Title: Six Sigma awareness in Central Indian SMEs

Authors: S.V. Deshmukh, R.R. Lakhe

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, B.D. College of Engineering, Sewagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. ' Shreyas Quality Management System, 11, Tulsi Vihar, TF-III, Abhyankar Nagar Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Six Sigma has helped many industries, small and big to achieve phenomenal success. Six Sigma have restricted its use in large organisations while small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are lagging far behind. In view of this, the paper presents findings from a study aimed at identifying the Six Sigma awareness amongst SMEs of central India. So far, on similar lines not a single study has been reported from this region. The results showed that 67.5% SMEs were aware of the Six Sigma methodology, but none of them have ever used it in their respective organisations. In view of lack of data from this region, these results provide a well structured present status of quality management techniques followed in the SMEs of this region and indicate a need to explore various ways and means to change the mindset of managements in these SMEs to make them globally competitive.

Keywords: six sigma awareness; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; quality management; India; quality improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2010.030742

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2010 Vol.5 No.2, pp.200 - 212

Published online: 01 Jan 2010 *

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