The International Society for Six Sigma Certifications, LLC Certified Training, Consulting & Mentoring LEAN Six Sigma and Process Management
Frequently Asked Questions about Six Sigma What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a customer-focused and data-driven approach to problem solving and process improvement. It is a tool to help Information Technology (IT) deliver on Operating Imperatives and helps your company ‘walk the talk’ on your desired culture. Is Six Sigma all about statistics? No, it’s all about the customer and what it takes to satisfy their needs. Statistical tools are a fundamental part of Six Sigma and it helps bring about objective knowledge of business problems and solutions that work. Six Sigma’s aim is to “fix business problems for the last time’”. Can any project be a Six Sigma project? No. Typically, Six Sigma projects address situations where the cost, quality or delivery of a process is not meeting the customer needs and the solution is not known. Six Sigma utilizes three methods to manage these projects, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) and Lean (Discover and eliminate unnecessary steps within a process). What is DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control)? The Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) methodology has five steps: 1.
Define the customer requirements, clarify the problem and set goals.
2.
Measure the current processes and collect relevant data for future comparison.
3.
Analyze to verify root causes and determine the relationship while considering all factors.
4.
Improve to generate and apply solutions. Modify existing processes or develop better better processes.
5.
Control by monitoring to assure continued high-quality performance.
What is DFSS (Design for Six Sigma)? Once Six Sigma is implemented and functioning, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) then considers the customers’ needs and the needs of the business to find the appropriate solution. What is Lean (Discover and eliminate unnecessary steps within a process)? Lean Six Sigma methodology involves using tools from Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma to improve quality more quickly.
1
Is Six Sigma the same as Project Management Methodology? No. Project Management Methodology is about managing projects. Six Sigma focuses on process improvement. All Six Sigma projects must be built on a solid Project Management Methodology and Six Sigma is not a replacement. We use Six Sigma tools within the framework of the Project Management Methodology to help execute projects more efficiently and with a more customer-driven approach. What are the responsibilities of Green Belts? There are several ways that Six Sigma Green Belts deliver value to its customers. Green Belts dedicate approximately 20% of their time assisting Black Belt projects, applying Six Sigma tools and thinking within their teams’ routine deliverables or completing Six Sigma projects within their team. Additionally, Green Belts use their skills to propose projects into the project pipeline.
Where should I look for Six Sigma project opportunities? Six Sigma projects typically address a business problem that keeps a process from producing optimal results in cost, quality, or delivery in the eyes of your customer. The following are the most frequent situations to look for:
Prevalent complaints or negative survey responses from customers (poor quality, missed deadlines, high costs, etc.)
Rework and manual intervention have become the norm
Long cycle times and multiple hand-offs exist
Output quality is unpredictable
“Variety” is killing efficiency
What Six Sigma teaching programs do you offer? We offer Six Sigma curriculum for 1-2 weeks (or longer) that focus on the the traditional--or classic--Six Sigma where all the tools are taught.
We also offer public courses that last only 3 or 5 days (Applied Six Sigma Green Belt & Applied Six Sigma Black Belt). We have taken the core tools used by the belts 80% of the time and redeveloped the materials around teaching them, instead of the full 80 tools that most belts never even use. We have streamlined the delivery method and leaned the delivery content and process. This class is effective and you come away with the knowledge to start working as a belt right away. We require students to bring a real-world project to class so they may learn how to apply the methodology and tools to a current project in which they are knowledgeable. The instructor takes time to mentor each student with their project to ensure proper application of the tools and methodology. Our teaching methodology focuses on the needs of the business professional – not on teaching methodology that’s not going to be used in real practices.
2
We also provide our students with additional reference material with the full body of knowledge via the Indiana Counsel text books in addition to our own materials. Additionally, students are able to receive help from ISSSC with quick questions regarding their projects or help with some tools. We strive on developing relationships with our students. We also offer in-house training and implementation by request. We can train your team in-house at a location of your choosing—either on site or closer to your your business. We can also customize a course to fit the needs of your team. What is the difference between Six Sigma and Total Quality Management (TQM)? Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma incorporate the best of TQM (and other quality processes of the past), with with the exclusion of some additional tools, a solid infrastructure and a prescriptive methodology. Why should I learn Six Sigma when I already know TQM? Because TQM doesn’t have the prescriptive framework and step by step processes that yield significant long term improvements in processes.
3
