What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a:
- Statistical Measure
- Business Philosophy
- Problem Solving Methodology (DMAIC)
Black Belt
- Full-time (or Part-time) Project Team leaders
- Responsible for implementing process improvement projects.
- Skilled in the use of the Six Sigma methodology and tools.
- Black Belts also mentor Green Belts.
Green Belt
- Provide Black Belts with another resource for project completion
- Implement process improvement projects
- Generate Six Sigma enthusiasm throughout the organization
- Incorporate the Six Sigma method into all aspects of the business
- Provide Six Sigma knowledge for Champions, Managers, etc., who may not be working on projects, but need to “know Six Sigma”
- Get buy-in from “floor level” employees
- Identify new sources of talent and high-potential employees
How does Six Sigma Relate to...
Lean - Focus on the efficiency of the Process. (waste)
Quality - Focus on managing the process. (Standardization and control)
Six Sigma - Focus on reducing process variation & eliminating defects.
Six Sigma and Lean
Both SIX SIGMA and LEAN seek to make processes as profitable as possible, but with different approaches:
- LEAN
- Succeeds by reducing waste
- Evaluates entire value stream
- Relies on rapid improvement
- Emphasizes logical methods
- SIX SIGMA
- Succeeds by reducing defects
- Evaluates specific processes
- Relies on detailed study
- Emphasizes analytical methods
The Question: Which one should be done first?
The Answer: It depends on the problems!
- LEAN
- Large inventory costs
- Delivery problems
- Downtime for changeovers
- Unbalanced work cells
- Inconsistent processes
- SIX SIGMA
- High scrap costs
- “Unsolvable” customer issues
- “Unexplained” downtime
- Large amounts of rework
- Frequently recurring problems