6 Sigma

What is 6 Sigma? Well, after searching from various url and reading some books, I found that it's quite an interesting subject to learn and gain knowledge to improve our performance in work and personal life.

Quote from isixsigma.com

Six Sigma at many organizations simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service.

The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes quantitatively how a process is performing. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. A Six Sigma defect is defined as anything outside of customer specifications. A Six Sigma opportunity is then the total quantity of chances for a defect. Process sigma can easily be calculated using a Six Sigma calculator.

The fundamental objective of the Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects. This is accomplished through the use of two Six Sigma sub-methodologies: DMAIC and DMADV. The Six Sigma DMAIC process (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement. The Six Sigma DMADV process (define, measure, analyze, design, verify) is an improvement system used to develop new processes or products at Six Sigma quality levels. It can also be employed if a current process requires more than just incremental improvement. Both Six Sigma processes are executed by Six Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, and are overseen by Six Sigma Master Black Belts.

According to the Six Sigma Academy, Black Belts save companies approximately $230,000 per project and can complete four to 6 projects per year. General Electric, one of the most successful companies implementing Six Sigma, has estimated benefits on the order of $10 billion during the first five years of implementation. GE first began Six Sigma in 1995 after Motorola and Allied Signal blazed the Six Sigma trail. Since then, thousands of companies around the world have discovered the far reaching benefits of Six Sigma.

I also find other sites such as forum, online training and the ever famous 6 sigma pioneer.

After reading and searching for 6 Sigma information, I regret not knowing in depth about this method, at the very least the overview about 6 Sigma. In my previous work place, my colleagues will talk about 6 Sigma and I just listened, not bothering to ask and research for myself. After knowing some details about 6 Sigma, I came to understand its importance in our work place.

With this, I know my current company in needs of 6 Sigma in its daily work from top to bottomliners. Even with the implementation of Balanced Scorecard and 360 degree, it won't achieve anything without a successful implementation of 6 Sigma in the company.

Tomorrow is a public holiday or the 50th Independent Day of my country. I look forward to spend my time continue my personal work and reading. I bought a numbers of interesting books but I don't have the time to read it. Excuses...I know.