About Six Sigma
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a management system, methodology and statistical analysis tool for streamlining business processes via the elimination of defects. By implementing Six Sigma organisations can improve and sustain quality, eliminate waste and increase profit. This is achieved by:
- Reducing variations in processes
- Defining, Measuring, Analysing, Improving and Controlling processes (know as DMAIC – find out more here)
- Involvement and commitment of the whole organisation including top level management
Six Sigma was originally developed by Motorola, USA in 1986. Since then Six Sigma has spread far beyond its roots in manufacturing and is now used extensively to improve service based and transactional business processes.
What does Six Sigma mean?
The term “Six Sigma” describes the ‘sigma rating’ of a process which produces a very high level of defect-free products. A ‘true’ Six Sigma process is one in which 99.99966% of the products manufactured (or items processed, in a transactional process) are free of defects – that’s just 3.4 defects per million.
A ‘defect’ in Six Sigma is defined as anything which falls outside of the customer specifications.
Indeed, Voice of the Customer is a key part of Six Sigma, providing recognition that statistics don’t prove everything! This is especially the case where Six Sigma is applied in the service industry. In addition to measuring processes for defects, organisations also need to look to their employees. Streamlining employee performance too far can cause problems so the human factor needs to be taken into consideration. It may look good statistically to have fewer employees serving more customers, but customer and employee satisfaction may suffer as a result. When applying Six Sigma for the service industry, we place more emphasis on:
- Understanding customer needs
- Adapting business processes to meet those needs
- Using data analysis to minimise variation in those processes
- Using the above to quickly improve existing processes using sustainable practices
What are Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt?
Six Sigma ‘Belt’ levels describe the level of training and experience individuals have with Six Sigma.
In general terms, Six Sigma processes are executed by Six Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, and are overseen by Six Sigma Master Black Belts.
Read more about Six Sigma Belt levels in our Six Sigma Certification section