Six Sigma What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a results-oriented, project focused approach to quality. Six Sigma is a way of measuring and setting targets for reductions in product or service defects that is directly connected to customer requirements.

Six Sigma Targets Sigma Defects per Million 1 690,000 2 308,733 1 690,000 2 308,733 3 66,803 4 6,210 5 233 6 3.4

The Six Sigma Process Decision by senior management to engage in the Six Sigma process Executive Seminar Selecting the “Champions” Special course for the “Champions” Process improvement teams

Black Belt Training Four or five weeks Each week of training is separated by three or four weeks during which teams apply the methods to the problem New methods are introduced during each week Black Belts present their work to the instructors and other Black Belts candidates

Five Steps Approach (DMAIC) Define: problem statement (Y= f(X)), mission statement for the project, critical to quality (CTQ) parameters, quality function deployment (QFD) Measure: measurement system analysis for variables and attributes, cost of poor quality, process capability analysis Analysis: root causes of the variation for Y, review of probability and statistics, non-normal distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation Improve: find the optimum level for X using various methods, e.g. experimental design Control: having optimal levels for the X’s, the input factors and optimal Y establish the control