Six Sigma, much maligned and yet vehemently supported by some. Is it now outmoded, does it stifle creativity and squash the normal common sense decisions that are made on a daily basis.

Can a company successfully run various techniques side by side, for example Six Sigma with Prince 2 or XP. Or will the result be confusion and failure.

I understand that the half dozen basic principles of Six Sigma are widely known...
1. Critical to Quality: Attributes most important to the customer
2. Defect: Failing to deliver what the customer wants
3. Process Capability: What your process can deliver
4. Variation: What the customer sees and feels
5. Stable Operations: Ensuring consistent, predictable processes to improve what the customer sees and feels
6. Design for Six Sigma: Designing to meet customer needs and process capability

I also believe the overriding intention of Six Sigma is to eliminate ‘defects’ to 3.4 per million, and drive quality / excellence through a business. All of this sounds fine, but are there any downsides?

Like most concepts or processes, businesses can all to easily scupper their chances of success with a fumbled introduction.

Who has experience of Six Sigma, and are there any GE stalwarts that have survived, who are prepared to comment?