Understand the Six Sigma methodology

Understand the Six Sigma methodology

Six Sigma is a meticulous, data-driven methodology that aims at generating quasi-perfect production processes that would result in no morethan 3.4 defects per 1 million opportunities. By definition, Six Sigma is rooted in statistical analysis because it is data-driven and is a strict approach that drives process improvements through statistical measurements and analyses.

The Six Sigma approach to process improvements is project driven. In other words, areas that show opportunities for improvements are identified and projects are selected to proceed with the necessary improvements. The project executions follow a rigorous pattern called the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control). At every step in the DMAIC roadmap, specific tools are used, and most of these tools are statistical.

Even though Six Sigma is a project-driven strategy, the initiation of a Six Sigma deployment does not start with project selections. It starts with the overall understanding of the organization in terms of how it

defines itself, in terms of what its objectives are, how it measures itself, what performance metrics are crucial for it to reach its objectives and how those metrics are analyzed.

( source : six sigma statistic with excel and minitab by Issa Bass )