| The sole purpose behind thinking Six Sigma is the | | | | The fundamental quality of thinking Six Sigma is |
| uncovering of the mystery of process variations. Six | | | | dependent on the ingenuity of all the professionals |
| Sigma professionals, starting from top down, must | | | | involved. Furthermore, it is through clear direction during |
| combine their goals so that they all think in unison about | | | | Six Sigma training that such qualities are honed for |
| 2 things: maximizing customer satisfaction and | | | | better. Here are several steps to help you develop the |
| minimizing wastage, both of which are the essence of | | | | Six Sigma mindset: |
| Six Sigma thinking. | | | | 1. Identifying A Problem: Realize that problems fall into |
| Six Sigma Mindset | | | | different categories. If one problem originates from |
| The Six Sigma mindset is a special state of mind | | | | customer, others are caused by internal organization |
| which looks at things in a rather critical way, analyzing | | | | reasons. Solving them requires developing a 'problem |
| rationally about the need for each elemental process | | | | focus,' involving data collection, measurement systems |
| and why and how they are what they are. | | | | and analyzing discrepancies. |
| Defining Six Sigma metrics and processes with | | | | 2. Finding The Problems To Attack: Segregate the |
| customer specifications as a target of achievement | | | | problems making use of available tools such as 'Pareto |
| brings out what can be called the skillful uncovering of | | | | Diagram'. |
| the process specifics that destabilize the end results. | | | | 3. Formulating Measures: Analyzing why each problem |
| The irrepressible urge to question things to tie up all | | | | could have occurred opens the doors on the steps |
| loose ends exposes the value of each of the process | | | | required to work them out. |
| steps. | | | | 4. Perfecting Countermeasures: Before short-listing |
| The guiding force behind defining and analyzing | | | | countermeasures for implementation, identify the |
| process steps is clearly the path to problem solving. | | | | discrepancies in them by trial and error. At this stage, |
| Naturally, a Black Belt or a Master Black Belt is inclined | | | | you must be open to possibly scrapping a measure |
| to interact with all persons involved in Six Sigma | | | | that fails and to start from scratch all over again. |
| implementation. Interpersonal skills take center stage as | | | | 5. Keeping The Wheel In Motion: When implementing |
| the mindset is focused on brainstorming to produce | | | | the now 'refined' procedure is complete, a Six Sigma |
| accurate data. A Six Sigma "belt" is never hesitant to | | | | "Belt" cannot relax. Using feedback from the line staff |
| make use of statistical tools. | | | | and upper management, interpreting the feedback |
| The Art Of Six Sigma Thinking And Creating The | | | | may expose further gaps in the process for |
| Mindset | | | | improvements. |