Principles of Six Sigma

Six Sigma is Six Sigma was developed by Motorola Inc in 1986. The objective behind developing the tool was to make manufacturing processes efficient


Six Sigma was developed by Motorola Inc in 1986. Objective behind developing the tool was to make the manufacturing processes efficient.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Six Sigma was developed by Motorola Inc in 1986. The objective behind developing the tool was to make the manufacturing processes efficient. It enabled the company to eliminate defects. Eventually, the process was adopted across the continents. It enabled thousands of many companies to attend higher efficiency levels.

Six Sigma created an environment of excellence with continuous improvements in business processes. It enables companies to supply their market with better products and services. Who developed the concept? The concept was developed by Motorola. It was later adopted by GE in 1995 on a very large scale. Jack Welch, the famous CEO of GE was an ardent user of Six Sigma. He implemented Six Sigma in almost every process of the GE business. It ranged from accounting to manufacturing to recruitment. The Core Concept of Six Sigma: It is used to eliminate defects in business processes. The concept came from the use of the bell curve, a tool of statistics.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Six sigma indicates 3.4 defects per million opportunities. It means that if a task is performed 1 million times, the accepted defects does not exceed 3. 4 times. It shows a precision of 99.99966%. What do Six Sigma Critics Point Out? In certain processes like flying an aircraft or cash disbursement in a trailer machine, only 'zero' defects can be tolerated. However, historically, most of the companies in the industry function at the three to four sigma level. This allows the companies to achieve defect-free products between 93 to 99.3%.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

First Phase – Define:

Here, problem/s are defined. This is the key phase in the process. The quality and customer needs are understood. Then the project scoping is done.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Second Phase – Measure:

This is a crucial phase. The Measure Process Performance is a crucial step in six sigma.

Tools like a Pareto chart is used to see the frequency of the problem and its impact. The present capability of the system must be assessed to check whether it meets the desired goals.   

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Third Phase – Analyze:

Analysis of the problem leads to the identification of the cause. In this stage, tools like Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Multivariate Charts are used.    

Root cause analysis is used to detect the main cause of the defect. FEMA is used in identifying failure rates of products and services.    

Multivariate charts enable an assessment of different types of variations within a process. It shows most of the variations.  It also breaks down the deviations to its components.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Fourth Phase – Improve:

In this phase, Improvement actions are initiated after carrying out the Root Cause Analysis. Design of Experiments (DOE) is used when there are complex problems. In such a case, many factors influence the outcome, and it is difficult to single out them. DOE helps in this.    

Kaizen Events help in focusing on rapid transition. It narrows down the project and maintains focus.    Kaizen or DOE are used in conjunction while implementing Six Sigma.

Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Fifth Phase – Control:

Control is exercised with techniques like QCP, SPC and 5S. Quality Control Plan (QCP) enables managers to decide the actions are needed to be taken to ensure process improvement.    

Statistical Process Control (SPC) empowers the management to monitor processes across the departments.    

5S
is adopted for reducing waste and inefficiency. It enables the maintenance of the workplace with visual controls.  

Airbus

There are many examples of effective implementation of six sigma in corporates.

Airbus:

This company could reduce the cycle time for repair, maintenance and overhauling activities of their aircraft by applying Six Sigma.
 
The cycle time of Airbus was reduced by 21 percent by visual management and in-house software.

The company could gain USD 7,07,000 per year.

Cost-benefit and root cause analysis where the focus area in the company to implement Six Sigma.

Ford

Ford Motor Company: 

This company could determine successfully the root cause for defects.  

They successfully transitioned from petroleum-based foam to castor oil foam which is more environment friendly.

Earlier the company had a scrap rate of 30 percent.

This got reduced to 0.1 percent as a result of the implementation of the Six Sigma process.

Sigma is applied in diverse industries.

Its wide application is adopted in India too.

Several industries in India like automobiles, auto components, IT and ITES are beneficiaries of Six Sigma. The reduction in defect and errors make six sigma process a desired one in the industry. 


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Categories: : Six Sigma



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