Taking the Reins

Abstract:To keep ahead of the competition, manufacturer Textron implemented lean Six Sigma in 2002. Five years later, feedback from internal customers revealed that early deployment practices were not effective after the method was established and could in fact cripple the initiative. As the Textron Six Sigma (TSS) model became more dogmatic and bureaucratic, it became clear it was time to let go of the stringent requirements and allow the business units to own their deployment. A maturity/deployment guide was developed to help the business units make their decentralization plans. Changes have been difficult, but each change resulted in Textron rising to a higher maturity level with increased internal customer satisfaction. Sidebar articles offer the TSS satisfaction survey and instructions for using the maturity/deployment …

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Many good observations in this article. Getting away from needing to prove and account for savings as a success metric is a step in the right direction. If the project is properly selected and executed, it will eventually show up on the bottom line.
--Ed Runge, 10-21-2010

My own organization is currently struggling to launch its own brand of lean management/lean Six Sigma. This article has come at the right time for providing a very insightful real-case overview on a very promising LSS deployment recipe. Thank you to Lawrence Bossidy for this very candid overview of the Textron LSS experience.
--Marc Tremblay, 09-08-2010

Lawrence (Larry) Bossidy was swift and sure in his deployment of Six Sigma. We should all look to him as a true leader as CEO of Allied Signal and Honeywell. Read his book, "Execution," for inspiration.
--Tom Fairchild, 09-04-2010
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