Features of Six Sigma
◈ Six Sigma's aim is to eliminate waste and inefficiency, thereby increasing customer satisfaction by delivering what the customer is expecting.
◈ Six Sigma follows a structured methodology, and has defined roles for the participants.
◈ Six Sigma is a data driven methodology, and requires accurate data collection for the processes being analyzed.
◈ Six Sigma is about putting results on Financial Statements.
◈ Six Sigma is a business-driven, multi-dimensional structured approach for −
◈ Improving Processes
◈ Lowering Defects
◈ Reducing process variability
◈ Reducing costs
◈ Increasing customer satisfaction
◈ Increased profits
The central idea behind Six Sigma: If you can measure how many "defects" you have in a process, you can systematically figure out how to eliminate them and get as close to "zero defects" as possible and specifically it means a failure rate of 3.4 parts per million or 99.9997% perfect.
Key Concepts of Six Sigma
At its core, Six Sigma revolves around a few key concepts.
- Critical to Quality − Attributes most important to the customer.
- Defect − Failing to deliver what the customer wants.
- Process Capability − What your process can deliver.
- Variation − What the customer sees and feels.
- Stable Operations − Ensuring consistent, predictable processes to improve what the customer sees and feels.
- Design for Six Sigma − Designing to meet customer needs and process capability.
Myths about Six Sigma
There are several myths and misunderstandings surrounding Six Sigma. Some of them few are given below −
- Six Sigma is only concerned with reducing defects.
- Six Sigma is a process for production or engineering.
- Six Sigma cannot be applied to engineering activities.
- Six Sigma uses difficult-to-understand statistics.
- Six Sigma is just training.
Benefits of Six Sigma
Six Sigma offers six major benefits that attract companies −
- Generates sustained success
- Sets a performance goal for everyone
- Enhances value to customers
- Accelerates the rate of improvement
- Promotes learning and cross-pollination
- Executes strategic change
Origin of Six Sigma
- Six Sigma originated at Motorola in the early 1980s, in response to achieving 10X reduction in product-failure levels in 5 years.
- Engineer Bill Smith invented Six Sigma, but died of a heart attack in the Motorola cafeteria in 1993, never knowing the scope of the craze and controversy he had touched off.
- Six Sigma is based on various quality management theories (e.g. Deming's 14 point for management, Juran's 10 steps on achieving quality).
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