What is Six Sigma ?

Six Sigma consists of the following phrases:

Define Phase

• Define customers and requirements
• Brainstorm: What are the problems of the process?
• Brainstorm: What are the goals and benefits of the project?
• Define the measures that you'll use to determine effectiveness of the project.
• Project Charter: Includes business case, problem and goal statements, project scope, milestones, roles and responsibilities, communication plan.
• Develop high level process maps for a target process
• Describes suppliers, inputs, process, outputs and customers./SIPOC

Measure Phase

• Define defect, opportunity, unit and metrics
• Develop detailed process map to identify areas where data collection should take place
• Develop data collection plan
• Validate measurement system with MINITAB. Link the output here.
• Collect data, begin developing Y = f(x) relationship using MINITAB. Link the output here.
• Determine process capability and sigma baseline with MINITAB. Link the output here.

Analyze Phase

• Define performance objectives
• Flowchart: Identify value and non-value added process steps
• Identify source of variation with MINITAB. Link the output here
• Determine root cause
• Determine Key input variables and the Y = f(X) relationship between the input and the output variables with MINITAB. Link the output

Improve Phase

• Brainstorm potential solutions
• Mapping the potential process
• DOE planning sheet: Design of experiment
• Perform design of experiment to try out potential solutions. Link the output here.
• FMEA: Assess failure mode of potential solutions
• Pilot study: Collect data from the potential process and analyze them with MINITAB to validate improvement. Link to output here.
• Correct potential process

Control Phase

• Collect data and make control charts for key measurements with MINITAB. Link the output here.
• Calculate process capability with MINITAB. Link the output here.
• Develop a control plan for on-going improvement
• Develop transfer plan and handoff to process owner
• Calculate cost and savings
• Close project and finalize document.