Rating: 
Summary: A clear roadmap to successful Six Sigma implementation
Review: Forrest Breyfogle's new text, "Implementing Six Sigma", provides clear and well-defined examples, case studies and guidelines for the justification, design and "smarter" implementation of Six Sigma methodologies in any organization. The practical examples of "Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods" show how organizations can enhance the bottom-line benefits of Six Sigma implementation through the innovative application of proven concepts. Breyfogle's real world experience in assisting clients like IBM, Motorola and Dell is evident on every page.The unique value of the book is in it's multi-tiered approach to each of these issues. Concepts are introduced, discussed and documented in several levels of detail, each suitable to a different reader, from the non-technical senior executive, through the implementing functional manager, to the working quality engineer. An excellent glossary and extensive reference tables make this book a valuable addition to any professional reference library. Pragmatic "how to" guidelines make it an easy to follow roadmap for successful Six Sigma implementation.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended Six Sigma resource
Review: Statistical tools and methodologies used by Six Sigma are not new but generally have been reserved for Quality and Engineering functions. My training and experience with Six Sigma crossed paths with employees across all departments - Buyers, Supervisors, floor employees, Human Resources, Finance, as well as Quality and Engineering personnel. What makes "Implementing Six Sigma" significant is you do not have to be an expert in statistics or even in the Quality field to understand and implement the tools of Six Sigma. Forrest details and further defines the tools in an easy to read format, plenty of exercises and examples, and a thorough appendix. I didn't discover this book until recently and have since replaced over a dozen reference books. Depending on the problem at hand, tool usage varies and not all are applicable (to one's project) or taught in training. I had excellent Black Belt instructors but Forrest's book would have come in handy during my training and would have been an invaluable resource when facilitating Green Belt training. Recommended for those new, and not so new, to Six Sigma.
Rating:
Summary: The One You Start With
Review: I am new to Six Sigma, but not new to Statistical Process Control. This is the first book I've read in this area that has a customer focus, rather than a statistical focus. It has all the basics of SPC, but presents it in away that is understandable and reasonably clear. If you have the time and reasources, you ought to go to the Smarter Six Sigma classes.
Rating: 
Summary: Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
Review: When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly opened it and spent a couple hours reviewing it's "treasures". I was disappointed. As a provider of Six Sigma Training and a certifed Black Belt myself, I had expected better from one of the most recognized names in the field. Breyfogle and his team have assembled several meaningful aspects of the Six Sigma art. However, any sense of flow or logical progression were interrupted by commercials for his company's "unique" approach. His team's frequent use of poorly defined vocabulary added to the confusion. Most disturbing, however, was the characterization of the value of the "wisdom of the organization", which could mislead potential implementers of the method to minimize the critical need for empirical data collection and analysis. They seem to promote the the more typical, "Ask Larry, he knows". Typos, confusing sentence structure, and poor publishing practices lead me to wonder if Dr. B reads his own defect reduction philosophies. The Voice of the Customer in this instance says: el Stinko. If you buy this book, you will find use in it. It's a good collection of techniques and ideas, and many of the examples are helpful. However, I would suggest looking for something cheaper and more professionally executed. The price may lead you to believe that this is the consumate work of the field. If it is, I guess that's good news for you and me. Without much effort, we could write and publish a better Six Sigma book than this shallow collection of Clip Art, rambling prose, and poorly referenced diagrams.
Rating:
Summary: Your first stop for any Six Sigma book
Review: This book is my favorite Six Sigma reference and it should have a wide based appeal. Six Sigma novices who are looking for information on where to begin will appreciate the clear and precise information on what Six Sigma is and how it will help their organization. BB's and MBB's will appreciate it as a well organized, well written reference guide with a terrific road map for project management and program implementation. I have a huge collection of Six Sigma books; but once I got a copy of this book I stopped recommending any others to people who ask me... this is the only book I tell them to go buy. It's the only book I have that covers ALL aspects of becoming Six Sigma. A lot of books are happy to explain what the concept is or what the results of Six Sigma have generated for companies but this is the only one that gives you what you need to begin your own program. What I REALLY like is that it does not limit itself to strictly manufacturing environments. It has a really good treatment of service environments and other places where it might seem difficult to apply Six Sigma principles. If you only buy one book about Six Sigma you'd be crazy not to make this one your choice.
Rating:
Summary: A clear roadmap to successful Six Sigma implementation
Review: Forrest Breyfogle's new text, "Implementing Six Sigma", provides clear and well-defined examples, case studies and guidelines for the justification, design and "smarter" implementation of Six Sigma methodologies in any organization. The practical examples of "Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods" show how organizations can enhance the bottom-line benefits of Six Sigma implementation through the innovative application of proven concepts. Breyfogle's real world experience in assisting clients like IBM, Motorola and Dell is evident on every page. The unique value of the book is in it's multi-tiered approach to each of these issues. Concepts are introduced, discussed and documented in several levels of detail, each suitable to a different reader, from the non-technical senior executive, through the implementing functional manager, to the working quality engineer. An excellent glossary and extensive reference tables make this book a valuable addition to any professional reference library. Pragmatic "how to" guidelines make it an easy to follow roadmap for successful Six Sigma implementation.
Rating:
Summary: Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
Review: When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly opened it and spent a couple hours reviewing it's "treasures". I was disappointed. As a provider of Six Sigma Training and a certifed Black Belt myself, I had expected better from one of the most recognized names in the field. Breyfogle and his team have assembled several meaningful aspects of the Six Sigma art. However, any sense of flow or logical progression were interrupted by commercials for his company's "unique" approach. His team's frequent use of poorly defined vocabulary added to the confusion. Most disturbing, however, was the characterization of the value of the "wisdom of the organization", which could mislead potential implementers of the method to minimize the critical need for empirical data collection and analysis. They seem to promote the the more typical, "Ask Larry, he knows". Typos, confusing sentence structure, and poor publishing practices lead me to wonder if Dr. B reads his own defect reduction philosophies. The Voice of the Customer in this instance says: el Stinko. If you buy this book, you will find use in it. It's a good collection of techniques and ideas, and many of the examples are helpful. However, I would suggest looking for something cheaper and more professionally executed. The price may lead you to believe that this is the consumate work of the field. If it is, I guess that's good news for you and me. Without much effort, we could write and publish a better Six Sigma book than this shallow collection of Clip Art, rambling prose, and poorly referenced diagrams.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Ever
Review: The second edition of Implementing Six Sigma, by Forrest Breyfogle, substantially updates and enriches the original work. In it's current form it may very well be the most comprehensive source of information about the practical application of statistical techniques in Six Sigma work. Like the previous edition, it is a highly informative book that illustrates how to tightly integrate balanced scorecard metrics with improvement techniques, to include Lean, Six Sigma, and theory of constraints (TOC) tools. Breyfogle's expanded step-by-step project execution roadmap illustrates when Lean/Six Sigma tools can be used to significant effect throughout the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) improvement cycle in a variety of settings. Other reviewers in the field have found the new book to be of significant value as well.
Writing in the February 2004 ASQ "Six Sigma Forum Magazine", Roger Hoerl, Manager of the Applied Statistics Laboratory at GE's Global Research Center categorized the work as "an excellent text for a technically oriented course for Black Belts or Master Black Belts...the most complete compilation of Six Sigma tools on the market." In the same publication, William Parr, Department of Statistics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, stated "This is the best overall reference, providing encyclopedic coverage of statistical and statistically related topics that are of use in Six Sigma work. With this well-deserved professional recognition, Breyfogle firmly positions himself as a world-class authority in the application of successful techniques to the implementation of Six Sigma - and his latest work as the "how to" guide to success.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Six Sigma training
Review: We do highly appreciate this book and we find it a very valuable resource for Six Sigma Training
Excellent effort and keep on.
Thanks
Rating:
Summary: Best Six Sigma Book I have Read
Review: Overlooking the MANY grammatical errors, the material in this book is deep, technical, and very comprehensive. This is not the typical Six Sigma book that is usually targeted to Champions or Management to "sell" them on Six Sigma--this book is very helpful to the Black Belt in the trenches. I highly recommend this book. I have read several Six Sigma books, and this is by far the most helpful, comprehensive, technical, and detailed book on Six Sigma I have read. Breyfogle effectively transfers his expert knowledge and experience in this book. Go buy it.
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