Six Sigma is a quality management method that aims to achieve a flawless process from the customer's point of view.
Brief description
The main application of Six Sigma is a project form known as the five-phase DMAIC model (Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve – Control). Six Sigma is the American response to Kaizen factors. While Kaizen and Continuous Improvement processes seek out many good improvement opportunities, Six Sigma focuses on projects that are considered urgent in management and will be developed with a clear division of roles (Six Sigma employees, trained promoters, management and controlling sponsors) with a defined order and proven tools.
Goals
With Six Sigma, the degree of quality is set as a target of 99.9997% (=6σ) per product, starting from specific customer requirements. With this level of quality (3.4 errors per million error possibilities), Six Sigma approaches the goal close to zero, so that customer requirements are satisfied and quality costs are minimized. Six Sigma also pursues the following goals, among others:
- Productivity growth
- Cost reduction
- Customer loyalty
- Error reduction
- Accelerate process corrections
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