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Phelps Dodge is one of the world’s leading producers of copper. In 2001 they began an initiative called “Quest for Zero” that involves Lean, Six Sigma and other tools. Today, they continue in their Quest for Zero and have seen significant savings. “Quest for Zero – as in zero accidents, zero production variances, zero environmental […]

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Who says Six Sigma isn’t for small companies?This is the smallest company I know of that uses Six Sigma.At five employees and $3 million projected revenue for 2005, Delta Staffing Precision Hiring Systems is a placement services firm in Clarkston, Michigan, USA that uses Six Sigma to streamline the personnel selection process: “Employing Six Sigma, […]

The heart of DuPont’s continued growth lies in its three strategic pathways: integrated science, knowledge intensity and productivity through Six Sigma.DuPont is yet another clear example of Six Sigma complementing a strategic directive.DuPont has been around for a long time and according to this chart (found in the 2004 Annual Report), plans to stay around […]

American Express began their Six Sigma journey with a pilot initiative late in 1998. A small group of Black Belts across disciplines, functions and business units were trained and completed projects. After the initial pilot the program spread slowly to other business units. In 2001, Six Sigma became part of the Global Reengineering initiative and […]

ITT Industries began their Six Sigma program in 2000. It is named Value Based Six Sigma (VBSS) because it is linked to Value Based Management principles. Their Summer 2000 newsletter (PDF) is loaded with information introducing the new initiative: “Value-Based Six Sigma is a new company-wide continuous improvement effort that — according to ITT Industries […]

Fortune 500 Six Sigma companies in the Industrial Sector. Includes Metals and Industrial & Farm Equipment industries: Alcoa American Standard Black & Decker Caterpillar Cummins Deere Eaton Illinois Tool Works ITT Industries Parker Hannifin Phelps Dodge Timken York International

Fortune 500 Six Sigma companies in the Retail Industry: Albertsons Amazon.com Avnet Best Buy Big Lots Circuit City Stores Federated Department Stores Fisher Scientific International Home Depot IKON Office Solutions Ingram Micro Lowe’s May Department Stores Office Depot Radio Shack Sears Roebuck Target Wal-Mart Stores

Richard Weissman “shamelessly promotes” his article “The Pitfalls of Six Sigma” on the SCM Wire blog.The article appears in the May 2005 edition of The Manufacturer. The title of the article is deceptive and lead me to believe it was written from a negative bias, but the opposite is true.The article discusses some of the […]

Supply Chain Management Review – The Next Stage of Supply Chain Excellence. This article does a fine job speaking to how Lean and Six Sigma are helping shape the future of Supply Chain.Six Sigma Companies included in the article: IBM, Dow, 3M, Textron, Lockheed Martin, GlaxoSmithKline and Delphi. The authors, Gregory L. Schlegel and Richard […]

The remaining three iPod Shuffles were given away to three deserving individuals wearing iSixSigma buttons today. We ordered over 500 buttons, and if I hadn’t grabbed a pack of 20 from the box they all would have been given away. Thanks to Frank and Erin (our editors for the iSixSigma.com and iSixSigma Magazine, respectively) for […]

Dow began their Six Sigma journey as a pilot initiative in 1998.Early success in a few business units convinced management to deploy Six Sigma corporate-wide in 1999.The annual report their first year introduces their customer-centric Six Sigma philosophy: “We’re centering Six Sigma quality and productivity efforts around one concept—what keeps customers coming back to us […]

After following the market for nearly four years, I decided I needed a place to organize my Six Sigma thoughts as they were crowding my head. I decided to jump on the blogwagon and write about something I knew well…Six Sigma. A few months worth of posts to my blog caught the eye of Michael […]

Air Academy Associates graciously shared their booth with iSixSigma Magazine at the ASQ World Quality Conference, May 16-18. A few customers and alliance partners also displayed iSixSigma Magazine reprints. Thank you to everyone! The process for winner selection was pretty simple: wear a button, win an iPod Shuffle (if we see you wearing your button […]

Dominion is now in its fifth year of an enterprise-wide Six Sigma initiative. Their unique approach encourages the entrepreneurial spirit and has led to $300 million in savings since 2001. Dominion is active in the Six Sigma community, speaking at conferences and sharing best practices on deployment issues. A quick stroll through Dominion’s history and […]

The Energy Sector consists of the Energy and the Utilities: Gas & Electric industries of the Fortune 500. Six Sigma companies in the Energy sector: Constellation Energy Dominion Entergy FPL Group Public Service Enterprise Group TXU Notable Fortune 1000 companies using Six Sigma are: Alliant Energy Allegheny Energy Aquila

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The article, Lehman Wants More Efficiency, appeared today on Forbes.com. The author, Liz Moyer, writes: “Lehman has quietly put together what it calls a “productivity and process improvement” group. Formed in January, it reports to Chief Administrative Officer David Goldfarb.” Mike Cyger, founder of iSixSigma.com, is quoted in regards to productivity improvement: “There are twice […]

The Cox-Box is Copyright © 2000-2005 iSixSigma LLC and Gary P. Cox – All Rights ReservedReproduction Without Permission Is Prohibited – Request Permission

It’s clear that Six Sigma pays. This issue’s Benchmarking feature (iSixSigma Magazine, May/June 2005) presents a positive picture of the average annual salaries of Six Sigma professionals around the world. Black Belt and Master Black Belt salaries increased 5.4 and 5.3 percent respectively since last year – climbing to $74,000 and $98,000. In the United […]

Larry Johnson, CEO of Albertsons, spoke at the Lehman Brothers Retail Seminar on April 26, 2005. He gave a detailed update on the progress they have made with their Six Sigma deployment. The webcast is available from Albertsons Investor Information until May 17, 2005. The following quotes were transcribed: “All of these initiatives, along with […]

Sun Microsystems started their corporate-wide Six Sigma initiative in the Spring of 2000. “To institutionalize Sun Sigma, Sun has created a training program for all 37,000 Sun employees, beginning with upper-level management. Scott McNealy and the executive staff have already completed Sun Sigma training, which includes two days of training on the Change Acceleration Process […]

Over the years I have enjoyed the many articles that have speculated on the future of Six Sigma.This past month I have read three articles in particular that offered differing opinions on where Six Sigma is headed. According to Thomas Pyzdek, in Cargo Cult Six Sigma. Is the fad fading?: “As someone who follows Six […]

The Construction sector includes the following Fortune 500 industries: Homebuilders – Engineering, Construction – Building Materials, Glass The list is short and includes: Jacobs Engineering Group Owens Corning Notable Fortune 1000 companies include Armstrong Holdings, Vulcan Materials and  Martin Marietta Materials.

Chemical giants Dow and DuPont are the premier Six Sigma examples for the Chemical industry.As the early adopters in 1998, they continue to lead the industry today with innovative Six Sigma projects and deployment approaches.Many of the Fortune 1000 chemical companies employ Six Sigma: Air Products & Chemicals FMC Albemarle Great Lakes Chemical Ashland H.B. […]

The troubled Airline industry is a classic example that solidifies the fact that Six Sigma can do wonderful things for your bottom line… until gas prices rise dramatically or other market variables change and offset the Six Sigma savings.I know of only three Fortune 500 Airline companies that are using Six Sigma: Delta Air LinesSouthwest […]

Below is a list of Fortune 500 Automotive companies that use Six Sigma: ArvinMeritorAutolivBrunswickCooper Tire & RubberDanaDelphiFederal-MogulFord Motor CompanyGeneral MotorsGoodyear Tire & RubberJohnson ControlsLearNavistar InternationalPACCARTenneco AutomotiveTRW Automotive HoldingsVisteon

The Cox-Box is Copyright © 2000-2005 iSixSigma LLC and Gary P. Cox – All Rights ReservedReproduction Without Permission Is Prohibited – Request Permission

Johnson Controls began their Six Sigma initiative in October, 1999. Six Sigma is practiced worldwide throughout the organization to improve manufacturing as well as business processes. Over 2,000 employees have been trained to drive projects that “eliminate defects and mistakes, reduce waste, drive out excess cost, enhance work efficiency, and shorten work cycles – helping […]

The 2005 Fortune 500 is out! I have been anxiously waiting for the new list to perform my annual ritual of updating my Six Sigma Fortune list with the new rankings. I have been keeping tabs on Six Sigma in the Fortune 500 since 2001 when Wal-Mart was #2 wedged between Exxon and GM. Wal-Mart […]

Not surprisingly, the Aerospace & Defense Sector companies of the Fortune 500 are all using Six Sigma.Six Sigma has even found its way into the US Military – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.Other government organizations using Six Sigma include the Florida Department of Corrections, NASA and the Pentagon. BoeingGeneral DynamicsGoodrichHoneywell InternationalL-3 CommunicationsLockheed MartinNorthrop GrummanRaytheonTextronUnited […]

Pharmaceuticals is a place where Six Sigma does more than save money. Less defects in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries save lives. All the Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical companies are using Six Sigma. Abbott Laboratories Amgen Bristol-Myers Squibb Eli Lilly Johnson & Johnson Merck Pfizer Schering-Plough Wyeth

Six Sigma has really taken hold in the financial services industry.Early pioneers included GE Capital, Sun Trust Banks, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.Below are the Fortune 500 companies in the Financial Services sector that are using Six Sigma.The Financial Services sector includes the Fortune 500 industries: Diversified Financials, Commercial Banks, Savings Institutions and Securities. […]

The Computers & Electronics sector consists of the following Fortune 500 industries: Computers, Office Equipment Computer Software Computer Peripherals Computer and Data Services Semiconductors and Other Electronic Components Electronics, Electrical Equipment Early Six Sigma pioneers were Texas Instruments, IBM, Solectron, and Sun Microsystems. Below is a list of Computers & Electronics companies that are using […]

The Coca-Cola Company is featured in the e-Zsigma March, 2005 Six Sigma Spotlight.Rod Morgan interviewed Ellen Bovarnick, VP Corporate Business Excellence, and asked her all the right questions about Six Sigma at Coca-Cola.Below is an excerpt from the interview: Rod:During your presentation, you mentioned “Six Sigma” several times, both in the context of The Coca-Cola […]

The Consumer Food Products Sector includes the Fortune 500 industries, Beverages, Food Production and Consumer Food Products. The following companies are using Six Sigma: Campbell Soup Coca-Cola Kellogg PepsiCo

The Cox-Box is Copyright © 2000-2005 iSixSigma LLC and Gary P. Cox – All Rights ReservedReproduction Without Permission Is Prohibited – Request Permission

IKON Office Solutions is quickly becoming a major voice for Six Sigma in the Business Services industry. Matt Espe came to IKON in August, 2002 and less than a year later his GE roots revealed themselves with a corporate Six Sigma initiative. An overview of IKON’s Six Sigma initiative is told best through their annual […]

Pfizer currently uses Six Sigma as one of the tools in their “Right First Time” initiative. Right First Time also includes Process Analytical Technology (PAT) which is an FDA prescribed framework for quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry. Food & Drug Packaging published a Special Report in May 2004 that reveals details of their program: […]

As early as 1999 the Cessna Aircraft Company was using Six Sigma as one of its business improvement tools.This early work laid the foundation for Textron Six Sigma, the corporate-wide initiative that would follow in 2002. Overview 2004 Annual Report “Textron Six Sigma We have achieved substantial savings through our Black Belt and Green Belt […]

McDonald’s adopts business practice that made GE famous “Selected management at McDonald’’s, a GEFF client, are learning about Six Sigma through GE’s program, “At the Customer, For the Customer,” that brings GE’’s resources and management tools to customers. In 2003, GEFF initiated a meeting with McDonald’’s executives at the John F. Welch Leadership Center at […]

The Cox-Box is Copyright © 2000-2005 iSixSigma LLC and Gary P. Cox – All Rights ReservedReproduction Without Permission Is Prohibited – Request Permission

Overview Circuit City began their Six Sigma initiative early in 2001 as stated in their 2001 Annual Report: “Given the challenging retail climate, we will even more closely examine our operating practices. Specifically, we are undertaking initiatives to…apply the Six Sigma methodology to critical processes so that we measurably increase customer satisfaction while also reducing […]

Larry Johnston, a seasoned General Electric executive, took over as CEO of Albertsons in April, 2001. Unlike his colleagues, James McNerney and Bob Nardelli, Johnston did not immediately sing Six Sigma in the key of G & E. He waited. Instead, he quickly got to work restructuring the company and three years later announced it […]

The Cox-Box is Copyright © 2000-2008 iSixSigma LLC and Gary P. Cox – All Rights ReservedReproduction Without Permission Is Prohibited – Request Permission

Overview May Department Stores has not released very much public information about their Six Sigma program. I have found job postings for positions at May and their brand stores that desire Black Belt certification, a “What is Six Sigma” presentation by the Divisional Controller for May Merchandising Company and the biography of a Six Sigma […]

Thousands of people per year use the “Make a Suggestion” box found on every iSixSigma.com page. We love it because it provides a tremendous amount of new ideas for us to think about, prioritize and develop. Keep them coming. Every once in a while we’ll receive a suggestion like, “There seem to be a large […]

The Cox-Box, Six Sigma Guy, and associated characters are the brainchild and creative outlet of Rookie Six Sigma Black Belt Gary Cox. Gary has combined his passion for drawing cartoons with his newly acquired Six Sigma experiences through the characters and tales in The Cox-Box. The situations, characters and bureaucracy are all hypothetical and any […]

As my previous blog described, this is the location that I will be posting thoughts, rants and anything else that I have time to post. Everything you read here will be written by me, Michael Cyger, and it reflects my unique perspective of this Six Sigma community that I’ve helped build and foster since 2000. […]

At the recent IQPC Six Sigma Summit Six Sigma conference, the auditorium was packed to standing room only with executives and practitioners there to hear a question and answer session with Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric. Many delegates I spoke with said they registered for the conference just for the chance to hear […]