May 2002
Volume 1 • Number 3
20 Key Lessons Learned
Experience shows what works and doesn’t work.
By Gerald J. Hahn, General Electric Co. (retired)
- The time is right.
- The enthusiastic commitment of top management is essential.
- Develop an infrastructure.
- Commit top people.
- Invest in relevant hands-on training.
- Select initial projects to build credibility rapidly.
- Make it all pervasive, and involve everybody.
- Emphasize Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).
- Don’t forget design for reliability.
- Focus on the entire system.
- Emphasize customer critical to quality characteristics.
- Include commercial quality improvement.
- Recognize all savings.
- Customize to meet business needs.
- Consider the variability as well as the mean.
- Plan to get the right data.
- Beware of dogmatism.
- Avoid nonessential bureaucracy.
- Keep the toolbox vital.
- Expect Six Sigma to become a more silent partner.
