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Farewell iSixSigma

By Ron Pereira Published on July 25th, 2011

As some may have already heard iSixSigma is most likely closing its doors due to its parent company Schofield Media losing its bank financing.

A few bloggers and companies selling Six Sigma related products have recently posted their thoughts… some even seem a bit giddy and extremely opinionated about the situation which, quite honestly, saddens me.

I know the iSixSigma leadership team quite well and have communicated directly with them.

I have been told that Andrew Schofield (CEO and Founder of Schofield Media) is still negotiating with Wells Fargo in hopes of salvaging the situation… but, to be sure, things seem grim right now.

Several of the aforementioned bloggers have made it seem as though iSixSigma faltered as a result of poor performance. This doesn’t seem to be the case at all.

Is iSixSigma as popular as it was 5 years ago? Perhaps not since there are many more lean and six sigma sites competing for the same readers. But one thing I know for sure is iSixSigma still receives more unique visitors in one day than most lean and six sigma blogs/websites receive in one month!

Additionally, from what I have been told iSixSigma was well in the black from a financial perspective and the team was extremely excited about their future which included mobile and tablet friendly website technology.

Finally, I have been told that the entire iSixSigma website content has been backed up enabling them to be back online quickly if things do work out.

I literally “grew up” with the iSixSigma website over the course of my continuous improvement career and sincerely hope things work out for them.

I’m curious to hear how many LSS Academy readers have benefited from iSixSigma over the years. Feel free to share your thoughts below.


  1. Todd Mackley

    July 25, 2011 - 9:49 am
    Reply

    Wow, I didn’t know this. I have been a isixsigma fan for 10+ years and can’t tell you how often I have gone there for CI related questions.

  2. Mary Allen

    July 25, 2011 - 1:02 pm
    Reply

    Over the last few years I haven’t used the iSixSigma website as much as I used to. But they still clearly have a lot of value to add and it is sad to see this happen. This goes to show what can happen when original founders sell out to big companies.

  3. Faaris T.

    July 26, 2011 - 12:14 am
    Reply

    I have use iSS website for many years and still can access it so am hoping it won’t go away. In India we often need to find affordable ways to learn and sites like iSS and LSSAcademy have really helped us more than you might know.

  4. Traee Lee Beebe

    July 26, 2011 - 6:28 am
    Reply

    So sorry to see this go away. We’ve leveraged this site and have partnered with iSixSigma since 2002 and use it regularly.

  5. Jeff Slater

    July 26, 2011 - 8:04 am
    Reply

    I am shocked that this could be the “end” of isixsigma. I also spend/spent a lot of time at the isixsigma site. We just recently were reviewing our internal training and referred to the website over and over again for information. This will be a huge loss to the Six Sigma and Lean communities. I echo the earlier comments, as I didn’t even know the site was potentially being shut down. I think there will be a huge uproar once people realize this key reference site is gone!?

  6. Eric Thomas

    July 26, 2011 - 8:43 am
    Reply

    I also saw some other websites offer commentary in a near celebratory tone. It makes me sick and pissed at the same time to see fellow so-called Practitioners celebrate the fall of the single most influnential Six Sigma website ever published. One of the jerks shooting his mouth off even has ads on the iSix Sigma website!!! How is that for irony?

  7. Marc Smith

    July 27, 2011 - 5:42 am
    Reply

    Someone sent me a link to this page. Sorry to hear. This is the first I have heard about it. I just stopped by and it’s still online.

    @Eric Thomas – Where are you seeing anyone being “celebratory” about it?

  8. Laurent L

    July 30, 2011 - 2:16 am
    Reply

    iSixSigma has been a valuable reference resource for me to learn and I would be very sad to see it go. Not sure if this includes the magazine as well, which is fantastic. Hopefully there could be sufficient interest e.g. from corporate sponsors to keep this going or by dedicated individuals in the LSS community maintaining it as a benefit for all.

  9. ganeshmuthiah

    August 1, 2011 - 7:36 am
    Reply

    Known iss since 2004, one of the first and only one around providing reliable resource.

  10. Dan

    August 1, 2011 - 10:51 am
    Reply

    I used Isixsigma for job postings for a long time just about ten years. From an LSS sourcing standpoint which is my most frequented use of the site.

    Since Mike took his hand off this enterprise the fee’s went up but get close to zero return.
    There was a time when it took 30-90 days to get even simple technical issues fixed.
    I relied on this site so heavily it became very painful when what seemed to be ten queries a day turn into one a week if that.

    I am not sorry to see this site go from a sourcing perspective but all the other benefits it brings to the LSS community i am sure will be missed.

    This is what happens when you try and fix whats not broken.

  11. Andrea Zimmerman

    August 2, 2011 - 8:12 am
    Reply

    iSix Sigma website has provided valuable resources and the events were GREAT….always bringing multiple dimesions of Continual Improvement together, including creativity and leadership. Because of iSS, I had the chance to finally meet Ellen Domb in person and saw so many wonderful presenters, including Dave Logan – Tribal Leadership. The Retail Excellence Forum was a fasciniating study in how the retail industry is deploying six sigma, which is has many different aspects, compared to manufacturing and other industries.
    Katie, Heather and the whole iSS team did a fabulous job bringing the community together through the LIVE events…..

  12. Robert Butler

    August 11, 2011 - 6:29 pm
    Reply

    I too will miss Isixsigma and its forum. It was a lot of fun trying to provide understandable answers when people had a question about statistical methods. The effort involved in crafting an answer that would make sense to someone not steeped in statistical methods helped me to do an even better job of explaining statistical issues to my co-workers. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

  13. Steven Bonacorsi

    August 14, 2011 - 6:52 am
    Reply

    Hello Lean Six Sigma Practitioners and Members of ISixSigma,

    Lean Six Sigma Group is the largest business process improvement networking group in the world with +80,000 member Group, as we are targeting 100,000 members in the group in 2011 so all practitioners can network in one central location. When you come to the group you will see in Discussions an “Invite Others” link. Thanks for helping to unite us all and I look forward to your contributions to the group discussions.
    http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=37987

    I also invite you to join as a member of the PEX Network Group http://tinyurl.com/3hwakem, you will have access to Key Leaders Globally, Events, Webinars, Presentations, Articles, Case Studies, Blog Discussions, White Papers, and Tools and Templates. To access this free content please take 2 minutes for a 1 time FREE registration at http://bit.ly/n4hBwu

    Warm Regards,

    Steven Bonacorsi, LSS MBB, President
    International Standard for Lean Six Sigma
    603-401-7047
    skype: sbonacorsi
    [email protected]
    http://twitter.com/Sbonacorsi (Follow Lean Six Sigma Content on Twitter)
    http://www.linkedin.com/in/StevenBonacorsi
    FREE Lean Six Sigma and BPM content – register at http://bit.ly/n4hBwu

  14. Don Strayer

    August 22, 2011 - 9:20 pm
    Reply

    While there are many SS and LSS websites and discussion forums, isixsigma was my favorite, both for the depth of information and the vibrant, although sometimes caustic, discussion. I had my ears pinned back more than once, and it was sometimes well deserved. I was dismayed to find that the site was no longer available. Thanks for being a valuable resource. I sincerely hope that the issues can be resolved or that isixsigma can find a new home.

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