Learning Lean Six Sigma: What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is one method that is very focus on quality control by studying the company's production system as a whole. Or it can be define a business method that allows a company to improve performance. It should by designing and monitoring daily business activities to achieve customer satisfaction. This method is design to replace the TQM (Total Quality Management) method.  Aim at preventing the occurrence of production defects, saving product manufacturing time, and minimizing costs.

Conceptually, Six Sigma can also be calls a comprehensive and flexible system to provide support. Optimize production processes to achieve value efficiency that focuses on understanding the needs of customers. With Six Sigma method, the company will continually strive to pay attention to the suitability and balance between performance with what the customer needs.

Step Six Sigma Implementation

There are four stages or steps in applying the Six Sigma methods. Which is an approach to problem solving and process improvement. The steps of implementing Six Sigma commonly calls DMAIC- Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. The DMAIC methodology is use when a company already produces certain products. But is unable to meet customer demand specifications.

Define

Is the stage of determining problems, determining customer needs, knowing critical to quality, and determining the team.

Measure

This phase means measuring performance or process performance before making improvements. Determination of quality characteristics is one of the key points in this stage.

Analyze

this stage of finding, determining, and analyzing the root cause of the problem. Problems that arise sometimes can be very complex, very confusing between each other that can lead to production failure.

Improve

After finding the source of quality problems, it is necessary to take corrective action to improve the quality and reduce the level of damage or disability.

Control

Controls are watching over. This phase is in the form of performance supervision, especially after an improvement to ensure that there are no defects. Always perform performance monitoring at all times and process corrections to prevent rejection.

Important Factors of Six Sigma Implementation

In the implementation of Six Sigma method, there are 5 critical success factors that must be considered by the company. Five factors are:

Full top level support

The concept of the Six Sigma method offers an achievement that corporate leaders can not resist. This method is complates by a very super person who knows exactly what to do.

A solid team

The existence of trained people, such as the Executive Champions, Deployment Champions, and Project Champions who are able to work on Six Sigma projects well.

An updated training program

The members of the Six Sigma program implementer always get special training aimed at the successful implementation of Six Sigma methods within the company.

Use of DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities) basis on new tools

DPMO is closely related to CTC (Critical to Quality) whose measurement is base on customer perceptions. Even and can be compare between divisions within a company.

Change the old traditions in the company

Creating new traditions in a company through continuous improvement activities for quality improvement. It is an important key to successful implementation of the Six Sigma method.