Six Sigma - What is Six Sigma?
A measure of quality that strives for near perfection.
It is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service.
The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes quantitatively how a process is performing. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
A Six Sigma opportunity is then the total quantity of chances for a defect. Process sigma can easily be calculated using a Six Sigma calculator.
Six Sigma Roles and Responsibilities
Sponsor: Senior executive who sponsors the overall Six Sigma Initiative.
Leader: Senior-level executive who is responsible for implementing Six Sigma within the business.
Champion: Middle- or senior-level executive who sponsors a specific Six Sigma project, ensuring that resources are available and cross-functional issues are resolved.
Black Belt: Full-time professional who acts as a team leader on Six Sigma projects. Typically has four to five weeks of classroom training in methods, statistical tools, and (sometimes) team skills.
Master Black Belt: Highly experienced and successful Black Belt who has managed several projects and is an expert in Six Sigma methods/tools.
Responsible for coaching/mentoring/training Black Belts and for helping the Six
Sigma leader and Champions keep the initiative on track.
Green Belt: Part-time professional who participates on a Black Belt project
team or leads smaller projects. Typically has two weeks of classroom training in methods and basic statistical tools.
Team Member: Professional who has general awareness of Six Sigma (through no formal training) and who brings relevant experience or expertise to a particular project.
Process Owner: Professional responsible for the business process that is the target of a Six Sigma project.
Leaders and Champions usually receive high-level training on the technical aspects of Six Sigma and specific training on how to lead an initiative. At the "Belt" level, each candidate is assigned an initial "training project" that he/she will work on during the formal training period.
Role Of Six Sigma In Enterprise Cost Reduction
Motorola, Allied Signal, GE and Honeywell are some the companies that started and refined the Six Sigma quality concept.
The methodology includes the use of an advanced set of tools, designed to solve problems faced by the company and improvement in the quality of work.
Companies should conduct a thorough check of the costs involved, in the same way that they view revenue generation and market expansion.
Cost reduction offers the opportunity to examine all the business areas and identify the savings, both within and between those areas.
These aspects or 'drivers' determine how far the organization can stretch to reduce cost, without it having a negative impact on the organization's culture and strategy and targets.
Improved product sourcing and the controlled expenses can generate dramatic cost reduction.
The company must indulge in the products of more than one supplier, to ensure the availability of reasonably priced and quality goods, whenever required.
The Role of Six Sigma in Staffing
Achieve an efficient workforce.
Implement the Process: Accurately collect and process incoming data. There can be defects in the hiring process, such as hiring a below-average employee, hiring an employee not suitably qualified, or hiring one that does not fit into the organizational culture. This ultimately affects the costumer satisfaction.
Have a Hiring Game Plan
Reaching Out To the Right Candidates
Screening
Thus, Six Sigma plays a vital role in identifying, recruiting, and optimizing the right staff in order increase the efficiency of any organization.
Formulating Business Strategies With Six Sigma
DMAIC: It is methodology to establish business strategies to achieve even greater success.
Define- improvement project, current status, Problem areas
Measure- collection of data various process company growth for future steps.
Analyze- Find opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and threats or risks involved in the business.
Improve-
Control-
Six Sigma and Effective Project Management
Six Sigma provides tools and techniques to develop project management offices (PMO) that ensure projects undertaken are based on key performance metrics and customer needs.
Important Components and Steps One of the DFSS methodologies- DMEDI - can be used as a road map for such project management. Subsequently, QFD and DMAIC methodologies can be utilized at various levels of the improvement project.
Project Charter: A charter is a simple document that explains matters from the project statement, plan, and the team to the impact it has on the business. The project charter should be able to answer questions relating to the sponsor or Champion in charge of enforcing plans, quantifiable project gains, the problem statement, scope of the project and key players involved in the project to manage varied activities.
DMEDI stages
- Define
- Measure
- Explore-Innovating ways to satisfy customer needs.
- Develop-project management office is developed. human resource staffing and planning, facilities, supplies, and technological planning
- Implement
Once this is successful, project management plan should be launched throughout the organization. Using Six Sigma, a strong PMO can be designed and an ailing one can be improved.
A measure of quality that strives for near perfection.
It is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service.
The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes quantitatively how a process is performing. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
A Six Sigma opportunity is then the total quantity of chances for a defect. Process sigma can easily be calculated using a Six Sigma calculator.
Six Sigma Roles and Responsibilities
Sponsor: Senior executive who sponsors the overall Six Sigma Initiative.
Leader: Senior-level executive who is responsible for implementing Six Sigma within the business.
Champion: Middle- or senior-level executive who sponsors a specific Six Sigma project, ensuring that resources are available and cross-functional issues are resolved.
Black Belt: Full-time professional who acts as a team leader on Six Sigma projects. Typically has four to five weeks of classroom training in methods, statistical tools, and (sometimes) team skills.
Master Black Belt: Highly experienced and successful Black Belt who has managed several projects and is an expert in Six Sigma methods/tools.
Responsible for coaching/mentoring/training Black Belts and for helping the Six
Sigma leader and Champions keep the initiative on track.
Green Belt: Part-time professional who participates on a Black Belt project
team or leads smaller projects. Typically has two weeks of classroom training in methods and basic statistical tools.
Team Member: Professional who has general awareness of Six Sigma (through no formal training) and who brings relevant experience or expertise to a particular project.
Process Owner: Professional responsible for the business process that is the target of a Six Sigma project.
Leaders and Champions usually receive high-level training on the technical aspects of Six Sigma and specific training on how to lead an initiative. At the "Belt" level, each candidate is assigned an initial "training project" that he/she will work on during the formal training period.
Role Of Six Sigma In Enterprise Cost Reduction
Motorola, Allied Signal, GE and Honeywell are some the companies that started and refined the Six Sigma quality concept.
The methodology includes the use of an advanced set of tools, designed to solve problems faced by the company and improvement in the quality of work.
Companies should conduct a thorough check of the costs involved, in the same way that they view revenue generation and market expansion.
Cost reduction offers the opportunity to examine all the business areas and identify the savings, both within and between those areas.
These aspects or 'drivers' determine how far the organization can stretch to reduce cost, without it having a negative impact on the organization's culture and strategy and targets.
Improved product sourcing and the controlled expenses can generate dramatic cost reduction.
The company must indulge in the products of more than one supplier, to ensure the availability of reasonably priced and quality goods, whenever required.
The Role of Six Sigma in Staffing
Achieve an efficient workforce.
Implement the Process: Accurately collect and process incoming data. There can be defects in the hiring process, such as hiring a below-average employee, hiring an employee not suitably qualified, or hiring one that does not fit into the organizational culture. This ultimately affects the costumer satisfaction.
Have a Hiring Game Plan
Reaching Out To the Right Candidates
Screening
Thus, Six Sigma plays a vital role in identifying, recruiting, and optimizing the right staff in order increase the efficiency of any organization.
Formulating Business Strategies With Six Sigma
DMAIC: It is methodology to establish business strategies to achieve even greater success.
Define- improvement project, current status, Problem areas
Measure- collection of data various process company growth for future steps.
Analyze- Find opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and threats or risks involved in the business.
Improve-
Control-
Six Sigma and Effective Project Management
Six Sigma provides tools and techniques to develop project management offices (PMO) that ensure projects undertaken are based on key performance metrics and customer needs.
Important Components and Steps One of the DFSS methodologies- DMEDI - can be used as a road map for such project management. Subsequently, QFD and DMAIC methodologies can be utilized at various levels of the improvement project.
Project Charter: A charter is a simple document that explains matters from the project statement, plan, and the team to the impact it has on the business. The project charter should be able to answer questions relating to the sponsor or Champion in charge of enforcing plans, quantifiable project gains, the problem statement, scope of the project and key players involved in the project to manage varied activities.
DMEDI stages
- Define
- Measure
- Explore-Innovating ways to satisfy customer needs.
- Develop-project management office is developed. human resource staffing and planning, facilities, supplies, and technological planning
- Implement
Once this is successful, project management plan should be launched throughout the organization. Using Six Sigma, a strong PMO can be designed and an ailing one can be improved.