| Although the program has proven wildly successful in | | | | cutter product that is the same every time. |
| many different cases, other companies have tried to | | | | Obviously this can't work for people, because we are |
| implement the Six Sigma system with results that | | | | already produced and as a result different people will |
| can best be described as mixed. A large part of the | | | | relate to each other differently. |
| "mixed" (and you can read that as "negative"!) results | | | | This isn't to say that people are without defects, but |
| can be attributed to an improper implementation of | | | | in order to address issues within a retail business |
| the Six Sigma process. | | | | there needs to be additional components outside of |
| In many cases, the implementation of the process | | | | the Six Sigma process. |
| will mean a complete re-engineering of the company. | | | | The Elimination of Variation |
| Let's take a look at some of the crucial areas to the | | | | If there's anything that can make the Six Sigma |
| Six Sigma process. | | | | philosophy clear to anyone, it's that the goal of the |
| Is Six Sigma The Right Choice For Your Business? | | | | program is to eliminate variation in the production of |
| Right away, we need to make it clear that the Six | | | | product. No variation means that there are no |
| Sigma process will not work to increase the | | | | defects, and that is the goal of the system in order |
| profitability of every business. One key area is in the | | | | to successfully realize better profit. |
| retail sector. It's pretty easy to see how the Six | | | | The elimination of variation takes place at almost all |
| Sigma system would work within a manufacturing | | | | levels of employment within the company, from |
| context, and this is proven even more by the | | | | upper management Master Black Belts down to |
| different companies that experienced success under | | | | Yellow Belts, who have received some training within |
| the system (Motorola, Caterpillar, General Electric, | | | | the Six Sigma philosophy but who have not |
| even Merrill Lynch). All of these companies focused | | | | completed a program of their own. One way to |
| on shifting a product for their profit, thus the | | | | maintain a continuance within the implementation of |
| elimination of variation within the process was key to | | | | Six Sigma is to ensure that all persons who hold vital |
| ensuring that the product was quality every time. | | | | roles are Six Sigma certified. |
| When it comes to retail, only about half of the | | | | Because of this extra training of personnel, |
| business is dependent upon the manufacturing | | | | implementation of Six Sigma will mean re-engineering |
| process. It is of course desirable to sell goods with | | | | of a business at both the production and the |
| no defects and ensuring that the saleable materials | | | | personnel levels. It's important to understand in which |
| are without defect will save money. However, the | | | | industries the principles will work and which will not so |
| principles that work so well for Six Sigma when it | | | | that principles that are meant to apply to products |
| comes to manufacturing do not necessarily translate | | | | are not applied to people. In addition, the people put |
| well when it comes to the people side, an incredibly | | | | in place to implement the system need to understand |
| important part of retail. Simply put, Six Sigma is | | | | how it relates to the product. |
| meant to deal with defects; it's meant for a cookie | | | | |