In an article published in BusinessWeek the above question is examined. The enhanced interest in deploying Six Sigma initiatives is widely observed in several industries. Firms are trying to radically reduce production defects and improve processes, without necessarily putting more people on the payroll. The article states that:
– Capital One has launched a Six Sigma initiative to "drive continuous improvement" in its operations.
– Pfizer has embarked on 85 Six Sigma projects to lower the cost of delivering medicines to patients in its pharmaceutical sciences division.
– Chicago law firm Seyfarth Shaw is using Six Sigma to make client meetings more productive.
– Ads seeking Six Sigma experts and "black belts" increased to 7,155 in August 2009 from 6,585 in June 2009.
Source: Burnsed, B. and Thornton, E. 2009. The Six Sigma Black Belts are Back. BusinessWeek, September, 2009.