Design for Six SIGMA: The Revolutionary Process for Achieving Extraordinary Profits

by Subir Chowdhury

Book Overview

Changing a product post-launch can cost 1,000 times more than if you made the changes during the design state. Six Sigma in manufacturing is only half the story. This book uncovers the biggest... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419526812
• ISBN13: 9781419526817
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Primer for Managers and Executives

This book by Quality Guru Subir Chowdhury is EXCELLENT PRIMER for managers and executives. As Mr. Chowdhury has been credited in the prestigious Industry Week magazine for introducing this new book and popularizing DFSS in the world. I loved this book's easy style of writing and STRONGLY RECOMMEND it to anyone who wants to know what is DFSS and its applicability.

Excellent Book

Design For Six Sigma by Subir Chowdhury is the timely book on the topic. This book is about DOING RIGHT at the first time. This book is about FIRE PREVENTION rather than Fire Fighting. If American corporations want to lead the world, they MUST adopt DFSS. And to understand this complex topic, MANAGERS and LEADERS MUST READ this book. Take Chowdhury's advice very seriously. The book explains the common misconceptions about the topic and its usage of tools. By writing this valuable book, Chowdhury filled the gap for the first time. Definitely Chowdhury's bestseller THE POWER OF SIX SIGMA is a 2 hour easy read story book, which is enjoyable and fun reading. Even though this book is written in business style, still it is fun reading. Chowdhury's style of writing excites the reader on the process. Six Sigma Corporate Executive Champions from Caterpillar, Johns Manville, Merrill Lynch, Sunbeam, and Dow Corning highly endorsed this book. After finish reading the book, I understand why all of these Six Sigma devotees are so high on this book. Thank you, Chowdhury!!! We look forward to your NEXT MASTERPIECE!!! If you are serious about Six Sigma or DFSS, READ THIS BOOK. I strongly recommend it.

Why Not the First Time?

The claim on this book's dust jacket that Chowdhury offers "the only [in italics for emphasis] way to achieve Six Sigma" is obviously ludicrous. Presumably he would be the first to agree with Michael Hammer who wrote The Agenda to repudiate the idea that there is one and only one "silver bullet" to hit the "target" of organizational transformation. In fact, there is a full arsenal of weapons. "Six Sigma's trademark methodology of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) has become a standard operating procedure in companies around the globe." Quite true. The challenge is to select what is most appropriate to the specific needs and objectives of a given organization. One of Chowdhury's many and substantial gifts is his ability to explain even the most difficult of concepts to those who lack his understanding of highly sophisticated production and measurement systems. This talent was demonstrated in his previously published The Power of Six Sigma which I view as an invaluable "primer" for non-engineers such as those in marketing and sales. In this volume, he carefully organizes his material within seven chapters. Everything Chowdhury shares, directly or indirectly, explains how to use Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) to `start from scratch to design the product or process to be virtually error free." Chowdhury is absolutely convinced that what sets DFSS apart from other variations of Six Sigma methodology is getting it right the first time. If I understand what seems to be one of Chowdhury's key points (and I may not) it is absolutely essential during the process of designing any new product or service to anticipate literally everything that could go wrong with it, then complete the design so as to prevent those defects. For m,e, this is the single greatest value of the DFSS methodology. So viewed, constant verification during each step of the design process is absolutely essential. Throughout his book, Chowdhury explains why DFSS is (he's obviously convinced) "the ONLY way to achieve Six Sigma," how to formulate an effective DFSS strategy, what various roles are for everyone involved, how to identify and define appropriate opportunities, how to develop concepts during Phase II of the process, how to optimize the design, and then how to verify and then re-verify it. He concludes by asserting that "the real power of Design for Six Sigma is realized as you mature the integration of DFSS into your new product and service introduction process" and promises that those companies "that effectively accomplish this level of maturation in DFSS will command almost insurmountable competitive advantages. The tsunami of DFSS is coming. Ride the leading edge to win the new global competitive race that has already begun."Those who share my high regard for Chowdhury's book are urged to check out the previously mentioned book by Michael Hammer (The Agenda) as well as Bossidy and Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Pande et al's The S

The BEST Book on the complex topic like DFSS!

Design For Six Sigma by Subir Chowdhury is the timely book on the topic. This book is about DOING RIGHT at the first time. This book is about FIRE PREVENTION rather than Fire Fighting. If American corporations want to lead the world, they MUST adopt DFSS. And to understand this complex topic, MANAGERS and LEADERS MUST READ this book. Take Chowdhury's advice very seriously. The book explains the common misconceptions about the topic and its usage of tools. By writing this valuable book, Chowdhury filled the gap for the first time. Definitely Chowdhury's bestseller THE POWER OF SIX SIGMA is a 2 hour easy read story book, which is enjoyable and fun reading. Even though this book is written in business style, still it is fun reading. Chowdhury's style of writing excites the reader on the process. Six Sigma Corporate Executive Champions from Caterpillar, Johns Manville, Merrill Lynch, Sunbeam, and Dow Corning highly endorsed this book. After finish reading the book, I understand why all of these Six Sigma devotees are so high on this book.Thank you, Chowdhury!!! We look forward to your NEXT MASTERPIECE!!! If you are serious about Six Sigma or DFSS, READ THIS BOOK. I strongly recommend it.