Six Sigma is a term many people have heard; they may not know exactly what it means. Many organizations wonder if Six Sigma is really all it is hyped up to be or a farce.
Six Sigma is not a farce because many aspects of the Six Sigma methodology and process help an organization become more efficient and cost-effective. Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology; it forces organizations to look at the hard cold numbers while at the same time analyzing every single aspect of their manufacturing or business process.
Here Are Our Top 11 Reason Why Six Sigma Is Not A Farce, But An Important Organizational Methodology That Can Help Organizations Improve.
1. – Six Sigma Looks At Data
Six Sigma is a data-driven efficiency process that relies on performance measures. In implementing Six Sigma, a company must look at the data; if there is no data, it is not Six Sigma.
This is an important aspect of Six Sigma, as it forces organizations to analyze the data fully.
2. – Six Sigma Saves Money
Six Sigma is about looking at ways to avoid costs or to save money. Six Sigma looks at how to save money now, not in the future.
Companies working with Six Sigma save money on their processes or make them more efficient to save time, which translates into saving money.
3. – Six Sigma Focuses On Eliminating Defects
Six Sigma focuses on eliminating defects and the variations in the production process that cause defects or inefficiency. Six Sigma does this by looking through the entire process and seeing what improvements need to be made to ensure the entire process is more efficient.
4. – Six Sigma is About Quality Control
Six Sigma is all about quality control and producing a defect-free product. Six Sigma aims to produce a defect-free product 99.9996% of the time. In other words, close to 100% of the time, you can produce a defective product using the Six Sigma model.
5. – Six Sigma Helps Brand Loyalty
Six Sigma also helps to drive brand loyalty. Six Sigma is working to eliminate defects; this helps drive customer brand loyalty. The customer knows they are getting a quality product almost 100% of the time.
6. – Six Sigma Helps Improve Employee Satisfaction.
Six Sigma also helps to improve employee satisfaction. One aspect of the methodology is about bringing everybody on board in the process; Six Sigma is a collaborative process. . Everyone from those who are manufacturing the product to the leadership needs to be involved in the Six Sigma process.
Having everyone involved in the Six Sigma process helps to improve employee satisfaction.
7. – Six Sigma Forces Companies To Look At Details
Six Sigma forces companies to look at all the details. Six Sigma forces them to take all their processes, break them down and analyze them.
This is an important exercise for any company or organization because they will discover things they did not know were stopping the overall efficiency or profitability.
8. – Six Sigma Stretches A Company To Improve
Six Sigma is about having defect-free products, services, and production at least 99.9996% of the time; for most companies, the Six Sigma methodology forces them to improve their entire processes. Six Sigma stretches organizations to improve; this is always positive for any company or organization.
Six sigma is the vehicle to help to move this improvement process forward.
9. – Six Sigma Uses DMAIC Methodology
Six Sigma uses the DMAIC methodology to help an existing product or service. This is the methodology used to help to improve efficiency and the entire production or service process.
The DMAIC Six Sigma methodology is about:
- D – Define – In the define phase, you look at the process as a whole to determine or define the issue. To define, the issue you will also check the following
- Determine what issues you are facing. In this, you analyze where the problem or bottleneck is in your organization or manufacturing.
- Look at how you can improve this.
- Review or define what the customer requirements are.
- M – Measure – In the measure phase, you determine how the process is performing currently. You look at the unaltered facts and data. For example, how many pieces of home decor trays are produced in a day? You are looking at the data or metrics.
- A – Analyze – In the analysis phase, you look at what really causes the defects or variation. In this phase, you look at why this is a problem and what you can do to change or adjust the problem or issues,
- I – Improve – In the improvement phase, you improve the entire process. You make the actual adjustments to ensure that you are improving all aspects of the production or process.
- C- Control – In the control phase, you make regular adjustments to control and make new processes; the idea is that you are consistently improving.
The purpose of the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology is in how to improve your current processes; as you implement this methodology, your accuracy and efficiency should improve so you can be defect-free 99.9996% of the time. DMAIC is one of the most common efficiencies and production methodologies used in the world.
10. – Six Sigma Uses DMADV Methodology
Six Sigma also uses the DMADV Methodology. This methodology is used when a company needs to create a new product or service from scratch. This is also called DFSS which means Design For Six Sigma.
The DMADV Six Sigma methodology is about:
- D – Define – In the define phase, you look at what the customer requirements are. You define what the customer needs and wants and why they want it. During this defining phase, you collect data as to why the customers want one produce vs. another.
- M – Measure – In the measure phase, you use the customer’s requirements to create a specification. This specification helps define the product as it is backed up by data on customer needs and wants.
- A – Analyze – In the analysis phase, you look at better ways to design the product so that it will give you the results you need and give you a better product or service. In this phase, areas of improvement are determined and tested.
- D – Design – In the design phase, you will design the product or service; you will use the data you have collected in the design phase. Many companies will have a focus group in the design phase to see the customer’s reaction to their new design or product.
- V – Verify – In this phase, you check to see if the results meet or exceed customer requirements. In this phase, you analyze the product or service to see how well you did with the actual design or if adjustments need to be made.
Six Sigma gives a data-driven design methodology; this helps companies know when they are rolling out a new product or service that their customers really want or will use. This data-driven design approach makes Six Sigma a significant methodology.
11. – Six Sigma Uses Lean Six Sigma
Six Sigma also uses the lean method, which means that you get rid of any part of the process that does not value the customer. For example, if you have a program that costs you money and time but your customers are not using it, or it does not bring you any value, Lean Six Sigma would show you that you need to get rid of that program.
Lean means to do more with less while doing it better than you did before.
Lean Six Sigma means to:
- Eliminate problems
- Remove inefficiencies and waste
- Improve working conditions
- Customer needs are better satisfied.
Lean Six Sigma combines both the lean and six sigma principles together into one methodology.
One of the great advantages of the Six Sigma methodology is it gives a clear and concise method that you can use to approve your efficiency in all aspects of your company or organization. This is really at the heart of Six Sigma and why it continues to be a popular efficiency and data-driven methodology used throughout the world.
If you are interested to find out more about how Mondoro can help you create, develop and manufacture great home decor and home furniture products, – feel free to contact me, Anita. at my email by clicking here or become a part of our community and join our newsletter by clicking here.
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