Six Sigma Training - Why and How

Although Six Sigma sounds like a distant star in a galaxy far, far away, the term is very easy to explain, once you know sigma is the character in the Greek alphabet that is used in mathematical statistics to identify a standard deviation. A standard deviation is defined by how tightly the various outputs of a process are clustered around the mean in a set of data. In other words, how divergent the outputs are from the statistical average. In statistical terms, Six Sigma means that if there were 1 million opportunities for a defect (defined as anything outside of customer specifications) to occur, no more than 3.4 defects would be permitted, so that the quality of the output is near perfect. As such Six Sigma is seen as the ultimate goal in achieving almost immaculate processes through continual improvement.

Six Sigma achieves this by implementing a disciplined, data driven methodology for eliminating defects in any process, from the manufacture of a product to after sale customer service. It focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects using the following two Six Sigma sub-methodologies:

  • The Six Sigma DMAIC process (define, measure, analyse, improve, control), the most common Six Sigma improvement tool, which focuses on ensuring the improvement is clearly defined and measured and is used for existing processes that have fallen below customer specifications and require incremental improvement. Data is analysed to identify problems and the improvement is consolidated through process controls.

  • The Six Sigma DMADV process (define, measure, analyse, design, verify), which is an improvement system used to develop new products or processes to Six Sigma quality levels. It can also be employed if the current process needs more than just incremental improvement.

    • Both Six Sigma processes, which can be easily calculated using a Six Sigma calculator, are executed by Six Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, and are overseen by Six Sigma Master Black Belts. Each Member of the Six Sigma team is given key responsibilities for analysing information that will have an impact on improving processes and customer satisfaction.

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