RE: Quality Progress Magazine Article (and 6 Sigma)

["John Zavacki" <jzavacki@greenapple.com>]

Thank you, John, for going against the grain!!  I, too, am a supporter of
six sigma.  Once again, I say the mean shift controversy is irrelevant.  In
many organizations which practice the use of Quality Tools (such as my own),
it is not stressed.  The concepts inherent in good leadership, such as
double loop learning, systems thinking, an understanding of psychology, are.

The recent quotes from disgruntled GE employees go against the swell of
satisfaction that many GE people feel in their pride of workmanship and joy
in the workplace, BECAUSE of the use of Quality Tools in everthing they do.
The same is happening with my own company.  I attended a project launch
yesterday for a black belt in training's training project and heard an
electrician talk about continuous improvement, a mechanic talk about
continued and full employment, as elements to include in the team's mission
statement (the purists here can read that as "operational definition").

We use an arrow pointing to "Premier Multi-Industry Performance" as our
logo.  The tail feathers are made of Value Based Management and Leadership.
The shaft has a core of six sigma tools reinforced with lean production and
product development.  It is working AND it gives me a forum to quote and
teach Dr. Deming.

John Zavacki
jzavacki@greenapple.com