Rating: 
Summary: Great New Book
Review: "Most Six Sigma tools and techniques have been around for a long time. Since Pyzdek is a prolific author it's no surprise that his previous work covers many of them. It wouldn't make sense for Pyzdek to rewrite the material from scratch. However, this book is the only one that brings this material together into one place and unless you own several of his books already, you'll see a lot of material that you haven't seen before. In addition there are at least a couple of hundred pages of materials that are unique to this book. Personally, I think it's a great value."
Greg Ferguson
Columnist for Quality Digest Magazine
Rating:
Summary: I wish we'd had this book ten years ago!
Review: "The Complete Guide to Six Sigma" by Thomas Pyzdek (1999, Quality Publishing) is precisely what the title suggests: complete. As one would expect from this well known author in the use of statistical methods for process improvement, his coverage of the "how" of Six Sigma (the technical part) is outstanding. It is hard to imagine how so thorough a discussion of such topics could be presented more clearly. However, the real strength of the book is that this technical material is preceded by the "why" of Six Sigma (the management part) -- explaining what it takes to get management to "buy in" to the concept of using science to run a business (apparently not an obvious concept). It has probably been the lack of sufficient attention to the importance of this area that has caused so many "Total Quality" initiatives to flounder. This book will correct that oversight. Anyone wishing to transform their company into one that routinely uses proven scientific methods to realize significant gains in quality, productivity, and sales should study this book carefully. David B. Laney, Director of Statistical Methodology, BellSouth Corporation
Rating:
Summary: Great New Book
Review: "Most Six Sigma tools and techniques have been around for a long time. Since Pyzdek is a prolific author it's no surprise that his previous work covers many of them. It wouldn't make sense for Pyzdek to rewrite the material from scratch. However, this book is the only one that brings this material together into one place and unless you own several of his books already, you'll see a lot of material that you haven't seen before. In addition there are at least a couple of hundred pages of materials that are unique to this book. Personally, I think it's a great value."
Greg Ferguson
Columnist for Quality Digest Magazine
Rating:
Summary: I wish we'd had this book ten years ago!
Review: "The Complete Guide to Six Sigma" by Thomas Pyzdek (1999, Quality Publishing) is precisely what the title suggests: complete. As one would expect from this well known author in the use of statistical methods for process improvement, his coverage of the "how" of Six Sigma (the technical part) is outstanding. It is hard to imagine how so thorough a discussion of such topics could be presented more clearly. However, the real strength of the book is that this technical material is preceded by the "why" of Six Sigma (the management part) -- explaining what it takes to get management to "buy in" to the concept of using science to run a business (apparently not an obvious concept). It has probably been the lack of sufficient attention to the importance of this area that has caused so many "Total Quality" initiatives to flounder. This book will correct that oversight. Anyone wishing to transform their company into one that routinely uses proven scientific methods to realize significant gains in quality, productivity, and sales should study this book carefully. David B. Laney, Director of Statistical Methodology, BellSouth Corporation
Rating: 
Summary: The Six Sigma Handbook - a 1 sigma value!!!!!
Review: As a Master Black Belt, I am typically critical of books that are published on Six Sigma. This is no exception. The book is schizophrenic in that it doesn't quite know if it wants to be a technical reference or a management handbook. I think it fails at both. There is really nothing new in the management sections, and this book really lacks the depth required to be an effective handbook. There are three books on Six Sigma that I recommend for the Green Belt or Black Belt (Implementing Six Sigma --Breyfogle, The Six Sigma Revolution--Eckes, The Six Sigma Way--Pande). The Breyfogle book is a good technical handbook, while both the Eckes and Pande books are fantastic for Managers,Champions, MBB's, BB's, GB's, and all other employees engaged in a Six Sigma program. Of course no book is going to tell you everything you need to know.....Experience will, of course, teach you the most, but the books I mentioned will get you going. Good Luck!
Rating: 
Summary: It's great if you don't know any better
Review: As a Master Black Belt, I am typically critical of books that are published on Six Sigma. This is no exception. The book is schizophrenic in that it doesn't quite know if it wants to be a technical reference or a management handbook. I think it fails at both. There is really nothing new in the management sections, and this book really lacks the depth required to be an effective handbook. There are three books on Six Sigma that I recommend for the Green Belt or Black Belt (Implementing Six Sigma --Breyfogle, The Six Sigma Revolution--Eckes, The Six Sigma Way--Pande). The Breyfogle book is a good technical handbook, while both the Eckes and Pande books are fantastic for Managers,Champions, MBB's, BB's, GB's, and all other employees engaged in a Six Sigma program. Of course no book is going to tell you everything you need to know.....Experience will, of course, teach you the most, but the books I mentioned will get you going. Good Luck!
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner by Pyzdek
Review: As usual, Mr. Pyzdek takes a complex and confusing subject and makes it easy to understand with concise prose and clear examples. As he has done in his other books (Pyzdek's Guide to SPC) he writes to the people who really need to understand the material: Quality Engineers and Managers. You will find this book a rewarding experince and a valuable addition to your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of good information
Review: I am using this book as part of a six sigma course and it contains a lot of good information. On the downside I have seen some typos and some of the stat explanations were not as thorough as I would have liked. It I did not see binomial distribution table in it - I had to create my own. Aside from that it covers the topics well.
Rating:
Summary: Not Just Another Statistics Tome
Review: I have been doing Six Sigma projects for GE worldwide for over six years. I was very pleased to find a book that doesn't pontificate about the benefits of Six Sigma without telling the practitioner what to do on a Monday morning. The organization of the tools using the DMAIC framework is especially useful for the beginning BB who is trying to make sense of the weeks of training while they are executing their projects. Some sections, such as the TVM and Risk and Reliability analysis, are missing from the usual BB training and are welcome additions for extending the traditional Six Sigma methodology to 'Lean' type projects. Screen shots of Minitab and Excel make it a useful resource for refreshing techniques learned long ago. The application of reliability analysis to call center abandonment rates is an interesting application of known techniques to a new area. "The Six Sigma Handbook" is one of only a few reference books on Six Sigma that I have at my desk.
Rating:
Summary: Six Sigma Handbook That Gets Used 6 times a week
Review: I've had more than a few occasions to use this text. It is excellently
written and provides a great mix of pragmatic and technical topics that
have helped me on several different 6S teams I'm working. Can't say that
I've read it cover to cover, but can say that it is an excellent handbook.
I'll bet I'm averaging a half-dozen accesses a week. Joe Maciulla
Manager, Engineering and Advanced Programs QA
Raytheon Missile Systems
| 
