What is Six Sigma? ...and DMAIC

Motorola introduced the idea of Six Sigma to reduce defects, and match the quality standards their competitors were able to achieve. So, what is Six Sigma?

Originally, Six Sigma was a metric for a quality standard. Now, it is much more. You can see Six Sigma as a:
• methodology to achieve quality
• toolset for business improvement
• management approach that dominates the company’s culture
• basis for a huge consulting and training business

Six Sigma offers performance improvement processes on top of existing processes. The Six Sigma method focuses on understanding customers' requirements better and eliminating defects and waste.

The Benefits of Six Sigma
The primary benefits are:
• Improved quality
• Reduced waste
• And therefore reduced cost
• And increased customer satisfaction

Training for Six Sigma
Six Sigma training uses the metaphor of colored belts, lifted from Japanese martial arts.
Yellow Belt
Typically one to two weeks’ training to learn to use the basic tools of Six Sigma.
Green Belt
Typically two to three weeks’ additional training, to handle problem-solving tasks, leading small teams. Green belts often do much of the work on a Six Sigma initiative.
Black Belt
Black belts lead six sigma teams. You typically need
• Extra 2 to 4 weeks’ training,
• experience of 2 or more 6-s projects
• passing a test
Master Black Belt
Train, mentor, and advise black belts.

A Peerless Toolset
Six sigma has a large toolset of business performance improvement tools:
• DMAIC problem solving (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control)
• DMADV design process (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, Verify)
• 5 Whys
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) analysis
• SIPOC – Supplier, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customer
• 5 Cs
• Box Plots

Relevance to Project Management
Six Sigma process improvement projects tend to be 3-6 months in duration and follow the DMAIC lifecycle (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control).
It is typically led by a Six Sigma Black belt, working on the project full time, with Green belt team or workstream leaders.

Recommended Videos
Carefully curated video recommendations for you:
These are about other ideas from Japanese manufacturing, and answer the question, What is...
- Lean Project Management?
- 5S?
- Kanban?
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - FMEA?

A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list.
Note that the links are affiliated.

#Project #ProjectManagement #SixSigma

[pudelinocacalat]

Finally a face-up explanation for someone that first hears about this methodology and certification.

[michaelmuvirimi]

Thank you for this clear, short and straight to the point video!

[hilaryodinamba]

I was here for the Delphi technique. Now, I'm back for six sigma. Many thanks.

[Robylazarus]

Brilliant explanation Bought it down to the very basics that even the lay can understand.... Thank you.

[raymondpetermatamba]

Very well explained. Thank you so very much.

[jackbire]

Thank you so much for very precise explanation. I wish you can contentualise the six sigma concept with a specific scenario to make it precisely clearly to appreciate the beauty of the management concept.

[legendaryxk]

Beautiful explanation thx much appreciated

[calebgodard]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[urbanlegendsandtrivia]

Hello again from Yorktown, Virginia. Happy New Year! I will finish my master's degree in less than two weeks. I am starting to study for the Lean Six Sigma White Belt. Do you think this is a good idea still, and do you have any recommendations for the best website? Thank you.

[boutkarmissthicham]

hi thank you for the explanation its clear and easy to understand the meaning where to get the training and the belt pls

[datascience]

Hello, thanks for the video. I have a conceptual doubt. Six sigma is a lot about reducing defect rate, like you say in the video. In many case studies though, I have seen that the goal was to reduce recruitment time, increase production and other things related to VOP. When this happens, let's say reducing recruitment time at a maximum of 3 days, can I still calculate cpk using 3 days as spec limit? I ask you because in this case spec wouldn't come directely from voice of customer but from voice of business.

[ragnaazure]

Wasn't Six Sigma the name of that anime style GI Joe remake?

[adamnottingham]

That quick to get a black belt!? Joking, we’re on a 5 day solid course covering green belt. Which we need to provide live projects

[katherinahumada]

Could six sigma work for me as employee of a company that don’t use six sigma in their processes?

[mohamedmoideen]

Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO): 3.401

[michaelluchesi]

This is not correct, some training also provides white & brown belts, 3.4 million defects per 3 sigma is the goal not 4 million over 6 sigma.

[michalkorecky]

I'm very shocked at how many defects (millions) without sigma six I have in the company, we didn't know it before.
Wouldn't be enough if everyone did their job just properly?
There would be no need for these empty chatters...

[Stovetopcookie]

On the devils advocate, so I can’t you just write your specifications so loose that you have no defects?

[drtonyburns]

"Six Sigma Champions are con men "
“All you have is smoke and mirrors ...”
- Creator of Six Sigma, Mikel Harry

[Alan-lvrw]

Six Sigma sucks. My company adopted it and everyone left.