Six Sigma

 In the 1980s, Motorola created Six Sigma in response to customer concerns about its products and intense competition. The corporation initially established a 90% defect reduction target. Through benchmarking competitors, asking staff for fresh ideas, altering compensation structures, introducing training programs, and redesigning crucial processes, it had produced such impressive results in just one year that it decided to codify the methods into what it termed Six Sigma.

Statistics and data analysis are used in the Six Sigma process to identify and minimize errors or flaws. This approach aims to decrease manufacturing faults to no more than 3.4 defects per million units or events while increasing cycle times.

“Six Sigma is a comprehensive system, a strategy, a discipline, and a collection of tools for creating and maintaining company success”. Six sigma is considered a strategy due to its emphasis on complete customer happiness. Six sigma is also called a discipline because it adheres to improvement models.

The two main Six Sigma improvement model methodologies are DMAIC and DMADV.

DMAIC

The five-step model for process improvement includes:

Identifies the necessary process information after defining the project's goal, scope, and outputs while keeping in mind the customer's concept of quality.

Measures the process and gathers data

Analyses the data to ensure reproducibility and repeatability

Improves by modifying or redesigning current processes and procedures

Controls the new process to ensure that performance standards are followed

DMADV

DMADV is a component of the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) process, which is used to design or redesign various processes for the production of goods or services. The DMADV process consists of five steps: Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Validate.