Implementing a Six Sigma intervention need not cost millions.
One of the more familiar problems in business is how to implement Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized companies. This is an issue because larger companies are beginning to mandate Six Sigma to their supply base as a condition of future business. The problem arises when small- and mid-sized organizations solicit deployment proposals from Six Sigma consulting companies only to learn that the traditional Six Sigma implementation approach can require millions of dollars in investment, dedication of their best resources and training of the masses.
Those who have experienced this situation have found that this approach to Six Sigma is unrealistic for smaller and mid-sized organizations. But there still exists a need to bring these companies into the Six Sigma fold, because together they might represent as much as 70% to 80% of total value stream activity.