Six Sigma Methodology

The fundamental objective of the Six Sigma Methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects. Six Sigma Methodology is accomplished through the use of two Six Sigma sub-methodologies: DMAIC and DMADV. The Six Sigma DMAIC process (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement.

The Six Sigma DMADV process (define, measure, analyze, design, verify) is an improvement system used to develop new processes or products at Six Sigma quality levels. Six Sigma Methodology has recently gained wide popularity because it has proven to be successful not only at improving quality but also at producing large cost savings along with those improvements.

The overall Six Sigma Methodology is a 5-step process:

• Define. The Define phase is concerned with the definition of project goals and boundaries, and the identification of issues that need to be addressed to achieve the higher (better) sigma level.
• Measure. The goal of the Measure phase of the Six Sigma strategy is to gather information about the current situation, to obtain baseline data on current process performance, and to identify problem areas.
• Analyze. The goal of the Analyze phase of the Six Sigma quality effort is to identify the root cause(s) of quality problems, and to confirm those causes using the appropriate data analysis tools.
• Improve. The goal of the Improve phase is to implement solutions that address the problems (root causes) identified during the previous (Analyze) phase.
• Control. The goal of the Control phase is to evaluate and monitor the results of the previous phase (Improve).

The Six Sigma Methodology includes a rigorous set of tools designed with one purpose in mind—to produce dramatic enhancements in our work quality, business results, and customer and employee satisfaction. The Six Sigma Methodology is aimed at improving key processes in terms of improving efficiency, reducing defects and cost and enhancing patients' satisfaction. The Six Sigma Methodology has been implemented by many corporations worldwide to improve processes utilizing data analysis and statistical techniques.

Six Sigma Methodology has two components: measurement and process. The measurement aspect relates to the quantification of quality. The quantification depends on the actual defects observed in a process and normalized to opportunities for creating those defects. The measurements are an important aspect of the Six Sigma Methodology to establish goals and measure progress towards Six Sigma. The process aspect of the Six Sigma Methodology includes six steps that relate customer needs to the process to deliver products, services or process improvement. Ultimately, the core of the Six Sigma Methodology is an implementation of the six process steps. Once the six steps are implemented successfully, the measurements are utilized to measure progress and drive further improvement.