Q:  I’ve been hearing a lot about Six Sigma.  What is it, exactly? 

A:  Six Sigma is a method of business process improvement.  The goal of Six Sigma is to reduce the number of defects in a given process to below 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO).  The methods of Six Sigma can be applied to any business process, not just manufacturing.  Six Sigma can even help improve the process of new product development.

Q:  What does the name Six Sigma mean?

A:  The term “Six Sigma” refers to a property of the normal distribution curve in the study of statistics.  In statistics, the symbol “sigma” is used to identify the standard deviation, a measure of variability in a data set.  If your business process produces widely variable results, you are likely to see a large number of defects.  A Six Sigma business process is one designed to produce results with an extremely low proportion of defects.   The methods of Six Sigma have been successfully applied to many business processes.   

Q:  How can Six Sigma help my company?  I provide services, not widgets.

A:  Even if your company provides services, you can benefit from Six Sigma methods.  A defect can be broadly defined as anything that results in your customer being less than fully satisfied.  In non-manufacturing terms, the source of such a defect might be unclear communication of project requirements, or inconsistent follow-up.  Perhaps your sales force is over-promising.  Any business process can be improved, and the methods of Six Sigma can help.

Q:  Who started Six Sigma?

A:   Six Sigma as a method of business process improvement was started by Motorola in the late 1980’s.  Famously successful companies which have implemented Six Sigma since then include General Electric, 3M, and Amazon.com.

Q:  What is Lean Six Sigma?  Is it different from “regular” Six Sigma?

A:  The “Lean” aspect focuses on optimizing the flow and speed of work.  Ironically, in their early histories, Lean and Six Sigma were seen as competing methods.  Lean enthusiasts pointed out that Six Sigma did not necessarily result in faster or more efficient processes; Six Sigma supporters replied that Lean processes could still produce poor quality.  More recently, however, business leaders have come to see Lean and Six Sigma as complementary tools.  Using the integrated Lean Six Sigma approach, a company can improve both efficiency and quality — at the same time.

Q:  Sounds great!  How do we get started?

A:  For an existing business process, the primary Six Sigma / Lean Six Sigma method is known as DMAIC.  This stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. Consultants who have been trained in specific statistical methods for each of these steps are known as Green Belts, Black Belts, and Master Black Belts, depending on their level of mastery.  For more information on how to implement Six Sigma in your company, or how to obtain Six Sigma training, contact a Six Sigma Black Belt in your area.

To learn more about online Six Sigma Certification and get bonus statistical analysis software (value $199) included your tuition. Or to view a course demo, visit the Acuity Institute Review
page.

Monique Sno, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt

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