Six Sigma

Introduction

Six-sigma has been defined as the statistical unit of measurement, a sigma that measures the capability of the process to achieve a defect free performance. Six-sigma can be considered a business improvement tool (define measure, analyze, improve and control) and a business culture similar to the Six-sigma programs at General Electric, Honeywell and Motorola (McLachlan, pp. 44).

The concept of six-sigma has an organization wide scope as it is concerned with all the level and processes of the organization. It also affects the customer loyalty and satisfaction manifold (McLachlan, pp. 27). A process which will have less than 3.4 defective per 1,000,000 units is six-sigma. Six-sigma basically directs towards perfection and thus everyone stays involved in the process. Everyone involved in the process strive for improvement. The following are few goals of the six-sigma approach (Michigan, pp. 09-59).

Six-sigma makes the product more defects-intolerant. The management and the people directly involved in the production strive for better quality. They analyze all the process elements including the defect rate, predictability of process and how the process can be error free (Martens, pp. 65).

The six-sigma methodology for solving problems is same as other approaches. The only difference is that the six-sigma approach focus more on the statistical techniques and uses these techniques to keep a check on the process variations and the performance of the product. The six-sigma approach revolves around the mathematical approach and uses it for problems solving.

The Applications of Six-Sigma

Six-sigma basically comprises of the practices which have been designed for the identification, analysis and remediation of the causes behind the defects arising in a product or process. Defect is not only considered to be a problem or issue in a product; it could be anything which causes lower cost efficiency to a company in operations, at a slower speed and outcomes of the operations are lowering the satisfaction of the customers. Pleasing the customers and acquiring them, these are the ultimate goals of six-sigma. To improve the performance and the reduce variation two methodologies are used by lean manufacturing. These include Measure Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) and Define-Measure-Analyze-Design-Verify (DMADV) (Peter Brewer and Nancy, pp. 15).

Improvements in Businesses

The focus of the six-sigma methodology is over the improvement of the business. Six-sigma describes anything which is associated with the damages of functionality in a business that will be increasing the defects, raising the costs, slowing the productivity and reduction of the ...