Six Sigma Program
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is about the rapid deployment of the Six Sigma tools and processes into an organization and the effective use of these tools to achieve a key business initiatives such as:
- Scrap and cost reduction (CTC – Critical to Cost)
- Quality improvements (CTQ – Critical to Quality, Six Sigma Quality)
- Time to market and cycle time reductions (CTS – Critical to Schedule)
The first step is to determine what is most important to the company.
Four Parts of Six Sigma
Six Sigma is about much more than just providing training on some tools. It is about applying these tools to obtain bottom-line impact on quality, cost or schedule. To understand Six Sigma, you must understand its four components:
- Goal of Six Sigma Quality
- Six Sigma Tools
- Six Sigma Processes
- Six Sigma Deployment
Six Sigma Quality
While possibly the most publicized part of Six Sigma, Six Sigma quality is the least important component. In fact, many companies have had successful Six Sigma programs while focusing primarily on costs and schedule. The key is to achieve bottom-line impact. Six Sigma quality is just one possible focus.
Six Sigma quality is a level of defects that corresponds to 3.4 dpmo (defects per million opportunities). This does not mean that the final product is 3.4 dpm. It means that each opportunity is at 3.4 dpm. Most products have many opportunities for defects. Each measurable characteristic represents an opportunity. For example, in extruding plastic tubing there is the inside diameter, wall thickness and cut length. There are other opportunities for defects as well. The quality of the finished product will depend on its complexity. It might range from 50 dpm for simpler disposable products (15 opportunities) to 95% first-time yield for moderately complex hardware (thousands of opportunities).
Six Sigma Tools
Six Sigma has been criticized as being a repackaging of already existing tools. Certainly, many of the tools that are part of Six Sigma have been around for some time. However, many of these tools are not used effectively. Six Sigma is about applying these tools to accomplish specific objectives using the Six Sigma processes. The Six Sigma tools are:
- Acceptance Sampling Plan
- Analysis of Means (ANOM)
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
- Capability Study
- Challenge Test
- Change-Point Analysis
- Comparison With Standard
- Comparison Between Two Groups
- Comparison Between Multiple Groups
- Component Swapping Study
- Concentration Diagram
- Confidence Interval
- Contingency Table
- Control Chart
- Equivalency Study
- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
- Gage R&R Study
- Measurement Reproducibility Study
- Mistake Proofing
- Multi-Vari Chart
- Normality Test
- Pareto Chart
- Process Flow Diagram
- Regression Analysis
- Response Surface Study
- Robust Tolerance Analysis
- Screening Experiment
- Scatter diagram
- Tolerance Interval
- Variance Components Analysis
Six Sigma Processes
Learning to use the Six Sigma tools is not enough. Knowing how to use a hammer, saw and tape measure doesn’t make you a carpenter. Likewise knowing some of the above tools, doesn’t make you a Six Sigma Blackbelt. The Six Sigma processes teach the proper sequences for applying the tools to makes improvements, to design, to problems solving, etc.
- Six Sigma Improvement Process (MAIC)
- Six Sigma Design Process (IDOV)
- Six Sigma Problem Solving Process (MAIC)
- Six Sigma Validation Process (IQ-OQ-PQ)
Six Sigma Deployment
Deploying the Six Sigma tools and processes requires an implementation plan. This plan must address the following:
- Focus and Goals
- Structure and Roles (Black Belts)
- Project Selection
- Training Approach
- Other (Software, Web, Integration)
Services We Provide
Dr. Taylor has helped deploy Six Sigma and companies like Baxter Healthcare and Boston Scientific. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge, support and materials you require to implement your own successful Six Sigma program in a cost-effective manner. Dr. Taylor personally works with your management team to help you develop and execute a custom implementation plan. The basic process includes:
- Six Sigma Executive Planning Workshop or Design for Six Sigma Executive Planning Workshop to answer any questions about Six Sigma and to develop your custom implementation plan.
- Provide additional training for management and affected employees including Six Sigma Management Overview, Six Sigma Technical Manager Workshop and Six Sigma Orientation.
- Provide Black Belt training and Green Belt training to develop internal experts called black belts and green belts that will lead the project teams.
- Guide selection of initial projects.
- Coaching of Black Belts and Green Belts on initial projects.
- License course materials so black belts can take over the training and customize it with your own examples and company-specific information.
- License software (ours and others) required to support the Six Sigma tools.