A theoretical framework for exploring the effect of the Six Sigma management activities on corporate competitiveness

Six Sigma has long been used as an effective way to restructure a company’s management process. While there are abundant case study literatures on Six Sigma, a theoretical framework that can logically advance the previous work into a higher level is lacked. What’s more, there are few empirical studies to verify those results from previous case studies. To fill these two gaps, this study proposes a comprehensive theoretical research framework of Six Sigma-based management activities, build up a research model of its effectiveness, and further verifies its effect in improving corporate competitiveness through empirical data analysis based on valid questionnaires collected from managers in Samsung companies that have been applying Six Sigma for several years. Empirical results from Structural Equation Modeling method showed that the proposed theoretical research model of Six Sigma activities is indeed effective in refreshing process management, improving quality, and, finally, improving corporate competitiveness.