What is six sigma ?

[Japheth]

hello everyone...

I want to ask what is the concept of six sigma ? Is it helpful or beneficial ? If yes then in what ways ? Please provide some useful information regarding the same....thank you

[opaper]

Six Sigma is a business management strategy, initially implemented by Motorola, that today enjoys widespread application in many sectors of industry.

Six Sigma seeks to improve quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and variation in manufacturing and business processes.

It uses a set of quality management methods, including statistical methods, and creates a special infrastructure of people within the organization ("Black Belts" etc.) who are experts in these methods.

Each Six Sigma project carried out within an organization follows a defined sequence of steps and has quantified financial targets (cost reduction or profit increase).

[MindSpace]

Six Sigma at many organizations simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service.

The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes quantitatively how a process is performing. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
A Six Sigma defect is defined as anything outside of customer specifications.
A Six Sigma opportunity is then the total quantity of chances for a defect. Process sigma can easily be calculated using a Six Sigma calculator.

[MindSpace]

The fundamental objective of the Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects.

This is accomplished through the use of two Six Sigma sub-methodologies : DMAIC and DMADV.

The Six Sigma DMAIC process (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement.

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

Both Six Sigma processes are executed by Six Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, and are overseen by Six Sigma Master Black Belts.

[Zecho]

Levels of Sigma

• One Sigma > 690,000 DPMO = 31% efficiency
• Two Sigma > 308,000 DPMO = 69.2% efficiency
• Three Sigma > 66,800 DPMO = 93.32% efficiency
• Four Sigma > 6,210 DPMO = 99.379% efficiency
• Five Sigma > 230 DPMO = 99.977% efficiency
• Six Sigma > 3.4 DPMO = 99.9997% efficiency