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Six Sigma

Implementation of a quality improvement process designed to reduce defects and improve quality and customer satisfaction. By utilizing a quality improvement model referred to as Six Sigma. Sigma is a mathematical term that describes how far a process deviates from perfection. The higher the Sigma level, the lower the rates of errors or defects that are found in a process. At the Six Sigma level, there are just 3.4 mistakes or defects for every million opportunities. A typical manufacturing process for example runs at Four Sigma, which equates to about 6,000 defects per million. That is, out of a million batteries, radios, wiring harnesses or tires coming off a typical assembly line, 6,000 would be defective in some way. There are many quality improvement models or methods that organizations have utilized over the years to make improvements to their manufacturing and management processes; however, only one is synonymous with constant reinvention of the business that is Six Sigma and this is my recommendation.
Six Sigma will come into play when employees who are responsible for a manufacturing process or a service identify a significant quality problem. A project team, led by a Six Sigma black belt, is then created. Black belts typically serve in that role for two years, although they can serve longer besides the black belt, the team includes people who work in or supervise a process every day and are the people who know and understand all the details. The team then uses statistical tools and logical, step-by-step methods to find and correct the root cause of the problem. The Six Sigma process follows five well-defined steps:
• Define: Determine what is wrong; set goals for improvement.
• Measure: Set a benchmark for tracking progress.
• Analyze: Seek the cause of the problem.
• Improve: Fix the cause.
• Control: Make the fix permanent.
Six Sigma uses employees specially trained in mathematical and scientific quality-improvement methods. There are...