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