What is Six Sigma?
Overview
Six Sigma is a Quality Assurance model which is customer-focused for continuous process improvement model. The model is used in Motorola, Inc and Toyota.
Six Sigma
The model focuses on Variance in the Process as compared to what the customer has specified. Six sigma measures defects in DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities) and aims at reducing the variation in the process down to 6 sigma of 3.4 DPMO, or 99.99966% yield.
6 Sigma aims at a very low defect rate, but not at zero defects. The methodology involves recognizing critical processes and the process measures that need to be known to focus improvement efforts.
The Six Sigma methodology produces high quality goods and services that satisfy customers and increase profits. It reduces defects and costs and cycle time. It has been successfully implemented in many organizations and is now recognized as a very powerful approach to customer satisfaction and increased profits.
The methodology focuses on the key processes that are of concern to customers, so that improvements in these directly impact customer satisfaction, market share, etc. The methodology depends on use of various tools and measurements.