The Six Sigma Project Management Strategy

Stockholders and customers both challenge executives to produce products and services at lower cost and higher quality. In response to this need executives have implemented quality improvement programmes. One widely applied programme is Six Sigma, which promises massive cost-reduction, and improved quality of products and services. Six Sigma methodology is a business strategy for operations improvement. As a project-driven approach, it is closely linked to project management. Six Sigma has received growing attention over the last two decades. Six Sigma has its roots in high-volume manufacturing industries, but it is now being implemented in health care, financial institutions, services industries and engineering organizations. In order to successfully implement Six Sigma, organizations need to understand the methodology. The main aims of the study is to provide a detailed definition of Six Sigma, its various methodologies, and present an empirical examination of Six Sigma in the construction industry using case study approach. The results and analysis of projects and a series of interviews on lost working days due to workplace injuries concluded that Six Sigma implementations can be implemented in the construction industry. To implement Six Sigma strategy, it should be based on verifiable facts; senior executives need to support the new initiatives; qualified employees must be trained to become Six Sigma experts and project leaders; and customer satisfaction needs to be the focus of process improvement.