Integrated Learning Project
Jamison Burks
Liberty University
August 21, 2015 3. Key Concepts
3.1 Six Sigma Six Sigma is a quality improvement philosophy and a methodology and collection of statistical techniques used to implement that philosophy. Six Sigma’s focuses on reducing or removing identifiable sources of changes in order to decrease the number of defects in a product. Six Sigma was developed by Bill Smith and was used to standardize the way in which defects are tallied (Meredith, 2013). As a new way of doing business, six sigma can have a significant impact on the end result of business. There are many way six sigma can be applied. For example, the scientific component of methodology is a structure approach that takes
…show more content…
Design can be related to the creation of products goods and services for the benefit of customer satisfaction. When a product is not created effectively the organization could be plagued with costly problems down the line. However, Six Sigma uses tools that will allow companies protection from future problems and widespread liabilities (Kumar et al., 2009). If an organization implements six sigma in well planned out and methodical way, the benefits for the organization could be endless and have a positive effect well into the future of the organization. Therefore, main focus of Six Sigma is to ensure speedy breakthrough performances, substantial financial outcomes, and to have long lasting effects. Another component of Six Sigma is Total Quality Management which focuses things such as strategy, process, and the end …show more content…
Theory of Constraints
3.6. Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a very popular and commonly used problem solving technique in business (Zhao & Hou, 2010). It is a technique that allows the people in an organization to work together to identify challenges, opportunities, determine outcomes, solve problems, and create innovative ideas. An advertising executive named Alex Osborn first developed the concept in the 1950’s. The basis for the development of brainstorming is the old saying “two heads are better than one.” When Osborn created the concept of brainstorming, he developed the four following guidelines:
1. Come up with as many ideas as you possibly can
2. Do not make fun of the ideas of others during the brainstorming session
3. Extend, improve, and/or combine on one another’s ideas
4. Express every idea no matter how weird or ridiculous they may
There are always pros and cons to any quality improvement methodology. For instance, the pros of Six Sigma tend to place extreme importance on leadership and its support for the success of the project. Another pro is the integration of different human elements, which include cultural change, and focus on the customer and their needs. “By using the concept of statistical thinking, Six Sigma encourages applications of statistical tools and techniques that reduce variability” (Harry, 2000). The cons of Six Sigma include, not having the quality data available, especially when a new process has been implemented without having the data available. Often the solutions that Six Sigma proposes can be costly and only a small
Six sigma is a quality management approach that places heightenedmanagerial attention on customer satisfaction and on seeking businessprocess improvements.
An early proponent of brainstorming was advertising guru Alex Osborn. In his 1948 book “Your Creative Power” Osborn encouraged quantity over quality when discussing idea. Indeed by following his advice to not criticize another’s ideas a group of ten advertisers came up with eighty-seven ideas for a drugstore in 90 minutes. While this idea a minute routine may have generated a few good slogans, allowing the group to discuss and debate the options
Brainstorming is a technique that has been used for many years. According to Osborn (1963), there are four rules to brainstorming that will reduce social inhibitions among team members, stimulate idea generation, and
Brainstorming has given birth to some of the world’s most incredible and progressive ideas, products and services. Yet it has antithetically filled many a classroom, board meeting and focus group with cold-blooded fear and trepidation for over seventy years!
Six Sigma was first introduced in the 1980’s by none other than Motorola. It was not however necessarily a novel concept at the time so much as it drew from a conglomerate of proven manufacturing principles. It is strikingly similar to the scientific method in design. Six Sigma approaches areas that may not necessarily be viewed as problematic with an open mind. It seeks to analyze problems or questions with a stepwise, statistical, and quantitative focus in order to discover, fix, or disprove problems that may or may not exist within a process. By doing this Six Sigma can improve efficiency and therefore improve positive outcomes for whatever the endpoint may be (Mast, Bisgaard, & others, 2007).
Six Sigma methodologies focuses on reducing variation to eliminate defects and have a standard output with less inventory (Kubiak & Benbow, 2009). Implementation of Six
The concept of Six Sigma was developed in the early 1980’s at Motorola Corporation (Harry and Schroeder, 2000). Six Sigma can be defined as a statistical measure of the performance of a process or product (Kumi et. al., 2006). It is used as a quality control mechanism, which seeks to reduce defects or variations in a process to 3.4 per million opportunities thereby optimizing output and increasing customer satisfaction (Sambhe, 2012). Sigma is representing the standard deviation, a unit of measurement that designates the distribution or spread about the mean of a process (Six Sigma Academy, 2002). In addition, the Six Sigma uniquely driven by close understanding of customer needs, disciplined use of fact, data, and statistical analysis, and diligent attention to managing improving, and reinventing business processes (Pande, P., et. al. 2000). The Six Sigma methodology uses statistical tools to identify the factors that matter most for improving the quality of processes and generating bottom-line results. The Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure,
New York • Atlanta • Brussels • Buenos Aires • Chicago • London • Mexico City
One of the common methods of sustaining quality while managing a project is the Six Sigma process. The Six Sigma system improves products or services by increasing shareholder value, refining quality, promptness, and cost, along with customer satisfaction (Laureani & Antony, 2012). The system is a business strategy that is driven by distinguishing the causes of errors or failures within business processes, and eliminating these causes to produce products and services that meets the client’s requests. The focus of the method is to uncover and resolve the root cause of an issue within an organization prior to issue influencing defects within the product or services being produced (Hunold, 2014). By eliminating the root cause of a problem, an organization can increase the quality of the products or services that are created, decrease cost to the organization, and increase customer satisfaction.
Although originally introduced by Motorola in 1986 as a quality performance measurement, six sigma has evolved into a statistically oriented approach to process and product quality improvement. Many organizations have reported significant benefits as a result of six sigma project implementation, though not all are yet success stories. Antony, J. and Banuelas, R. (2002) defines Six Sigma is a business strategy and a systematic methodology, use of which leads to breakthrough in profitability through quantum gains in product/service quality, customer satisfaction and
Six Sigma is a concept based on statistical method that measures a process in terms of defects. Achieving Six Sigma means your process is delivering only 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO). So your process will achieve near Zero Defect. Thus Six Sigma helps in achieving Process
The goal of Six Sigma is to increase profits by eliminating variability, defects and waste that undermine customer loyalty. (iSixSigma, 2016)
Many organizations use different methods to improves the performance, quality, and customer satisfaction to make the perfect products. Six Sigma is a one of the business process which used by statistical methods for removing defects in any process from manufacturing phase to deployment phase. Six Sigma approach was first proposed and developed by Motorola company in 1986. As it proved proven management strategy, which satisfies the customer needed all domains with a new technology. Six Sigma is a step by step project improvement approach where to select the project based on the organized strategy. It is a statistical tool and this process produce less than 3,4 errors per million opportunities. Six Sigma concept follows two procedures DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify) which are based on the Deming’s Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.
The Six Sigma improvement method is problem-focused and its main objectives are decreasing scrap, earning income and creating value (Saghaei et al, 2012). Motorola developed this concept in 1986. There were three meanings of six sigma provided by Brue (2006). It is the level of quality that a process assures, it is a problem solving methodology and lastly it is a management philosophy. Alternatively it is also said to be a project driven approach to process and product quality improvement (Ray and Das, 2010). This approach ensures the process to be 99.9996% defect free. The performance level of a project can be obtained by subtracting the average of readings of errors in a process from the given specification