Six SIGMA and Other Continuous Improvement Tools for the Small Shop

Gary Conner has the knack of making both complicated concepts and potentially dull reading so simple that this book is required reading for anyone seriously contemplating or implementing any of the continuous improvement tools available to us. His exposition of DMAIC (design, measure, analyze, improve and control) into specific tools with copious charts is worth the price of the book alone. Not only is there an index but a glossary and a list of suggested reading. Of particular value is the presentation of tables about each of the many initiatives that show that it's relationship to Six Sigma, as well as who needs or uses it, cost estimates, strengths, limitations, process complexity, implementation time, additional resources and internet search key words and URLs.Aside: I have two quibbles: 1. The title may scare away larger shop folk who can gain as much value from this book as the small shop people 2. I would have liked to see more linkage to the engineering design function. Manufacturing and industrial engineering are important, but most of product cost and defect generation happens up front in the design.Having voiced my quibbles, this book sits on my desk along with Gary's "lean manufacturing for the small shop" and I can now recommend a second book by this down to earth lean author.

This book is an outstanding contribution to the Six Sigma effort, which allows the small shops to discover how all the elements of past and present improvement processes fit together. Beginning with the history of the Industrial Revolution through the use of the six sigma practical tools, it explains the needs and how the tools dovetail nicely together. Within this book's covers lay the applied use of six-sigma process improvement techniques, which reduce costs and give the practitioner, better understanding of processes and flow. By following the step-by-step process of define, measure, analyze, improve and control, hands-on problem solving is easily taught to everyone within an organization. The four appendixes plus the glossary completes a great reference book for any small and medium shop. Being a past plant manager in small shops I see the high value of this book. The interactive CD makes the user a quick master in six sigma techniques. My plans are to use this as a text for my Six Sigma course at Sinclair Community College.Thank you for this review opportunity.David G. Meyer, PE Sinclair Community College Chair - IET, MFG, Plastics & Composites Engineering Technology