Six Sigma

  What is Six Sigma?

Firstly Six Sigma Methodology is not a secret organisation or form of marshal art.

Six Sigma to many companies is a measure of quality with a continuous improvement program looking for perfection. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit). Six Sigma should be deployed as one of the tools of the Lean Manufacturing Principles

The statistical representation of Six Sigma shows how well a process is performing. To achieve Six Sigma quality, a process must produce no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (99.9997 %) . An "opportunity" is defined as a chance for non-conformance, or not meeting the required specifications. This means we need to be nearly flawless in executing our key processes.

The basic goals of the Six Sigma methodology is the introduction of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement programs. Achieving Six Sigma can use two methodologies depending on whether the process is existing or new:

The Six Sigma DMAIC process (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) is an improvement system for existing processes.

The Six Sigma DMADV process (define, measure, analyze, design, verify) is an improvement system used to develop new processes

The process of implementing Six Sigma programs is achieved through the use of training personnel as Green Belts and Black Belts, who are overseen by a Master Black Belt

In larger organisations, Black belts can save a company upto £120,000 per project with 4 to 6 project being successfully completed a year. GE General Electric one of the most successful companies at implementing Six Sigma and have saved around $10 billion in a 5 year period.

Six Sigma is focused on quality

Quality is driven and effected by three main resources:

customer

" Ensure you deliver what your customers want not what you think they want. Because if you don't someone else will "

process

" Look at your processes from the outside in, what do the customers see, with understanding you can add value for them to the process "

employee.

" People create results . Involving every one is essential to quality. Provide you employees with the information and incentives to delivery what your customers want. Every one has something to offer !! "

For a company to remain a world glass organisation it needs to focus on these three resources. Six Sigma provides the tool.