| The term "Six Sigma" may seem difficult to | | | | an average, Six Sigma Black Belts help companies |
| comprehend at times, but is actually very easy to | | | | save $ 230,000 per project. Given that most |
| explain. The term is derived from a character in the | | | | companies can execute 4 to 6 such projects per year, |
| Greek alphabet, which is used for representing a | | | | the total savings can translate into $ 920,000 to $ |
| standard variation in statistical mathematics. Statistically, | | | | 1,380,000 per year. |
| Six Sigma can be defined as a near perfect method | | | | Selection Process |
| of production that restricts the number of defects to | | | | After selecting the most appropriate type of training, a |
| less than 3.4 for every million opportunities that exist | | | | company needs to find the right consultant who has |
| for a defect to occur. This makes Six Sigma one of | | | | the necessary skills and experience in implementing Six |
| the preferred quality management techniques for | | | | Sigma programs. The selection of the training |
| achieving near perfect business processes through | | | | consultant will depend on the type of Six Sigma |
| process improvement. | | | | program that the company is planning to implement. |
| Data Driven And Disciplined Approach | | | | Some programs are implemented all throughout an |
| Six Sigma follows a disciplined and data driven | | | | organization whereas others are implemented in a |
| approach for eliminating defects in any type of | | | | specific area only such as individual functional |
| business process, whether it is the product | | | | departments. The decision regarding the selection of |
| manufacturing process or after sale customer service. | | | | the consultant needs to be made only after consulting |
| The two most commonly used methodologies in quality | | | | other employees, as they are the ones who will |
| improvement projects are the DMAIC process (define, | | | | eventually interact with the consultant during the |
| measure, analyze, improve, control) and the DMADV | | | | implementation process. |
| process (define, measure, analyze, design, verify). The | | | | After getting approval from the employees, it is |
| former is used for improving the quality of business | | | | advisable to seek references from business |
| processes that have not met customer specifications | | | | associates in other companies that have implemented |
| and require improvement. The latter is used for | | | | such projects and can provide the necessary insights. |
| developing new products or business processes that | | | | Companies need to interview potential trainers and ask |
| conform to Six Sigma quality levels. Both the | | | | questions regarding their previous work relationships, |
| processes are carried out under the guidance of Six | | | | referrals, total number of candidates trained by them till |
| Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, who in | | | | date, training materials used, earlier projects they have |
| turn are guided by Six Sigma Master Black Belts. | | | | worked on, and their qualifications. This is essential |
| Companies often want to know exactly how many | | | | since companies need trainers with a great deal of |
| benefits can be derived from Six Sigma training. Just | | | | real-world experience. Companies need to inquire in |
| to get an idea, one can look at the financial data of | | | | depth about the type of training that the trainer is willing |
| General Electric, one of the companies that have | | | | to provide. Usually, companies prefer training firms that |
| successfully implemented Six Sigma training. It is | | | | operate online help desks for helping clients in dealing |
| estimated that the total value of benefits derived from | | | | with problems that might arise after the training has |
| the training was close to a staggering $ 10 billion in the | | | | been completed. |
| five years after implementation. It is estimated that on | | | | |