What is Six Sigma?

It is a methodology for continuous improvement It is a methodology for creating products/ processes that perform at high standards It is a set of statistical and other quality tools arranged in unique way It is a way of knowing where you are and where you could be! It is a Quality Philosophy and a management technique

Six Sigma is not:

A standard A certification Another metric like percentage

Two Meanings of Sigma

The term sigma is used to designate the distribution or spread about the mean (average) of any process or procedure.

For a process, the sigma capability (z-value) is a metric that indicates how well that process is performing. The higher the sigma capability, the better. Sigma capability measures the capability of the process to produce defectfree outputs. A defect is anything that results in customer dissatisfaction.

Path to Six Sigma

6 Sigma
Sigma levels and Defects per million opportunities (DPMO)

3.4 Defects

5 Sigma

233 Defects

4 Sigma 3 Sigma 2 Sigma

6,210 Defects

66,807 Defects

308,537 Defects

What it means to be @ Six Sigma

Is 99% (3.8s) good enough? 99.99966% Good At 6s

20,000 lost mails per hour

7 lost mails per hour

Unsafe drinking water almost 15 minutes each day

5,000 incorrect surgical operations per week 2 short or long landings at most major airports daily 200,000 wrong drug prescriptions each year

One minute of unsafe drinking water every seven months

1.7 incorrect surgical operations per week One short or long landing at major airports every five years 68 wrong drug prescriptions each year

Example quoted from GE Book of Knowledge - copyright GE

Origin of Six Sigma Motorola

the company that invented Six Sigma

The term Six Sigma was coined by Bill Smith, an engineer with Motorola Late 1970s - Motorola started experimenting with problem solving through statistical analysis 1987 - Motorola officially launched its Six Sigma program

The Growth of Six Sigma GE

the company that perfected Six Sigma

Jack Welch launched Six Sigma at GE in Jan,1996 1998/99 - Green Belt exam certification became the criteria for management promotions 2002/03 - Green Belt certification became the criteria for promotion to management roles

The Growth of Six Sigma

The GE model for process improvements

Define

Measure

Analyze

Improve

Control

Combination of change management & statistical analysis