From my experience, small businesses are best convinced by sharing examples of other SMALL businesses that have successfully implemented certain practices.

Statistical evidence and research findings might support the convincing process, but they, alone, are often not sufficient. If drawing on examples of LARGE companies only, small business owner-managers quickly find excuses why those findings/results are not transferrable to them: because they lack the size, knowledge, resources, etc. Hence, refer to other COMPARABLE firms as best practices.

We know that Six Sigma philosophy is based on reducing the number of failures. These failures are more common in large companies. Because they work on a per unit (%) technique. Small companies usually think about moving ahead fast. We can use the philosophy of Six Sigma. For example, say to the person who cuts the leather manually: See what percentage of leather is wasted by manual cutting? Now, by cutting the machine, a lower percentage of leather is wasted. Another option is to screen the videos of entrepreneurs active in small and medium-sized businesses. They usually pay attention to these issues. This is an indirect and good teaching method. I think being directly and indirectly familiar with the technique of per unit (%) is a good solution.

Good Luck.

There are many ways to convince a small business/company that six sigma application in a flow of working would boost their productivity. Statistics and figures have power.

Major benefits of Lean Six Sigma strategy includes customer satisfaction and cost reduction. This, leads to revenue growth and productivity improvements.

I normally refer to the six sigma equation to convince businesses, big or small:

Improvement strategy + Effective Execution =Better Business Results.

A small business that believes in better business results will be glad to research into six sigma as it makes known the intention of the business owner(s) to achieve excellence in all business transactions.

Thanks for the answers. Yes, I agree with Nadine Kammerlander . A small business should look up to the one that is on the same level as them and practicing what they practiced in order to improve. I am not saying looking up to big established companies is bad but in business and manufacturing line, you have to be realistic. As I thought, statistical evidence is the best way to convince them Mahfuz Judeh . Emadoddin Ghazi small company might not have the latest machinery in their production. But, reducing waste by copying method of working by big companies such as practicing JIT in their working may speed up their production with better qualities. Small companies always want to be ahead thinking they should strive to be established and known by consumers but not paying attention to small issues that may lead to bigger problems that may interrupt their productivity. Francis Osei-Kuffour yes back to the equation, entrepreneuer should realise the benefits of six sigma.

The topic you are studying has a big link with lean startup.

There are a lot of papers discussing lean startup. You should read about it.

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=%22lean+startup%22&scisbd=1

Dear Dr. Aiman Syazana Ahmad Shazaly,

Thank you for your comment. A small business may not have access to new machinery or technology (although not a good excuse for lack of productivity, as not paying attention to the business environment, Porter's five forces, etc. in the long term, make business Destroys!). In the first section of the previous commentary, I set an example to clarify the argument. The second part of my previous comment is also what you mentioned. I'm both an academic, a business manager, and an entrepreneur. What managers perceive as threat is an opportunity for an entrepreneur. I prefer to think like an entrepreneur!

Thanks again.

Six Sigma concept is built on the practical lessons learned from previous eras of operational improvement. Deming and Juran's 14 points statistical quality in 1950s, Ohno's Tyota Production System in 1960/1970s, JIT, TQM in1980s and Bill Smith-Motorola's Six Sigma in 1980s. Technically Six Sigma signifies 3.4 defects per million opportunities. It is a strategy to improve customer satisfaction and shareholder value by reducing variability in every aspects of business. For implementation of the concept in a structured manner to control defect rate, waste, inventory and resource utilisation in order to ensure customer satisfaction, Organization must have respect for people and waste management system in every aspects of business. Communication, commitment and compliance are essential to improve Triple P. I feel that every business will understand the essentials of sustainability.

I agree with Nadine Kammerlander on giving examples from similar small enterprises that have practiced the six sigma method with a big encouragement from enterprises in the same industry. The big organisation examples will work mostly for ambitious managers or those with a desire to do more at reduced waste level.

If it doesn't work I would offer it as a challenge and with that let them see if it would help in convincing them and be there as an observer. Ask for a short period and they will have to put it into practice and on analysing their own data they will start practicing it for they will have seen it.

If there reducing cost with big profit ( translate improvement into money language).