Six Sigma Projects

Six Sigma Projects used for certification purposes must demonstrate application of a variety of the Six Sigma tools and have a sufficient return on investment (ROI). Six Sigma Projects yield significant improvements in strategic business areas. Six Sigma Projects are where the work to achieve the gains is done.

Six Sigma Projects typically address process problems and produce a measurable return on investment. The classic Six Sigma Projects life cycle includes measuring, analyzing, improving and controlling the improved process. Six Sigma Projects apply a comprehensive set of Continuous Improvement tools to systematically drive the capability of customer and business-goal aligned processes towards the “Six Sigma” performance standard of 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO).

Six Sigma Projects provide the means to deliver the required improvements and cost reductions without the need for a blunt axe approach.

Six Sigma Projects may slow down or fail when:

• managers cannot quickly understand project proposals and their benefits
• information about Six Sigma programs is not easy to find and use
• team communications and reports are inconsistent and difficult to read
• workers find new policies and procedures hard to understand and replicate, or
• Documentation and training is inadequate to support major changes to critical processes.

Use Six Sigma Projects to drive waste out of the constraint. If the constraint is in a manufacturing process, projects associated with scrap reduction and uptime improvement should be applied to its operation. If the constraint is in the market; that is, if you have more capacity than demand, then internal Six Sigma projects should be aimed at doing things that will make the system's offerings more attractive to potential customers -- typically associated with customer response time and reliability of offered promises.

There have evolved two key methods for carrying out Six Sigma Projects. The first method is the most well-defined and works best if you have a problem with an unknown solution in existing products, processes or services. This method is called DMAIC or Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. The newest method, which is in the developing stages, is called Design for Six Sigma or DFSS. The goal of DFSS is to develop a new product, process or service that is defect-free in the eyes of the customer. A number of consulting companies have invented roadmaps for DFSS like IDOV (Identify, Design, Optimize and Validate) and DMADV (Design, Measure, Analyze, Design and Verify).

In general, Six Sigma Projects:

• Eliminate defects and mistakes
• Reduce waste
• Drive out excess cost
• Enhance work efficiency
• Shorten work cycles – helping customers get their products faster

Six Sigma Projects aim: To improve efficiency of value-added activities within the business processes and to reduce lost of time, effort and money due to the defects and failures in certain process steps and consequent non-value-added activities. Six Sigma Projects are carefully chosen to make significant improvements in customer satisfaction & cost. The Projects group use recognized problem solving tools in a systematic way to achieve their aims.