Title: The analysis of the implementation status of Six Sigma: an empirical study in Taiwan

Authors: King-Jang Yang, Tsu-Ming Yeh, Fan-Yun Pai, Ching-Chow Yang

Addresses: Department of Applied Mathematics, Chung-Hua University, Taiwan. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Technology Management, Da-Yeh University, Taiwan. ' Graduate Institute of Business Administration, National Taiwan University, Taiwan. ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University, Taiwan

Abstract: In this study, we want to investigate the implementation status of Six Sigma by using an empirical study in Taiwan. The main focuses of the study are: (1) to analyse the levels of implementation and the degrees of importance of the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of the programme, (2) to discover the areas in which Six Sigma has been applied and (3) to examine the rate of utilisation and degree of effectiveness of the Six Sigma tools and discuss the obstacles encountered in the implementation. This research also compares the results with respect to the implementation time periods and success levels. The study concludes that Six Sigma is a fashionable method of management, but if organisations want to obtain dramatic benefits from the implementation, they must enhance the implementation of the CSFs and utilise more advanced statistical tools.

Keywords: six sigma implementation; critical success factors; CSFs; empirical study; Taiwan; advanced statistics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2008.018421

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2008 Vol.4 No.1, pp.60 - 80

Published online: 21 May 2008 *

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