Six Sigma: Expectations vs. Reality
Six Sigma is valuable for any business as it creates an eco-system for augmenting productivity and efficiency in a business environment of on-going positive change. It provides an opportunity to businesses to amend the traditional processes. It creates a disciplined, knowledge-based approach intended to enrich customer satisfaction and build a customer culture that embraces innovative methods to technology and business development. Six Sigma provides a well-structured strategy for obtaining, evaluating and delivering on customer expectations. It is supported with manageable solutions for the purposes of product, system or enterprise innovation and design. Also, business process management software along with Six Sigma gives a great deal of support to the success of business processes.
Six Sigma will enable employees to identify problem area and recurring issues that affect the customer expectations for the quality of a product or service. For example, if a product failure I because of a faulty system that has been identified, then Six Sigma principles will allow the employee to implement solutions based on the root causes discovered through troubleshooting.
Here are the benefits of having a six-sigma certification:
1. Process Mapping Six Sigma operates on process mapping. Process mapping of a project is basically using flowcharts to document the process within a system used to build a product or service. This information is an amalgamation of all the decision points and employee roles in performing the work required to meet a client’s need. These flowcharts are then used to come up with a future state of a process including enhancement suggestions.
2. Eliminating Waste and Variation When the ideas of improvement have been identified, projects can then be allocated discarding waste and variation in processes and standards with a company’s division of business. Waste can be categorized as anything that does not help to produce the product or service expected to be delivered to the customer. Implementation of standards and processes will make the target goals of the business predictable and with less variation in customer delivery times. The Six Sigma process resonates with the Open system and makes the functioning of businesses without obstacles.
3. Defect Reduction What do sigma levels look like in real life?
Take the airlines industry. This is a category which still is largely dependent on human intervention for the most critical parts of the process. And yet, excluding acts of suicide, sabotage and hijacking, 59 people were killed in 14 air accidents worldwide in 2017. 14 accidents out of 37 million flights! Think about that for a moment. Clearly, process-based management works.
In a USA Today article, Airline Industry Safety Expert John Cox attributed the impressive achievement to improved maintenance procedures, changes to training and improved equipment – all results of data driven decision making.
Six Sigma enables employees to recognize problem areas as well as repetitive issues that disturb the client expectations for the quality of a product or service. For instance, a product has failed due to an identified faulty system, then according to Six Sigma principles will allow employees to implement solutions based on the root cause recognized by troubleshooting.
4. Continuous Improvement Environment
Six Sigma trained employees are are better equipped to identify problem areas that make production or the ability to perform assigned tasks sluggish. They are also able to visualize how processes are currently being completed along with identifying ideas to improve continuously.
Continuous improvement in existing products and processes can happen through data driven decisions. It also assists in developing new products and processes that will ultimately provide financial savings through enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
5. Ongoing Training
Ongoing training can be perceived as a burden, but it is essential for maintaining Six Sigma certification. Continuous education ensures that professionals stay updated with the latest methodologies, tools, and industry best practices. By investing in ongoing training, individuals enhance their problem-solving skills, expand their knowledge base, and effectively contribute to process improvement initiatives, ultimately driving organizational success.
