What is Six Sigma

What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a collection of approaches and technologies used to improve business processes
by lowering faults and errors, reducing variance, and enhancing quality and efficiency. Six
Sigma's goal is to attain a virtually perfect level of quality, with only 3.4 errors per million
opportunities. This is accomplished through the use of a structured approach known as
DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, enhance, Control) to identify and eliminate reasons of
variation and enhance processes.
Six Sigma is a disciplined and data-driven method to process improvement and defect
reduction that is commonly employed in project management. It offers a methodical
framework for identifying and eliminating variances that can have an impact on project
performance.
The term derives from the Greek symbol "sigma" or "," which is a statistical term for
assessing process variation from the process mean or aim. The term "Six Sigma" is derived
from the bell curve in statistics, where one Sigma represents a single standard deviation
from the mean. When a process has six Sigmas, three above and three below the mean, the
defect rate is considered "extremely low."
Lean Six Sigma is a powerful methodology that combines two proven approaches: Lean and
Six Sigma. It strives to minimise waste, reduce defects, and improve process efficiency,
ultimately resulting to better customer satisfaction and bottom-line results.
Lean is based on the principle of minimising waste, which might take the shape of extra
stages, time, resources, or effort. It finds and eliminates eight forms of waste in order to
streamline processes. Lean optimises processes and resource utilisation by focusing on
value-added activities and continual improvement.
Understanding about lean Six Sigma.
Lean Six Sigma is a combination of Lean methodology and Six Sigma strategy. Lean
methodology was established by Japanese automaker Toyota in the 1940s. Its purpose was
to remove non-value-adding activities from the production process.
Six Sigma, on the other hand, was founded in the 1980s by an engineer at the American
telecommunications firm Motorola who was inspired by Japan's Kaizen concept. The
business trademarked it in 1993. Its method aims to detect and decrease faults in the
manufacturing process. It also aims to reduce the variability of the manufacturing process.
Lean Six Sigma originated in the 1990s as huge American manufacturers attempted to
compete with better-made Japanese products. Michael George and Robert Lawrence Jr.
introduced the combination technique in their 2002 book Lean Six Sigma: Combining Six
Sigma with Lean Speed.
The 5 Key Principle Of Six Sigma.
1. Focus on the customer.

This is founded on the widely held concept that the "customer is king." The primary
purpose is to maximise the customer's benefit. A company must first understand its
customers, their needs, and what motivates sales or loyalty. This necessitates
developing a quality standard based on what the consumer or market needs.
2. Measure the Value Stream and Find Your Problem.

To identify waste regions, map the phases in a given process. Collect information to
identify the exact problem area that has to be addressed or modified. Have well
defined data collecting goals, such as specifying the data to be collected, the reason
for the data collection, the expected insights, guaranteeing measurement accuracy,
and implementing a standardised data collection methodology. Determine whether
the data is assisting in the achievement of the goals, whether the data needs to be
refined, or additional information obtained. Determine the issue. Ask questions to
get to the bottom of the problem.
3. Keep the Ball Rolling.

Six Sigma procedures can have a significant impact on an organisation, thus the staff
must be knowledgeable about the principles and methodologies employed. As a
result, specialised training and knowledge are necessary to limit the risk of project or
re-design failures and assure optimal process performance.
4. Get Rid Of The Junk.

Once the issue has been discovered, make adjustments to the process to remove
variance and thus problems. Remove any process operations that do not bring value
to the client. If the value stream does not show the source of the problem,
technologies are employed to identify outliers and trouble areas. To achieve quality
control and efficiency, streamline functions. Finally, by removing the aforementioned
garbage, bottlenecks in the process are removed.
5. Ensure a Flexible and Responsive Ecosystem.

Six Sigma is all about corporate transformation and change. When a flawed or
inefficient process is eliminated, it necessitates a shift in work practices and
employee attitudes. A strong culture of adaptability and responsiveness to changes
in procedures may ensure smooth project execution.
Benefits Of Lean Six Sigma.
Lean Six Sigma processes have a number of well-established advantages for employees,
customers, vendors, and the firm.
Companies may improve the work experience for employees and the consumer experience
for buyers by boosting the efficiency of critical procedures. This can foster loyalty both
within and outside of a corporation.
Process simplification and streamlining can improve control and a company's capacity to
capitalise on new possibilities fast. They can also result in more sales and revenue, lower
costs, and more profitable business outcomes.
Involving employees in a group or company-wide efficiency effort can help them enhance
their abilities (such as analytical thinking and project management), increase their
possibilities for advancement, and boost camaraderie. Companies that prevent flaws save
time, money, and human effort that would otherwise be necessary to find and eliminate
them.
Six Sigma Techniques.
To accomplish the desired result, the Six Sigma approach also employs a combination of
statistics and data analysis tools, such as process mapping and design, as well as established
qualitative and quantitative techniques.
Brainstorming.
Brainstorming is a critical step in any problem-solving strategy and is frequently used in the
"improve" phase of the DMAIC methodology. It is a mandatory procedure before utilising
any tools. Brainstorming is the process of bouncing ideas and coming up with creative
solutions to problems through rigorous freewheeling group talks.
Root cause Analysis.

The question "why" is asked repeatedly in the 5 Whys technique, eventually coming up to
the main issue. Although "five" is a general rule, the actual number of questions can be
larger or less, depending on what is required to get clarity.
Voice of The Customer.

This is the procedure for gathering the "voice of the customer" or consumer feedback, either
internally or externally. The technique aims to provide the greatest products and services to
the consumer.
The 5s System.
This technique is based on the Japanese concept of workplace energy. The 5S System aims
to eliminate waste and bottlenecks in the workplace by removing inefficient tools,
equipment, or resources. Seiri (Sort), Seiton (Set In Order), Seiso (Shine), Seiketsu
(Standardise), and Shitsuke (Sustain) are the five steps employed.
Kaizen.
The Kaizen technique is a potent strategy that fuels a never-ending cycle of corporate
improvement. It is the ongoing monitoring, identification, and implementation of
improvements. This is a very beneficial strategy in the manufacturing industry.
Benchmarking.
Benchmarking is a process that uses a predetermined standard of measurement. It entails
establishing comparisons with other businesses in order to provide an unbiased assessment
of the present scenario.
Value Stream Mapping.

The value stream mapping technique is used to create a future project by charting the
existing movement of resources and information. The goal is to eliminate waste and
inefficiencies in the value chain and develop leaner operations. It classifies garbage into
seven kinds and three types of waste removal operations.

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What is Six Sigma?

Understanding about lean Six Sigma.

1. Focus on the customer.

2. Measure the Value Stream and Find Your Problem.

3. Keep the Ball Rolling.

4. Get Rid Of The Junk.

5. Ensure a Flexible and Responsive Ecosystem.

Six Sigma Techniques.

Root cause Analysis.

Voice of The Customer.

Value Stream Mapping.

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