| Six Sigma is a quality improvement methodology. Six | | | | molders: |
| Sigma is also a "brand name", used by thousands of | | | | Improvements related to in-process inspection |
| consultants, but the trademark is owned by Motorola. | | | | effectiveness, Increased weigh-count throughput, |
| That is why you see it capitalized when it is used by | | | | Cycle time and scrap reduction, Help reduce process |
| Motorola and in lower-case letters otherwise. | | | | variation and costs. |
| Why is it called six sigma? | | | | This is not only something that benefits large |
| Because sigma is a long-standing symbol used by | | | | corporations, it can be tailored to suit small and medium |
| engineers, mathematicians, and statisticians as a unit to | | | | sized companies as well. A good example of this is |
| measure statistical variation. Sigma is Greek for the | | | | GW Plastics, in Bethel, Vermont. |
| letter 'S'. Why 'six'? It refers to the amount of deviation | | | | Six Sigma is a top-down program It is common |
| from the common bell curve used to measure change. | | | | knowledge that a program such as this will only work if |
| Six sigma represents "almost perfect", or 3.4 defects | | | | there is an absolute commitment from top |
| per million. | | | | management. It is a complicated, time consuming and |
| So, if you count those bars to the right of the top of a | | | | somewhat expensive program to become involved |
| bell curve, you get six sigma. What that represents is | | | | with. The rewards can be huge though, and the |
| the deviation from perfect. Obviously, if you are | | | | company bottom line will show it. |
| making plastic parts, you would be very happy indeed | | | | There are many, many companies offering six sigma |
| if you could have only 3.4 defective parts per million! | | | | services. There is even one called Motorola University, |
| That is what this is all about. It is a method that enables | | | | the same people who developed this in the first place! |
| you to measure your processes in order to improve | | | | You can earn your "green belt" or "black belt" and |
| your bottom line. | | | | become a trainer by taking online courses as well. This |
| One reason it is difficult to define six sigma is because | | | | is certainly the most popular quality improvement |
| it means different things to different people and | | | | program in history. It is not a "flash in the pan", though |
| different industries. It was originally developed by | | | | some companies fail to follow through and realize the |
| Motorola as a way to improve manufacturing, but it | | | | benefits. It really encompasses the best of the quality |
| soon grew to include management and service | | | | programs that have preceded it and can help your |
| industries, such as banking. | | | | company in many ways. |
| Here are some benefits reported by several injection | | | | |