| Six Sigma is powered by principles which are | | | | manufacturing processes (some even have |
| governed by continuous improvement. In pure terms, | | | | specialized working knowledge pertaining to some |
| Six Sigma helps manufacturing organizations reduce | | | | specific industries such as automobiles, aircrafts, etc). |
| the number of errors or reduce the number of | | | | Achieving Six Sigma certification in your organization |
| defective products manufactured by them. This is | | | | requires you to execute one project completely in |
| achieved by a regular sharpening of the process and | | | | the recommended process. Documenting the process |
| constant monitoring on processes and how they can | | | | and training existing business and manufacturing |
| be improved. | | | | heads forms a large part of the implementation of |
| However, Six Sigma today has moved on from the | | | | Six Sigma processes. An organization also requires |
| manufacturing realm of business and is also very | | | | investments within the company by way of people, |
| much a part of the services industries where the | | | | man hours, machine hours, technology etc to |
| spirit of the process is lauded. Constant | | | | implement Six Sigma. |
| improvements are sought in almost all industries | | | | Getting familiar with the nomenclatures of Six Sigma: |
| today. A reason for the phenomenal success of this | | | | The Total Quality Management process of Six Sigma |
| business process and quality management and | | | | has gained popularity over the past few years |
| practice has been the short term and long term | | | | specially as businesses have become more quality |
| impact it has on bottom line of the business. | | | | conscience and as manufacturing processes become |
| Six Sigma is not a process which begins to show | | | | more complicated. The key industries implementing |
| results only over a long period of time or results | | | | Six Sigma are Healthcare, Banking, Insurance and |
| which can only be measured by abstract | | | | Construction. The two prominent methodologies are |
| measurements. In fact its results can be measured | | | | DMAIC (Define Measure Analyze, Improve and |
| right away by the reduction in the number of faulty | | | | Control ) and DMADV ( Define, Measure, Analyze, |
| products, reduction in returns from customer and | | | | Design and Verify). There is also operational hierarchy |
| reduction of useless inventory. A before and after | | | | when it comes to Six Sigma. Apart from the senior |
| the Six Sigma implementation can easily highlight the | | | | Management, there are Champions, Master black |
| benefits to the organization. If you are new to this | | | | belts, Black Belts and Green Belts who have a |
| concept and have only heard about it on the passing, | | | | predefined role in the implementation of Six Sigma in |
| here are some vital answers to frequently asked | | | | the organization. |
| queries: | | | | If the benefits are so prominent, why are more |
| What does it take to implement Six Sigma in an | | | | companies not implementing Six Sigma? |
| organization? | | | | Six Sigma has not changed much from the time it |
| It takes phenomenal operational efficiency and | | | | was put together way back in the 1980s. The |
| discipline as well as organizational leadership to | | | | success factor has been the absolute number of |
| implement Six Sigma. Since the concentration of the | | | | achieving 3.4 defects per million products which is |
| manufacturing process has to be reducing the | | | | phenomenal. Even with this measurement, Six Sigma |
| number of defects or defective products, each | | | | has largely remained a territory for the large |
| process has to be scrutinized closely and amended to | | | | companies and very few small to medium enterprises |
| work towards this goal. In-house champions make | | | | have ventured in this direction. The primary reason |
| this quality conscience-ness possible as it is not | | | | has been the cost of implementing this process is |
| possible for all processes and involved managers to | | | | very prohibitive. The man power resources required |
| be highly quality conscience. Technology is also a | | | | to manage the process is equally difficult. |
| great enabler in the implementation of Six Sigma as it | | | | Some organizations which are very convinced about |
| helps reduce faults to a large extent. | | | | this quality management procedure adapt something |
| A number of professionals are required to be | | | | called the Lean Six Sigma. The Lean Six Sigma has |
| employed to be able to implement this business | | | | the same spirit but lesser number of defines |
| process improvement method in an organization. | | | | processes and steps and is quite suited for smaller |
| There are individuals who have in-depth knowledge | | | | organizations. |
| about the principles of Six Sigma as well as | | | | |