Sigma Series
Six Sigma Is About More Than Just Number Crunching
Top executives who know only that Six Sigma is famous and
popular have called for the implementation of Six Sigma
programs, and, of course, want to see numbers. They may become
very enamored with the copious numbers that Six Sigma produces.
Unfortunately, they may not want to see more than just a series
of reports and may not understand that Six Sigma is about so
much more than crunching numbers and generating reports.
Certainly, Six Sigma is about number crunching. In Six Sigma,
first you define your problem and your project, and then you
measure your process from start to finish. Six Sigma produces a
flood of data about your process. These measurements are
critical to your success. If you don’t measure it, you can’t
manage it. Through those measurements and all of that data, you
begin to understand your process and develop methodologies to
identify and implement the right solutions to improve your
process. Six Sigma’s clear strength is a data-driven analysis
and decision-making process–not someone’s opinion or gut
feeling.
However, those who know Six Sigma have learned enough to be wary
of excessive “number crunching” that does not lead to
performance improvement. It is not the measurements or the
reports that create solutions; it is the Six Sigma team itself.
Once a problem’s root causes are determined in the analysis
phase of a Six Sigma project, the team works together to find
creative new improvement solutions. The data is used and relied
upon–it is the measurements of the realities you face! Yet it
is smart measurement and smart analysis of the data–and above
all the smart creation of new improvement solutions and their
implementation–that create real change.
Six Sigma is more than a data-capturing, number-crunching
process. It is a philosophy and a methodology; it is a way of
looking at business and a way of doing business processes. Six
Sigma provides a structured data-driven methodology with tools
and techniques by application of which companies can measure the
baseline performance of their processes and determine the root
causes of variations, as well as improve their processes to meet
and exceed the desired performance levels. Six Sigma is a
technique to introduce controlled thinking into a continuous
change management method. It is a desire to constantly improve a
product or service offered.
The value of statistical analysis cannot be underestimated. How
can an organization improve if it does not have an established
baseline? How can an organization determine if it has made
progress if there is no data to indicate improvement?
Measurement of activity (lead times, cycle times, failure rates,
downtimes, etc.) is very important. Using these measurements to
understand the variability in your processes is substantially
better than the ad hoc it-doesn’t-feel-right approach. However,
without thorough knowledge and skills of how to use statistics
in a business environment, all of the number crunching in the
world won’t create real change. Ultimately, business process
improvement is achieved through the acquisition of knowledge.
Since knowledge is a commodity that people acquire,
organizations must recognize their people as their most valued
assets. Well-trained people gather the knowledge that leads to
quality improvement. Through the effective deployment of Six
Sigma, the utilization of people can improve process
performance, affect product and service quality, positively
influence customer satisfaction, and ensure long-term business
success.
Yes, you do have to know statistics well, but you also need to
know the business needs of your organization to make Six Sigma a
success. Six Sigma is a big job that encompasses the entire
organization; it isn’t just a set of mathematical tools or a
separate function done by bean counters. Properly envisioned as
a philosophy of quality improvement, Six Sigma helps everyone in
the organization become more efficient and productive
About the Author
Peter Peterka is President of Six Sigma http://www.6sigma.us and has over
15 years as Six Sigma Black Belt http://www.6si
gma.us/six-sigma-black-belt.php with a variety of
organizations.
Makeup Tutorials Intro- Sigma Series