Rating: 
Summary: It's proven, It's authoritative, It's big and that's OK !
Review: I simply think 5 stars every time I open this book! It addresses both six sigma organizational skills and statistical methodologies. It describes the application of statistical tools (with no BULL) to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the process (and organization) in meeting customer needs. I teach with this book every spring semester!! Sure I have to pick and choose from chapters. Sure 30,000 foot is 'high', but it is how organizations think and then execute! Thank you, Thank you . . . John Wiley!
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars From the Java Six Sigma Server Architect
Review: I simply give this book 5 starts, though it addresses both six sigma and the stastistical methodologies based on BUSH. I architected the BULL methodology of the Java Six Sigma Server™ which emphasizes an intelligent blending of the wisdom of the organization with proven statistical tools to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization in meeting customer needs.
The ultimate goal is not improvement for improvement's sake, but rather the creation of economic wealth for the customer and provider alike.
Cheers, Alan
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Comprehensive Source
Review: I bought this book directly from the author out of the trunk of his car, so I can tell you that you definitely get a better price from amazon.com. Anyway, this is without a doubt, the most comprehensive book on the subject. Breyfogle has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that he has covered all aspects of Six Sigma in sufficient detail that the reader will be able to apply these methodologies successfully from the start. One of the key ingredients he spends a lot of time on is the idea of focusing and aligning efforts with corporate or organizational goals and metrics. These he refers to as the "satellite level"*. There are lower operational levels (30,000 foot and below) that need to be aligned with the satellite level in order that six sigma projects are driven for most effectiveness to the organization. Forrest Breyfogle has been a quality leader in our community (Austin, Texas) for a number of years. I knew him since his days at IBM in the early `90s. That doesn't mean that I can't give an unbiased view of this book, however. Note I'm not giving it 5 stars as some have done. I am trying to give it a fair assessment, however. I've seen many technical books of this nature written in a more conversational way that are a little easier to read with better vocabulary, grammar, and organization. But if you want a book that covers it all, there is nothing out there I know of that can beat this one. This book claims to focus on both product and service quality. However, as with many books that claim to cover the service sector, it is a little weak in that area. There are some books that cover services better than this one, I think, and so if that is your specialty, you may want to use one of those books to supplement the treatment of six sigma in this book. I like "Ultimate Six Sigma" by Keki Bhote. That book uses the concept of NOAC (Next Operation As Customer) to drive interdepartmental process improvement. Bhote is a big fan of Dorian Shainin, the consummate engineer of quality tools, and he is now arrogantly calling some of the Shainin tools "Shainin/Bhote" tools. But I've seen a lot of books that look like advertising brochures for consultants. His and Breyfogle's book both have that fault. But I have to like them simply because they are comprehensive, authoritative, and useful. I think the advertising brochure syndrome is really the fault of publishers that let authors get away with it. I would think a respected technical publisher like Wiley would not accept that kind of tone in any of its books. But like "Coke C2" and low carb bread, we are swamped with advertising from every direction and it only gets worse. Another good book you might want to consider is "Lean Six Sigma for Service" by Michael L. George. This book specializes in only the service sector and is therefore, a very good book for that kind of work with some excellent case studies. *Service Mark of Smarter Solutions
Rating: 
Summary: Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
Review: When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly spent a couple hours reviewing it in comparison to the dozen or so references that I already owned. 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.
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: not worth the investment.
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 effectively executed. I hoave found George and Chowdhury books to be far more helpful. Dr. Breyfogle has undoubtedy earned a solid place in Six Sigma field, but this book does not do him or the subject justice.
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: 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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