Why Data is Critical to Six Sigma

e being introduced to Six Sigma, many managersof defects and errors within the process. Second,
consider it a mysterious approach to processthey must review the gathered metrics and
efficiency that cannot be properly measured. Indeed,determine each variable's impact on Critical To Quality
there are plenty of business management strategies(CTQ) factors.
that emerge and are successful for awhile basedNote how the metrics are vital to the success of the
upon fad rather than delivering practical results. Byentire initiative. Without them, the organization's
contrast, this methodology is firmly grounded in datacurrent performance - and the errors and defects
and statistical analysis.which may exist within - cannot be properly analyzed.
The foundation of this approach is built upon theDesigning Solutions
collection and evaluation of numbers. Every step ofThe next phase of a Six Sigma initiative relies heavily
the deployment, from the identification of theon the data collected from the previous steps. The
initiative's objective to long-term performanceproject team will develop solutions which, when
tracking, relies upon numbers. Below, I'll explain howimplemented, will hopefully lead to process-related
data is used throughout a Six Sigma assignment.improvements. These solutions are not designed in a
The Core Of Process Improvementvacuum; they rely upon the gathered metrics.
The purpose of the methodology is to improveThe project team will review each of the key
business processes. In order to do that, the projectvariables to determine the effects of making
team must identify variances and study their individualchanges to them. While there is some
and collective impacts on waste. The only reliableexperimentation involved, designing solutions which
way to make those improvements is by collectingcan eliminate waste and variances depends upon
data and measuring it against existing baselines.rigorous statistical analysis.
The dedication of Six Sigma initiatives to aMeasuring Results
quantitative approach not only helps to ensureOnce the Six Sigma team's solutions have been
improvements, but it also sets the stage for ongoingimplemented, they must be monitored in order to
measurement. Every process has a tendency totrack their success. Data will be collected from each
accrue waste over time. By establishing baselines andof the inputs and outputs identified earlier in the
measuring future results by them, that waste can beproject to determine whether the solutions are
kept at bay. Ultimately, that improves product cyclehaving the intended effect.
times, deliverability, and revenue while loweringIt is possible that the project team's changes will lead
operational expenses.to improvements in the process, yet not completely
Identifying And Eliminating Wasteeliminate errors, defects, and waste. This is the
A Six Sigma project begins with identifyingreason data is so important to success. The process
opportunities for an organization to limit waste andmetrics must be reviewed and analyzed until waste
variances that exist in a given process. Part of thathas been eliminated. Then, once that has been
procedure includes isolating inputs and outputs. Thoseaccomplished, they must be perpetually monitored to
variables are isolated in order that the project teamensure waste does not creep in again.
can collect metrics that might lead to futureThose who are familiar with the Six Sigma
improvements.methodology will not be surprised to hear that data is
During the assignment, the metrics collected from theessential to the success of a project. It both guides
inputs and outputs are compared to predefinedthe initiative and provides a platform on which to
benchmarks. At this point, the project team has twoobjectively measure results.
responsibilities. First, they must identify the presence