Critical success factors of Six Sigma implementations in Italian companies

The present paper discusses the results of a research project going on at Politecnico di Milano, aiming at analysing the idiosyncrasies of Six Sigma implementations in Italian companies. In particular, the project addresses the following research questions, regarding the approach of Italian companies towards Six Sigma: are Italian companies implementing Six Sigma exactly as it was originally conceived at Motorola or, rather, is there an Italian way to Six Sigma? do Italian companies which implemented Six Sigma recognize the same set of critical success factors singled out in the international literature? Bibliographic analysis showed a lack of literature concerning Six Sigma implementation in Italian companies. The research was then based on the study of real life application of Six Sigma in an Italian company and on discussion through a set of workshops organized at Politecnico di Milano with Six Sigma experts. In particular, we will concentrate on a set of case studies and on one workshop specifically addressing the second research question. The insights coming from the analysed case studies and discusses with industry experts - if further explored, validated and reorganized - could constitute a Road Map for Six Sigma implementation in Italian companies; the validation and re-organization process is still on-going and its completion could constitute a further research objective. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.