Six Sigma project selection: an analysis of responsible factors

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the Six Sigma project selection approach and the factors responsible in the Indian manufacturing industry with foreign technical collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

First, an extensive overview and literature review of the Six Sigma project selection process is done resulting into identification of 17 key project selection variables. This is followed by an empirical descriptive statistical analysis of the select variables on 13 Indian manufacturing organizations with foreign technical collaboration. Finally, an objective factor analysis has been used to extract six key factors that affect the project selection process.

Findings

Management commitment alone cannot ensure success of the Six Sigma projects unless supported by a good communication system, process and workflow management and availability of good metrics and measurement information systems and resources within the organization, in that order. The identification of critical to quality characteristics and deployment of financial resources and innovative and qualified people comes next.

Research limitations/implications

The factors extracted through the factor analysis could provide a basis for manufacturing organizations embarking on the Six Sigma initiative to focus on key factors of the project selection process and put project deliverables in place. The paper opens up the scope for industry and region‐specific studies.

Originality/value

The identification of factors is based on extensive literature survey supplemented by their extraction based on companies' direct primary responses through a structured questionnaire whose Cronbach alpha for reliability was estimated to be 0.827.

Citation

Sharma, S. and Chetiya, A.R. (2010), "Six Sigma project selection: an analysis of responsible factors", International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 280-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/20401461011096069