Case Study: John Smithers

1
Case StudyJohn Smithers

• Presented By
• Lilian Ho Cynthia Lam

2
Chronology

• Sigtek acquired by new owner Telwork (1st quarter
  2001)
• Telwork formulates Six Sigma Quality Program
  (Feb)
• Smithers (engineering) Murphy (operations) sent
  as instructors to Six Sigma
• Smither Murphy start training sessions at
  Sigtek in September

3
Six Sigma Quality Program

• Goal is to
• Improve product quality
• Encourage better management practices
• Gather all of the scattered and diverse companies

4
Six Sigma (cont.)

• Outcome of Training Sessions at Sigtek
• No questions/response from senior managers during
  presentation
• Lack of support understanding from Patricof
• Workers enthusiasm dampened by delays caused by
  senior managers, namely Patricof

5
Organizational Level

• Sigtek is split into 2 groups - Engineering
  Manufacturing Operations - under weak leadership
  of Bradley
• Overall management style is autocratic largely
  unresponsive to worker concerns
• Untrusting environment, low morale (4 rounds of
  layoffs)
• Senior managers not committed to changes they
  were preaching
• Departments not united to achieve new goals

6
Problem Statement

• Organization not united to achieve its goal to
  increase sales in the face of growing competition
  changes in consumer purchases
• Six Sigma is used as a tool for achieving this
  senior management not supportive committed to
  changing
• Lack of communication between senior management
  and workers needs
• Low morale - 4 rounds of layoffs

7
What Smithers should do before?

• Involve senior management in the meeting or
  training session of Six Sigma program
• Gain more support through his mentor, Cross
• Awareness of the program will increase once
  senior management is involve
• Believe in the program
• Unite departments towards common goal

8
What Smithers can do now?

• Persuade educate Patricof to believe in Six
  Sigma to gain his support

9
How to persuade Patricof?

• Explain in detail to Patricof about the
  effectiveness of Six sigma
• Set goals within a time period to prove the
  effectiveness of the Program
• Show him example on how other company improved by
  the program

10
What Smithers can do now?

• Persuade educate Patricof to believe in Six
  Sigma to gain his support
• Periodic meeting with Patricof to update the
  effectiveness of the program
• Make everyone involved proud to be in the Sigma
  Program
• Provide a training session for the senior
  management

11
Conclusion

• Every employee feels empowered to move
  organization towards achieving its goal
• More commitment from all levels
• Individual level bridge between the upper
  management and workers
• More trusting work environment with high morale