If you own or manage a business, you might have come across the term six Sigma. When used right, it can be a perfect tool and help a business boost efficiency. Here’s what you need about lean six sigma business methodology and how to make the most of it to make your business more efficient.
What is Six Sigma?
It is a set
of management tools and techniques that were designed to enhance business
growth and success by reducing the probabilities of errors. It is a data-driven
approach that makes use of a statistical methodology to get rid of defects.
What is
Lean Six Sigma?
While Six
Sigma is primarily used to reduce prices variation and boost process control,
lean six Sigma drives out waste (processes and procedures that aren’t adding
any value) while promoting work standardization and flow. It is also a
fact-based, data-driven philosophy of improvement where defect prevention is
the focus, not just the detection of defects.
How Lean
Can Six Sigma Help?
As Lean Six
Sigma can help businesses to prevent defects, it helps boost customer
satisfaction and increases bottom-line results by reducing waste, cycle time,
and variation while promoting the use of work standardization and flow. It can
give businesses a considerable competitive advantage.
Can You
Integrate Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma?
Yes, you
can integrate lean and Six Sigma. The smartest way to do that is to implement
the lean approach first. It will make the workplace/business operations as
efficient as possible and reduce waste. You can use value stream maps to
improve understanding and throughput. If the problem(s) is still there, you can
implement more technical Six Sigma statistical tools.
How to
Ensure Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma Really Make Your Business More Efficient?
Anthony and
Banuelas (2002) and Banuelas Coronado and Anthony (2002) presented the main ingredients
for the effective introduction and implementation of the Six Sigma program in
UK manufacturing and services organizations. You can use these to ensure lean
six Sigma and six Sigma really make your business more efficient.
· The management should be fully
committed to the task and be incredibly involved at every step of the way.
· The ones leading the change should
have a deep understanding of Six Sigma methodology, tools, and techniques.
· The focus should be on linking Six
Sigma to business strategy and linking Six Sigma to customers.
· It is also essential to link Six
Sigma to suppliers.
· Adequate training should be provided
to all involved
· It is also advised that organizations
should consider linking Six Sigma to human resources (Wyper & Harrison,
2000).
Other
Suggestions
Johnson and
Swisher (2003) provided useful implementation tips for successful Six Sigma
applications. They are:
· Continuing education and training of
managers and participants.
· Sustained and visible management commitment.
· Pick and select strategically
important projects.
· Set clear expectations and select
project leaders carefully for leadership skills.
· Sounds interesting, join a Lean Six
Sigma Course from the options provided here.
If you are
looking to make a career in Six Sigma, you can probably work for one of these
Canadian Six Sigma companies.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma
https://www.simplilearn.com/what-is-six-sigma-a-complete-overview-article
https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/success-factors-managing-six-sigma-projects-8293
https://asq.org/quality-resources/six-sigma#:~:text=Six%20Sigma%20is%20a%20method,quality%20of%20products%20or%20services.