TY - JOUR
T1 - Six sigma for small and medium-sized enterprises
AU - Wessel, Godecke
AU - Burcher, Peter G.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Having arisen in large corporations, six sigma is surely one of the most comprehensive approaches for company development and performance improvement of products and processes. Nevertheless, it appears that the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) either do not know the six sigma approach, or find its organisation not suitable to meet their specific requirements. This study identifies the specific requirements based on a sample of SMEs in Germany and examines how six sigma has to be modified to be applicable and valuable in an SME environment. The overall results are reflected in ten imperative functional requirements for an adjusted approach. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
AB - Having arisen in large corporations, six sigma is surely one of the most comprehensive approaches for company development and performance improvement of products and processes. Nevertheless, it appears that the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) either do not know the six sigma approach, or find its organisation not suitable to meet their specific requirements. This study identifies the specific requirements based on a sample of SMEs in Germany and examines how six sigma has to be modified to be applicable and valuable in an SME environment. The overall results are reflected in ten imperative functional requirements for an adjusted approach. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
KW - quality management
KW - quality programmes
KW - small to medium-sized enterprises
KW - total quality management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23844434654&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=842114&show=abstract
U2 - 10.1108/09544780410541918
DO - 10.1108/09544780410541918
M3 - Article
SN - 1754-2731
VL - 16
SP - 264
EP - 272
JO - TQM Journal
JF - TQM Journal
IS - 4
ER -