The Six Sigma Handbook, Revised and Expanded, 2nd Edition

3.6. THE SIX SIGMA PROCESS ENTERPRISE

I am often asked "Will Six Sigma work for..." where the blank is "health care," "oil exploration," "custom-built homes," etc. The list is unending. My typical response is that, if a process is involved, Six Sigma may be able to help you improve it. Personally, I don't believe that everything will benefit from the application of Six Sigma rigor. There are some things that aren't processes, such as pure creativity, love and unstructured play. I don't believe a chess grand-master would benefit from the advice of a Black Belt applying DMAIC to his moves, nor would his equivalent in the R&D area. There are other things that are processes, but processes so poorly understood that we don't know enough about them ...