| Consumer outlook has undergone considerable | | | | This 6 sigma methodology applies to the creation of |
| changes due to business globalization and revolutionary | | | | new processes for product development. This Six |
| information exchange paradigms. Changing business | | | | Sigma implementation differs from the DMAIC |
| conditions created by the flurry of increasing | | | | methodology at the final two stages. Defining and |
| competition has led to diminishing margins for error. | | | | measuring the design and product goals and |
| Exceeding the expectation levels of customers | | | | capabilities are the first two stages. The next stage is |
| assumes the central position in the current and future | | | | analyzing alternatives and evaluating to choose the |
| era of business. It is for this reason that Six Sigma has | | | | best product design. The next stage consists of |
| assumed critical importance in the current business | | | | implementing the best design. The final stage entails |
| environment. | | | | verifying the design, pilot (or test) runs and testing |
| What is Six Sigma? | | | | implementation before the final presentation. |
| Six Sigma is a two-way quality management | | | | Several organizations such as Motorola, (which is a |
| approach towards achieving zero errors by removing | | | | pioneer of Six Sigma), Microsoft, GE and the United |
| process defects for existing products and by designing | | | | States Navy have successfully implemented Six |
| verified process flow for new products. From a | | | | Sigma and reaped huge dividends. Six Sigma has |
| consumer's point of view, Six Sigma is a highly | | | | benefited corporations with multiple products across |
| disciplined process that enables product and service | | | | various business sectors. Healthcare, banking and |
| deliveries to a near perfect standard. | | | | insurance, telecommunications, software, and |
| The term Six Sigma (also 6 sigma) signifies the | | | | construction are just some of the industries |
| statistical benchmark for quality assurance. Sigma is | | | | successfully implementing Six Sigma. |
| the standard deviation (allowable, standardized figure | | | | Six Sigma implementation requires organizations to |
| from the mean acceptance level), and when the | | | | play five key roles at various levels. At the top is |
| measured number of deviations beyond the mean | | | | executive leadership which includes the CEO, |
| tolerance limit is six, you are barely producing quality | | | | champions, master black belts, and black belts. Then |
| products. Simply put, this means that if you found six | | | | there are the green belts, which dedicate 100% of their |
| defects in your products, you are very close to poor | | | | efforts towards the concerted implementation of the |
| quality production. | | | | program until the end of the project. The difference |
| Implementation Of Methodology | | | | between the green belts and the rest of the team is |
| The choice of implementation of Six Sigma | | | | that the employees in the green belt level share the |
| methodology depends on whether improvement is | | | | additional responsibility for Six Sigma implementation |
| required on existing processes (DMAIC) or on new | | | | along with their normal work responsibilities. |
| process/product design creation (DMADV). | | | | Criticisms Of Six Sigma |
| DMAIC | | | | Despite its scientific approach towards quality |
| In Six Sigma, DMAIC methodology involves defining | | | | improvement, there are criticisms against Six Sigma. |
| improvement goals, measuring the existing standards | | | | The most vocal one is the viewpoint that there is |
| at baseline for future reference and analyzing the | | | | nothing new about Six Sigma as it imitates already |
| relationship between defects and their causes. This Six | | | | existing and proven techniques. To a certain extent, |
| Sigma methodology also entails improving processes | | | | this argument has some credibility. But proponents of |
| to deliver consistent goal achievement in accordance | | | | Six Sigma believe that as long as 6 sigma achieves |
| with company strategy and consistent with customer | | | | more predictable results with far lower effort, there is |
| demand. The analysis process of this Six Sigma | | | | no harm in accepting and implementing it. Criticisms |
| methodology sets the stage for midway course | | | | notwithstanding, what Six Sigma does is apply |
| correction, called improvement. | | | | concerted efforts at utilizing existing techniques with |
| DMADV | | | | new approaches. |