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Six Sigma

Focus on developing and delivering near-perfect products and services. Explanation of Six Sigma.

What is Six Sigma? Description

Six Sigma is a quality management methodology that provides businesses with the tools to improve the capability of their business processes. This increase in performance and decrease in process variation lead to defect reduction and improvement in profits, employee morale and quality of product. It is a quality measure and improvement program that was pioneered by Mikel Harry and Motorola. It focuses on the control of a process until the point of six sigma (standard deviations) from a centerline, or 3.4 defects per million items. It includes identifying factors which are critical for the quality as determined by the customer. It reduces process variation and improvement capabilities, increases stability and designs systems to support the six sigma goal.

 

The Six Sigma model is a highly disciplined approach that can help companies to focus on developing and delivering near-perfect products and services. It is based on the statistical work of Joseph Juran, a Rumanian-born US pioneer of quality management. The word "Sigma" is a Greek sign used for a statistical term that measures how far a given process deviates from perfection (standards deviation). If the sigma number is higher, you are closer to perfection. One sigma is not very good; six sigma is defined as only 3.4 defects per million. The central idea behind Six Sigma is that if you can measure how many "defects" you have in a process, you can systematically figure out how you can eliminate them. Thus you can almost come to "zero defects".

The Japanese origin of Six Sigma can still be seen by the system of "belts" which it uses. If you are new to Six Sigma and you go on a basic training, you get a green belt. Anyone who has the responsibility for leading a Six Sigma team is called a black belt. Finally there is a special elite group called Master Black Belts who supervise the Black Belts.

 

Six Sigma 6 Σ

Five Steps in Six Sigma. Process

Typically, a Six Sigma process has the following five stages:

  1. Definition. The first step in any Six Sigma project is to clarify the problem and narrow its scope in such a way that measurable goals can be achieved within a few months. Then a team is assembled to examine the process in detail, suggest improvements, and implement those recommendations. In the manufacturing world, project managers and their sponsors typically begin by defining what constitutes a defect and then establish a set of objectives designed to reduce the occurrence of such defects.
  2. Measurement. In the second step of a Six Sigma project, the team gathers data and prepares it for high-level analysis.
  3. Analysis. Once a process has been mapped and documented, and the quality of the hard supporting data has been verified, the Six Sigma team can begin the analysis. The team members usually start by identifying the ways in which people fail to act as needed, or by identifying the ways in which people fail to ensure effective control at each stage.
  4. Improvement. Recommend, decide and implement improvements.
  5. Control. In the final stage of a Six Sigma project, the team creates controls. These are enabling the company to sustain and extend the improvements.

 

Six Sigma Forum

Recent User Comments
Eli Pablo - Philippines Organization Structure "Usually, Six Sigma organizations are composed of the following: Champions - these are members of the Senior Management Team with responsibility for the success of the quality initiative; Master Black Belts - these are the teachers, trainers, reviewers, and the mentors of the Black Belts (full-time); Black Belts - these are the leaders of the teams that employ the DMAIIC or DMADV (full-time); Green Belts - are the owners of projects that improve a process or product (part-time); and the Deployment Team - which are composed of key stakeholders, firm, or supplier resources assigned to a Six Sigma Project (part/full-time)"    5
Tanner C. - USA 3 Six Sigma levels "Besides the Sigma levels 1 to 6, we can actually also distinguish between 3 other levels of using Six SIgma: A. Use Six SIgma as a statistical measurement unit (comparable to degrees or dollars) B. Use it as as a structured, measurement-centered improvement system (this is where the DMAIC and DMADV methods come into play) C. Use 6 Sigma as a management philosophy, in which the other 2 levels are used to establish a fact-based company culture which is aimed at continuous improvement of business and/or manufacturing processes."    12
Theresa - S-Africa Six Sigma in and R&D context "Is it possible to use Six Sigma to improve the quality of R&D processes? Or do R&D activities naturally defy systematic improvement efforts?"    17
Fred Allen - US SPC "According to many, Six Sigma is based on Statistical Process Control (SPC), a method of visually monitoring production processes. In Six Sigma, each business process must be measured and for this often the SPC methodology is used. Aims of SPC are: 1. Adjustment: To detect quickly when a process needs readjustment or repair. 2. Improvement: To find the most urgently needed improvement in the system itself."    16
Antonio - Puerto Rico Six SIgma DMAIC DMADV "Two Six Sigma sub-methodologies are called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify). DMAIC is an improvement system for EXISTING processes which fall below specifications and need to be improved incrementally. DMADV is also an improvement system which is designed to develop NEW processes and/ or products at Six Sigma quality levels."    17
Best User Comments
gerardo acosta - mexico six sigma concept "Many of the tools of Six Sigma (and the concept of lean manufacturing with which Six Sigma is most closely identified) can be found in statistical process control, total quality management, statistics, process improvement, inventory control and operations management textbooks. However, it is not just the tools that deliver Six Sigma performance - it is the logic, discipline and practical application that drives the search for perfection. Six Sigma has a customer focus : The aim is to ensure that all ou"    37

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Compare with: Kaizen  |  Deming Cycle  |  Scientific Management  |  8D Problem Solving  |  Value Chain  |  Just-in-time  |  Value Stream Mapping  |  Value Engineering  |  Hoshin Kanri - Policy Deployment

 

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  § Amy Wrown (USA) 6 Sigma Organization "Helpfull"

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  § Maarten Peters (The Netherlands) Six Sigma in Development "The DMAIC-process as the basis of Six Sigma offers a structural problem-solving methodology. The Define phase is typical one of the phases also critical for a development process with 'Voice of the Customer'. If there is no customer, there is no market for a product. Typical development process end at the Implementation phase and the Control phase (producing the product) is in many cases outside the scope of the Product development team but it is the scope if you look at it from a company perspective. So yes Six Sigma as a problem solving methodoly is applicable to product development."
  § Abhay (India) Six Sigma in an R&D Development "Six Sigma methodology can be used in R&D. However, the DMAIC format may be difficult to use, unless there is a specific process in place for research activities. Another format of Six Sigma- DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) can be used in the development stage. Generally DMAIC is used for existing processes and DFSS for new ones."
  § Sundar (India) Six Sigma "It is possible to improve results of R&D function via the deployment of DFSS (Design For Six Sigma) methodology and tools"

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  § Ali (UAE) Six Sigma "Very clear and simple tip"

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