 Master Black Belt
• Full time 6 Sigma experts who act as coaches,
trainers and mentors for Black Belts
Slide 26
• Owns vision, directs
integration, results
• Leads change
• Project owner
• Implements
solutions
• Black Belt
manager
Full-time
Trains and coaches Black
Belts and 6 Sigma
Green Belts
Full-time
Facilitates problem solving
Trains and coaches
Project Teams
• Participate on Black
Belt project teams
• Part time on projects
• Validate financial
impact of projects
• Full-Time (or dedicated
in a small organization)
• Sets direction
• Creates business
deployment plan
• Supports Black Belts
and Project Sponsors
• Can be the Project Sponsor
• Sustains and leverages gains
Company
Deployment
Champion
Project
Sponsors
Master
Black Belts
Process Owner
Financial Rep.
Executives /
Leadership
Green Belts
Black Belts
Understand vision
Apply concepts to
their job and
work area
Yellow Belts • Contributors
• Part time on
projects
6 Sigma Organization
All Employees
Slide 27
How the
Black belt
works
Slide 28
Change Management
6 Sigma considers “Change
Management” to be key to success
Training is provided at all levels
6 Sigma has a proven track record
Slide 29
 We need to change to achieve our
objectives of………
– growth
– customer satisfaction
– employee satisfaction
– and cost reduction
These are Driven by;
A changing market, Where competition is
increasing and getting tougher &
market prices and margins are declining
Slide 30
In Summary
 The Company is totally committed regardless of franchise,
division etc.
 The Executives are totally committed and actively involved.
 This is for the long term and all employees are involved.
 Only the best will be black belts, and these people will be
the drivers of the company in years to come.
 The concepts of 6 Sigma must become an integral part of
the company culture.
 The key is improving the bottom line that will prioritize
resources to those projects with the best return.
 At all stages it is critical customer requirements that come
first.
 Implementation will be “Head Count” neutral.

More Related Content

PDF
CA Quality Management System
PPT
Continuous improvement 6 sigma
PPTX
8D Problem Solving - Automotive Industry
PDF
Introduction to Lean Six Sigma
PPT
Yellow Belt Training
PDF
PROJECT STORYBOARD: Reducing Purchase Order Lead Time by 33% Using Lean Six S...
PPTX
Dmaic overview for slideshare
PPT
yellow belt training
CA Quality Management System
Continuous improvement 6 sigma
8D Problem Solving - Automotive Industry
Introduction to Lean Six Sigma
Yellow Belt Training
PROJECT STORYBOARD: Reducing Purchase Order Lead Time by 33% Using Lean Six S...
Dmaic overview for slideshare
yellow belt training

What's hot (20)

PDF
Introduction To Continuous Improvement Process PowerPoint Presentation Slides
PPSX
Quality awareness
PPTX
What is Check Sheet
PDF
How Leaders Can Support Lean Using Leader Standard Work with GoLeanSixSigma.com
PPT
Taking Control of Supplier Quality
PDF
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt roadmap poster
PDF
Lean Six Sigma methodology
PPT
Internal rejection
PDF
ESTIEM Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Project at Continental - Scrap Reduction
PPTX
Quality Management System
PPTX
Analyze phase lean six sigma tollgate template
PDF
New 7 QC Tools | 7 Management Development Tools
PDF
Lean Six Sigma Projects
PPTX
Developing; Quality Culture
PDF
6 sigma basic best ppt
PDF
Quality concept
PDF
How A Single Black Belt Project Jump Starts a Successful Lean Six Sigma Effort
PPTX
How to solve problems (or at least try) with 8D
PDF
Seven QC Tools Training; Process Flow Chart
PPS
Introduction To Continuous Improvement Process PowerPoint Presentation Slides
Quality awareness
What is Check Sheet
How Leaders Can Support Lean Using Leader Standard Work with GoLeanSixSigma.com
Taking Control of Supplier Quality
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt roadmap poster
Lean Six Sigma methodology
Internal rejection
ESTIEM Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Project at Continental - Scrap Reduction
Quality Management System
Analyze phase lean six sigma tollgate template
New 7 QC Tools | 7 Management Development Tools
Lean Six Sigma Projects
Developing; Quality Culture
6 sigma basic best ppt
Quality concept
How A Single Black Belt Project Jump Starts a Successful Lean Six Sigma Effort
How to solve problems (or at least try) with 8D
Seven QC Tools Training; Process Flow Chart
Ad

Similar to Six sigma introduction (20)

PPT
Sid Sigma educational and problem solving power point- Six Sigma.ppt
PPTX
PPTX
Lean Six Sigma White Belt Webinar
PPT
Six Sigma
PPT
Six sigma presentation
PPT
SIX SIGMA PRESENTATION
PPT
Six sigma
PPT
Six sigma - pimg
PPT
Don Carlson
PDF
6 sigma concept 01
PPT
admin-SixSigma.ppt
PPT
SixSigma g
PPT
Six Sigma presentation by Ahmer J
PPT
Admin six sigma
PPT
Six Sigma By :Rajeev
PPT
Six sigma seminar
PPTX
Introduction to lean six sigma 2 day seminar
PPTX
Chapter 4 six sigma
PPT
Six Sigma Final
PPTX
Six sigma an overview | Online Mini MBA (Free)
Sid Sigma educational and problem solving power point- Six Sigma.ppt
Lean Six Sigma White Belt Webinar
Six Sigma
Six sigma presentation
SIX SIGMA PRESENTATION
Six sigma
Six sigma - pimg
Don Carlson
6 sigma concept 01
admin-SixSigma.ppt
SixSigma g
Six Sigma presentation by Ahmer J
Admin six sigma
Six Sigma By :Rajeev
Six sigma seminar
Introduction to lean six sigma 2 day seminar
Chapter 4 six sigma
Six Sigma Final
Six sigma an overview | Online Mini MBA (Free)
Ad

More from Ibrahim M. Morsy (13)

PPTX
An introduction to tqm
PDF
Negotiation skills presentation
PPTX
Telesales part 2
PDF
Team work
PPT
Handling difficult customers
PDF
Telephone Courtesy Guidelines
PPT
Problem Solving and Decision Making
PPT
Basic Supervision Hr
PPT
Customer Satisfaction
PPT
Management Core Skills Part I
PPT
Performance Improvement Vs. Training
PPT
Telesales Principles I
PPT
Managing Your Time Effectively
An introduction to tqm
Negotiation skills presentation
Telesales part 2
Team work
Handling difficult customers
Telephone Courtesy Guidelines
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Basic Supervision Hr
Customer Satisfaction
Management Core Skills Part I
Performance Improvement Vs. Training
Telesales Principles I
Managing Your Time Effectively

Recently uploaded (20)

PDF
CHAPTER 14 Manageement of Nursing Educational Institutions- planing and orga...
PDF
Contemporary management and it's content
PDF
Equity at the Helm_ Guiding Schools Through Inclusive Leadership by Dr.pdf
PPTX
Strategic Plan 2023-2024 Presentation.pptx
PPTX
Project Management Methods PERT-and-CPM.pptx
PPTX
MY GOLDEN RULES la regla de oro jhonatan requena
PPTX
Course Overview of the Course Titled.pptx
PDF
CHAPTER 14 Manageement of Nursing Educational Institutions- planing and orga...
PDF
Air India AI-171 Crash in Ahmedabad A Tragic Wake-Up Call.
PPTX
_ISO_Presentation_ISO 9001 and 45001.pptx
PDF
Features of Effective decision making in Management
PPTX
Concluding Session_Wrapup-India Jun 5 2024-Oct 5 2025 ZS.pptx
PDF
Human resources management is a best management
PPTX
Human Resources management _HR structure
PPTX
Leadership for Industry 4.0 And Industry 5.0
PDF
CISSP Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing
PPTX
BASIC H2S TRAINING for oil and gas industries
PDF
Organisational Behaviour And it's concepts
PPTX
Human resources management -job perception concept
PDF
Leveraging Intangible Assets Through Campus Entrepreneurship and Tech Transfer
CHAPTER 14 Manageement of Nursing Educational Institutions- planing and orga...
Contemporary management and it's content
Equity at the Helm_ Guiding Schools Through Inclusive Leadership by Dr.pdf
Strategic Plan 2023-2024 Presentation.pptx
Project Management Methods PERT-and-CPM.pptx
MY GOLDEN RULES la regla de oro jhonatan requena
Course Overview of the Course Titled.pptx
CHAPTER 14 Manageement of Nursing Educational Institutions- planing and orga...
Air India AI-171 Crash in Ahmedabad A Tragic Wake-Up Call.
_ISO_Presentation_ISO 9001 and 45001.pptx
Features of Effective decision making in Management
Concluding Session_Wrapup-India Jun 5 2024-Oct 5 2025 ZS.pptx
Human resources management is a best management
Human Resources management _HR structure
Leadership for Industry 4.0 And Industry 5.0
CISSP Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing
BASIC H2S TRAINING for oil and gas industries
Organisational Behaviour And it's concepts
Human resources management -job perception concept
Leveraging Intangible Assets Through Campus Entrepreneurship and Tech Transfer

Six sigma introduction

  • 2. Slide 2 AGENDA • Definitions: – What is Six Sigma? … Why six and why sigma? – Six Sigma as a statistical measure. – Six Sigma as a management Philosophy. – Six Sigma as a combination of people power and process power. • Process Power "DMAIC": – Define. – Measure. – Analyze. – Improve. – Control. • People Power, Who does what? - The 6 Sigma Organization. - The Driving Force (Champions) - The Project Owner - The Black Belts and the Green Belts - The Financial Representative.
  • 3. Slide 3 Sigma:  or ? • Greek Alphabet • Examples: –  -  (Omega) –  -  (Pi) –  -  (Delta) –  -  (Zeta) –  -  (Psi, pronounced si)
  • 4. Slide 4 Why 6? & Why ? • The concept originated by mathematicians (statisticians specifically) Example: a group of a thousand people The resulting curve
  • 5. Slide 5 m m+m-m-2m-3 m+2 m+3 6 4 2 99.99966% 69.1% 99.379%
  • 6. Slide 6 2 3 4 5 6 308,537 66,807 6,210 233 3.4  PPM Process Capability Defects per Million Opportunity 6 Sigma??? % Non-Defective 69.1% 93.32% 99.379% 99.9767% 99.99966%
  • 7. Slide 7 Technical definition of   is a measurement of Variation. – It is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the mean value.   is the standard deviation of the normal Distribution – 6 is a 3.4 defects per million opportunities.   is a measure of process perfection.
  • 8. Slide 8 The Focus of a Six Sigma Organization Customers Shareholders Processes Financial Results $ People
  • 9. Slide 9 • To increase a process performance, you have to decrease variation. Importance of Reducing Variation • Less variation provides – Greater predictability in the process – Less waste and rework, which lowers costs – Products and services that perform better and last longer – Happier customers Defects Defects Too early Too late Delivery Time Reduce variation Delivery Time Too early Too late Spread of variation too wide compared to specifications Spread of variation narrow compared to specifications
  • 10. Slide 10 Sigma Area Spelling Money Time 3 Floor space of a small hardware store 1.5 misspelled words per page in a book $2.7 million indebtedness per $l Billion in assets 3 1/2 months Per century 4 Floor space of a typical living room 1 misspelled word per 30 pages in a book $63,000 indebtedness per $l Billion in assets 2 1/2days per century 5 Size of the bottom of your telephone 1 misspelled word in a set of encyclopedias $570 indebtedness per$l Billion in assets 30 minutes per century 6 Size of a typical diamond 1 misspelled word in all the books in a library $2 indebtedness per $l Billion in assets 6 seconds per century Examples of Sigma performance
  • 11. Slide 11  It is a management philosophy A customer based approach realizing that expensive defects.  6 Sigma is a problem-solving methodology For identifying and eliminating waste in any business process including administration, manufacturing, customer service and transactions.  6 Sigma is a process Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control – DMAIC A non-statistical definition of 6 Sigma 3.4 defects per million is 1 in 300,000. As there are 50,000 airplanes over Europe every day, this means there will be one crash landing every week!
  • 12. Slide 12 Would 99.5% defect free be OK? • NO! 99.5 % means:---- – 2 or more accidents per day at major airports – Out of 10,000 parts delivered, 50 are incorrect – Every 5 of 1000 brake pads are faulty – 10,000 lost articles of mail every 30 minutes – 100,000 wrong drug prescriptions each year – 2,500 incorrect surgical procedures each week
  • 13. Slide 13 Constant quest for perfection to meet customer needs Fact-based, data-driven decision making Focusing the best people on the highest priorities Improving our processes Precise alignment of actions with strategy Measuring bottom-line impact Transforming how people work 6 Sigma is About Success – It is a Culture of;
  • 14. Slide 14 Seven Principles of Problem-Solving Techniques  Empower Yourself  Commit yourself to the vision of 6 Sigma  Embrace Customers  Anticipate and deliver what the Customer wants  Discover the “$tealth” factory  Learn the Real cost of doing it wrong  Expose the “Vital Few”  Identify factors that will give you “most bang for the buck”  Empower People  Train & Trust the “Best of the Best”  Harness the Magic of Data  Use the method (D-MAGIC) - without the G for Guesswork  Improve Constantly  Persist in the Relentless Journey to 6 Sigma Success
  • 15. Slide 15 Marketing Sales Product Development Product Manufacturing Customer Service Logistics Accounts Receivable Billing/Contracts 6 Sigma Applies to the Whole Business 6 Sigma applies to all sectors of the Company A fault in one part of the sequence affects the whole process Right are some core processes that are common to many businesses.
  • 16. Slide 16 6 Sigma Triangle DMAIC: Improve existing processes, products, services, and plants to 6 Sigma quality Leverage and sustain the gains achieved by improvement and creation DMEDI: Create new processes, products, services, and plants to 6 Sigma quality
  • 17. The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle • Define – What is the business case for the project? – Identify the customer – Current state map – Future state map – What is the scope of this project? – Deliverables – Due date Slide 17 D
  • 18. The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle Slide 18 M • Measure – What are the key metrics for this business process? – Are metrics valid and reliable? – Do we have adequate data on this process? – How will I measure progress? – How will I measure project success?
  • 19. The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle Slide 19 A • Analyze – Current state analysis – Is the current state as good as the process can do? – Who will help make the changes? – Resource requirements – What could cause this change effort to fail? – What major obstacles do I face in completing this project?
  • 20. The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle Slide 20 I • Improve – What is the work breakdown structure? – What specific activities are necessary to meet the project's goals? – How will I re-integrate the various subprojects?
  • 21. The Six Sigma Project DMAIC Cycle Slide 21 C • Control – During the project, how will I control risk, quality, cost, schedule, scope, and changes to the plan? – What types of progress reports should I create? – How will I assure that the business goals of the project were accomplished? – How will I keep the gains made?
  • 22. Slide 22 Example of a Process  An analysis of business Inputs – Process’s - Output  Measured against the requirements of our customers…  ……and the market A simple process - Take a Drinks Vending Machine…. Decide….. Insert Coin Press ButtonSelects can Can drops Retrieve can Open canDrink content Customer Satisfaction!!
  • 23. PEOPLE POWER, WHO DOES WHAT? Karate and the Belts The 6 Sigma Organization. •The Driving Force : The Executive Champion the Deployment Champion •The Project Owner •The Black Belts •The Green Belts The Financial Representative Slide 23
  • 24. Slide 24 What has this got to do with Karate? • Terminology well known, whereas….. • The terms “Engineer,” “Statistician”, “Auditor” do not reflect the complexity of the job • Karate belts denote “expertise & discipline” – Black belt are skilled tacticians – Yellow belts are beginners – Green, in-between
  • 25. Slide 25 The Belts….. Who are they?  Yellow Belt • All employees who have completed an introduction half day session.  Green Belt • Work part time to help Black Belts  Black Belt • Full time 6 Sigma project leaders – 100% focused  Master Black Belt • Full time 6 Sigma experts who act as coaches, trainers and mentors for Black Belts
  • 26. Slide 26 • Owns vision, directs integration, results • Leads change • Project owner • Implements solutions • Black Belt manager Full-time Trains and coaches Black Belts and 6 Sigma Green Belts Full-time Facilitates problem solving Trains and coaches Project Teams • Participate on Black Belt project teams • Part time on projects • Validate financial impact of projects • Full-Time (or dedicated in a small organization) • Sets direction • Creates business deployment plan • Supports Black Belts and Project Sponsors • Can be the Project Sponsor • Sustains and leverages gains Company Deployment Champion Project Sponsors Master Black Belts Process Owner Financial Rep. Executives / Leadership Green Belts Black Belts Understand vision Apply concepts to their job and work area Yellow Belts • Contributors • Part time on projects 6 Sigma Organization All Employees
  • 28. Slide 28 Change Management 6 Sigma considers “Change Management” to be key to success Training is provided at all levels 6 Sigma has a proven track record
  • 29. Slide 29  We need to change to achieve our objectives of……… – growth – customer satisfaction – employee satisfaction – and cost reduction These are Driven by; A changing market, Where competition is increasing and getting tougher & market prices and margins are declining
  • 30. Slide 30 In Summary  The Company is totally committed regardless of franchise, division etc.  The Executives are totally committed and actively involved.  This is for the long term and all employees are involved.  Only the best will be black belts, and these people will be the drivers of the company in years to come.  The concepts of 6 Sigma must become an integral part of the company culture.  The key is improving the bottom line that will prioritize resources to those projects with the best return.  At all stages it is critical customer requirements that come first.  Implementation will be “Head Count” neutral.