Six Sigma Approach

Six Sigma approach is to find out the root causes of the problem,
symbolically represented by Y = F(X).

Here, Y represents the problem occurring due to cause (s) X.

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 Why do Organizations Adopt Six
Sigma?

Organizations embrace the Six Sigma way as this methodology

systematically and measurably enhances the value of the organizations
by making them competitive, quality-conscious, customer-centric, and
forward-looking. Some of the benefits that the organizations derive from
the Six Sigma initiatives are:

• Waste prevention

• Defect reduction

• Cycle time reduction

• Cost savings

• Market share improvement

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 Six Sigma – Mathematical Interpretation

Sigma, represented by the Greek alphabet ‘σ’, stands for standard deviation
from the ‘mean’. ‘Six Sigma’ represents six standard deviations from the
mean*.

• USL - Upper specification limit for a

performance standard. Any deviation above
this is a defect.
• LSL – Lower specification limit for a
performance standard. Any deviation below
- 6σ + 6σ
this is a defect.
• Target – Ideally, this will be the middle
point between USL and LSL. LSL T USL

Mean: It is the simple average of data. * Details will be provided in our Six Sigma Black

Standard deviation: It is a measure of variability of data. Belt and Green Belt course.

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Six Sigma – Mathematical Interpretation

Process standard deviation (σ) should be so minimal that the process

performance should be able to scale up to 12σ (6 Sigma each on either
side of the origin on the X-axis) within the customer specification limits*.

* Details will be provided in our Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt course.

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 Six Sigma – Mathematical Interpretation
Sigma
Defect % Resultant Situation for different industries
Level

7 hrs of no power supply/month

3 6.6807%
15 minutes of unsafe drinking water/month

500 in-correct surgical operations/week

4 0.6210%
20,000 in-correct medical prescriptions/year

1 wrong landing of airplane/month

5 0.0233%
200 of mails lost/day

1 minute of unsafe drinking water supply every seven month

1 hour of no power supply once in 34 years
6 0.00034% 1.7 in-correct surgical operations/week
68 in-correct medical prescriptions/year
10 mails lost/month

Please note: As the sigma level increases, the defect percentage decreases, which improves the
efficiency of the process.

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