An introduction to the fundamental basics of Six Sigma
Business exists to fill a need, even if it’s a perceived need. This “need” is a product or service created with direct or indirect contributions from a set of stakeholders having different skillsets and roles, connected through a sequence of processes or subprocesses. Processes are related to each other, such that the output of one …
The tools used in the Lean and Six Sigma methodologies overlap significantly, although each toolbox has some methods and tools the other doesn’t use. For example, Lean relies on pull scheduling, setup reduction, and seven wastes. Six Sigma uses Design of Experiments (DOE) and hypothesis tests to improve quality. Both approaches, however, rely on improvement …
Each organization requires a different mix of Lean and Six Sigma approaches, depending on its needs. For companies that require the benefits of both, the best approach is to adopt Lean first and then adopt Six Sigma. Attempting to adopt both methodologies in parallel causes confusion, and sometimes makes one methodology dominant at the expense …
Though Lean and Six Sigma originated as two different strategies, in two different environments, with different tool sets and methodologies, they are increasingly being seen as similar approaches. In keeping with this perspective, the combined methodologies are referred to as Lean Six Sigma. Each methodology has a different focus and brings different strengths to the union. Lean …
Six Sigma is a performance improvement initiative that aims to reduce variation and defects in processes to achieve near perfection in goods and services. Six Sigma minimizes defects and maximizes value, allowing breakthrough improvements to be made to processes and systems. The ultimate aim of Six Sigma is to achieve customer satisfaction and near perfection …
In this chapter, you will learn the value and goals of Lean and Six Sigma, and how they complement each other in an organization’s overall quality improvement strategy. Lean is a continuous improvement initiative that streamlines and improves processes by removing waste. In implementing Lean, having an understanding of the thinking and philosophy is as …
Two methodologies are currently at the apex of the continuous improvement evolution: Six Sigma and Lean. Six Sigma evolved directly from mainstream quality control methods. In the 1970s, a Japanese company took over a Motorola plant that produced TV sets. Japanese corporate leaders changed the management and workflow, but they retained the workforce, technology, and …
As a businessperson in the twenty-first century, you’re probably very familiar with the concept of continuous improvement – the consistent and ongoing effort to improve processes, products, or services. And as a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, you will be responsible for showing your company the way to increasing quality and decreasing costs. In this …
Before we start talking about the benefits of Six Sigma, let’s start with the basics and spend a minute talking about what exactly Six Sigma is. Six Sigma actually has several different facets to its meaning. First, if we look simply at the term Six Sigma, sigma represents standard deviation, which a universally accepted metric …
Value stream mapping involves four steps. Defining the product family, creating a current state map, creating a future state map, and planning implementation. In this chapter, we’re going to focus on the last two steps. Creating a future state map and planning implementation. The information used to create the current state map is combined with …