Lean Six Sigma with a Vengeance: How Xerox Got Up To Speed

This article from BusinessWeek deals with the Lean Six Sigma transformation and success story that Xerox has implemented with assistance from partner, GE Capital. Xerox leverages strong executive sponsorship for the Six Sigma initiative and places emphasis on the organizational and cultural aspects of the transformation.

Reference from Business Week article: "One of the "soft" challenges is tearing down walls to get different divisions to work together. This is never easy in a complex, big organization. Yet at Xerox, teams from supply, manufacturing, and research and development pulled it off..."

The efforts at Xerox are starting to pay off... Revenues are stabilizing and profits are rising...

Reference from Xerox press release: "Xerox intends to excel against an expanded set of operational imperatives in 2003, Mulcahy said. She noted the company will continue to focus on precise execution to build equipment revenue growth and market share, accelerate productivity improvements through the deployment of Six Sigma, leverage cash flow through the disciplined management of the balance sheet, and motivate and develop employees."

Reference from Xerox and GE Capital partnership press release: "Our goal is to make the transition for Xerox's customers flawless, while providing them with the benefits of our strong expertise in leasing. We intend to leverage GE management systems, digitization and e-business efforts and Six Sigma quality processes to bring value to Xerox and its customers," said Bill Cary, chief executive officer of GE Capital Vendor Financial Services. "This joint venture is an excellent example of how we work closely with our partners and their customers to best serve their needs."

How Xerox Got Up To Speed: Learning fast from GE Capital, it applied Lean Six Sigma "with a vengeance" ... What did GE have that Xerox didn't? For one, years of experience in applying Six Sigma, the data-driven technique for eliminating defects in any business ...

About Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an $18.7 billion global enterprise with 85,000 employees serving customers in 130 countries. Xerox makes the digital world work better with an array of innovative, document-related solutions, services and systems, including color and black-and-white digital printers, multifunction devices and copiers designed for offices and production-printing environments.

About GE Capital
GE Capital Vendor Financial Services, a global leader in developing and providing financial solutions and services to equipment manufacturers, distributors, dealers and their end users, has over $16 billion in served assets worldwide. Vendor Financial Services serves approximately 100 manufacturers, 4,500 dealers and currently has over 500,000 accounts in 33 countries.

GE Capital, with assets of more than $370 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company grouped into six key operating segments comprised of 24 businesses. A wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, Connecticut, provides a variety of consumer services, such as credit cards and life and auto insurance; mid-market financing; specialized financing; specialty insurance; equipment management, and specialized services, to businesses and individuals in 47 countries around the world. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.