Goodyear global operations have embarked on a Six Sigma journey to deliver business results as well as customer value and satisfaction.

Six Sigma involves a commitment to excellence, customer focus, process improvements and an exact rule of measurement rather than relying on a "gut feel." It provides a consistent way to measure and compare various processes.

Statistically, Six Sigma methodology measures the effectiveness or quality of a process in numbers of defects. The process delivers just 3.4 defects per million opportunities.

Hundreds of Six Sigma projects are underway throughout Goodyear's business and functional support units, led by "Black Belt" and "Green Belt" professionals. Where applicable, these projects encompass environmental, health and safety (EHS) issues.

Goodyear's EHS function continues to evaluate business costs, and its role in adding value to the process of marketing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing tires, engineered products and chemical products.

For example, EHS Six Sigma projects have

• enhanced laboratory efficiencies through consolidation;
• shortened the EHS approval process for raw materials; and
• identified operating efficiencies in occupational medical services.

Six Sigma professionals also are evaluating oil disposal from giant Banbury rubber-mixing machines, the costs of laboratory operations and remediation projects, and the quality and efficiency of global EHS services. More projects are planned.

Six Sigma is a total management commitment and philosophy of excellence, customer focus, process improvement and the use of data for all decision-making. It is about making every area of the organization better able to meet the changing needs of customers, markets and technologies, and in the process, to improve the health and safety of Goodyear associates and reduce the environmental impact in the communities that the company calls home.

Jon Rich, president of Goodyear's North American Tire business unit and a veteran of Six Sigma, sums it up succinctly in Six Sigma fashion: "To take full advantage of the benefits of Six Sigma, it must be ingrained in the entire business culture. It has to become the way we work the fabric of everything we do."