Recommended books for Six Sigma Statistics
In January, we wrote an article on the books we recommend for Six Sigma Certification. While those books are great for digging deep into the concepts of Six Sigma, they don’t cover everything you’ll need to know. To be truly proficient in Six Sigma, you’ll need to dig deep into the world of Statistics.
Fortunately, in this day and age we have software that can carry a lot of the statistical workload. That doesn’t mean you can simply ignore the statistical aspect of Six Sigma though. Six Sigma Green Belts and Black Belts must have a good understanding of statistics since that knowledge is used to determine waste and other inefficiencies within processes.
Listed below are the top 5 books we recommend to help you learn Six Sigma Statistics beyond the study material that the Management and Strategy Institute includes with its certifications.
Statistics for Six Sigma Made Easy! Revised and Expanded Second Edition
Author: Warren Brussee, ISBN-13: 978-0071797535
Why we like it: This book was written for people with limited to no background in statistics. It was designed to be easy to read, yet still provide you with the statistical knowledge required to be successful. The author has teaching experience and knows how to convey the information in a way that makes sense to the learner. The book is perfect for someone who is already working on a “real World” project and needs to better understand the statistical aspects.
Six Sigma Statistics with EXCEL and MINITAB 1st Edition
Author: Issa Bass, ISBN-13: 978-0071489690
Why we like it: This book incorporates an understanding of using both Minitab (a commercial Six Sigma product) and Excel to learn the statistical aspects of Six Sigma. It is a great go-to guide for not just Black Belts, but Green Belts and Champions who need to learn the intricate details of Six Sigma. This easy to follow book has over 200 illustrations for Excel and Minitab, showing you exactly how to use it in a graphical way. You’ll learn to create and interpret dot plots, histograms, and box plots using Minitab and acquire the basic tools for data collection.
The Six Sigma Handbook, Fourth Edition 4th Edition
Authors: Thomas Pyzdek, Paul Keller – ISBN-13: 978-0071840538
Why we like it: The authors understand that the Six Sigma methodology is constantly evolving. The book includes information on both Six Sigma and Lean methodologies and offers a comprehensive explanation of the DMAIC method. This book also demonstrates how to use the statistical tools and problem-solving techniques of Six Sigma with screenshots of Minitab and Excel applications.
Statistics for Six Sigma Green Belts with Minitab and JMP (paperback) 1st Edition
Author: David M. Levine, ISBN-13: 978-0137017126
Why we like it: Written specifically with Green Belts in mind, this book is a great first-read for someone new to Six Sigma Statistics. While it isn’t as comprehensive as some of the other books mentioned, it covers all of the statistics needed in a simple nonmathematical presentation. It explains Six Sigma in plain English and with a minimum use of mathematical symbols. It also includes real-world examples.
Six Sigma with R: Statistical Engineering for Process Improvement (Use R!) 2012th Edition
Authors: Emilio L. Cano, Javier Martinez Moguerza, Andrés Redchuk, ISBN-13: 978-1461436515
Why we like it: This book tackles Six Sigma Statistics and the use of the R Open Source statistical software. R can be used as the software tool in the development of Six Sigma projects. It is becoming a popular option for Six Sigma deployment since the software is free. Having an understanding of both Six Sigma and R can provide you with the knowledge you’ll need to be successful as a Six Sigma practitioner.
