Six Sigma Equals Quality at Its Best

When we speak about Six Sigma and Lean, we speak and write about the success these methodologies bring. Now, let’s approach this from a different point of view. Let’s see how much not using Six Sigma methodologies can cost your business or organization.

The Cost of Poor Quality

When your business has to rework or redo a product, you lose production costs. This includes delays, which leads to dissatisfied customers…which leads to loss of customers, which equates to no business.

Critical to Quality CTQs

These are parts of a process that have an important effect in the outcome of the process. If these are identified, this can be extremely important in dramatically reducing costs and improving and enhancing quality.

Remember DMAIC

Define: The process goals and customer deliverables (internal/external)
Measure: The said process for determining current performance level
Analyze: Determine the root cause or causes of current defects
Improve: The process by eliminating defects
Control: For maintaining future process performance

Each Six Sigma phase has a step-by-step template that is to be followed; for example, the Define phase would have:

1. Define customers and their requirements
2. Create a problem statement including goals and benefits when issues are solved
3. Identify all involved, process owner and team
4. Define resources
5. Access key support involved
6. Create project plan
7. Create detailed process map

The above is the step-by-step of the Define phase. The basic template is taken for the remaining Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control phases. This is in relation to quality and removal of errors.

Some of the Six Sigma tools that can be used include:

• Process Mapping
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Process Capability Tool
• XY Matrix
• Design of Experiments (DOE)

The processes for obtaining data are extensive, but it may mean the difference between success and failure of a business, and well worth the extra effort.

For more information on our Six Sigma training courses or services, please visit 6sigma.com.