Topic / Company

Increasing Profitability

Motorola

When Six Sigma began at Motorola 20 years ago, it was initially perceived as simply a quality initiative used to drive productivity and efficiency. Now it drives innovation, helping the company make a profit from game-changing inventions.

Recession Immunity

Whirlpool

In the mid-1990s, Whirlpool did not have a good track record of being able
to respond to tight economies. Benchmarking of companies such as AlliedSignal made a case for investing in Six Sigma, with the promise of a 10-to-1 return. Today, that ROI has been fulfilled and then some.

Enabling Innovation

Xerox

The company whose very name defined an industry almost half a century ago is using Lean Six Sigma and Design for Lean Six Sigma (DFLSS) as a way to stay in the forefront of document technology, and provide better ways for customers to improve business results.

Business Transformation

Apogee Enterprises

Apogee, which provides glass windows and other glass products, watched the value of its stock fall 84 percent over three years. Management knew a change was needed if the company expected to survive. Lean Six Sigma provided the needed transformation.

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Alcan, Inc.

Every company’s deployment of Six Sigma is as unique as the circumstances. For Alcan, the multinational, Canadian-based global leader in aluminum and packaging, company-wide Six Sigma deployment was as challenging as it gets.

Program Sustainability

TRW Automotive

TRW Automotive is one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers. The company uses Lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma to improve both manufacturing and business processes. Recently, a DMAIC project was commissioned to help the company's improvement program better meet changing business needs.

Return on Investment

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. In 2001, the company deployed Six Sigma, and in one year recouped its more than $20 million investment twice over.

Research & Development

Dow Chemical

R&D specialists at The Dow Chemical Company have learned to combine Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and the innovation method known as TRIZ. The result is a systematic approach to innovation that enables the company to respond quickly to changing market conditions.

Supply Chain Optimization

Electric Boat

At Electric Boat Corporation, 25 percent of purchased material was being detained for inspection, causing a high backlog of material. A Six Sigma team successfully reduced the percentage of material being routed to receipt inspection.

Process Capability

Kahiki Foods

Kahiki Foods Inc. manufactures Asian-style frozen foods. The company recently applied Lean Six Sigma to improve the capability of the egg roll production process, and reduce production waste.

Defect Reduction

High Tech Manufacturing

With this project, a Six Sigma team worked to improve a circuit board soldering process. The team reduced solder defects by 92 percent and saved the company $300,000 annually.

Turnaround Time

Honeywell International

An aircraft engine servicing business was taking too long to complete repairs, causing to keep spare engines available. A Six Sigma team tackled the problem and delivered a significant reduction in turnaround time for customers, as well as achieving cost reductions for the service company.