Leading Six Sigma: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Experience with GE and Other Six Sigma Companies

Playing Offense—Growing the Effort

While your efforts to hold project gains and the benefits of the overall Six Sigma system help sustain momentum, this is basically a defensive strategy. You don't want to lose the benefits you have worked so hard to obtain. As in all of life, however, the best defense is a good offense.

While you work on holding gains, you also want to take proactive steps to grow and expand the deployment into new areas. This is your offensive strategy. Continuing to drive Six Sigma into new areas will keep the initiative fresh, and prevent it from losing steam.

Some key areas that may prove particularly fruitful are extending Six Sigma to the entire organization, taking it to suppliers and customers, and using it to drive ...