While more than 50 percent of respondents in a new report indicated that they had implemented Six Sigma programs, only 16 percent of the programs meet the methodology’s core requirements.

The survey, performed by the Aberdeen Group, also found that the 16 percent of programs that adhered to Six Sigma’s stringent goal-oriented rules for dedicated training, prioritization and structured problem solving enjoyed 40 percent more savings per program and 65 percent more savings per project than their less-rigorous peers.

“Adapting to the rigors of Six Sigma requires a significant cultural change for most companies, and many find it a challenge,” says Cindy Jutras, Aberdeen vice president of manufacturing and enterprise resource planning research. “Yet not all challenges are obstacles. Six Sigma methodologies are dependent on data, so data collection can present significant obstacles. Automated data collection and IT solutions can play a key role in resolving these obstacles.”

Jutras has the following recommendations for Six Sigma strategies:

 …