Today we are here to talk about characteristics of Six Sigma. We explain what Six Sigma is, what its main objectives and requirements are. In addition, its characteristics, advantages and tools.Six sigma or six sigma is a type of business strategy that has as its objective or purpose quality control in a specific area , department or company.
It is oriented towards the satisfaction of both internal and external customers. In turn, in order to implement this strategy , different points are carried out such as cost reduction , generation of opportunities, capture of new markets , products and processes without defects, measurement and analysis of processes, improvement of the areas of operation. , high levels of quality, benefits for both shareholders and employees of the company, high levels of customer and market satisfaction and implementation of innovative solutions.
It has a philosophy of excellence in which a lot is demanded of all staff but a lot is also provided. In short, this project or method focuses on the optimization of processes to obtain better results and a quality of excellence that aims at the complete satisfaction of the clients.
What Characteristics Of Six Sigma have?
1. objective
Six sigma promotes short-term goals.
The main objective of this market strategy is to achieve near perfection of performance levels in a given process and for a specific product.
This improvement system promotes short-term objectives . The latter allows a reduction in claims by customers, lower costs, improvements in communication with customers and increased reliability and loyalty of these. In other words, the six sigma strategy responds to both the needs of the company and those of the client.
2. Committed leadership
This type of leadership is pyramidal, that is, it is committed to the project from above (from the top) downwards . Therefore, this project must be understood and shared by all members of the organization from the top to the less complex jobs.
3. Requirements
Basic and sophisticated tools should be available to staff.
There are 4 basic requirements for six sigma to be carried out:
- The teamwork . Each functional unit of the company is essential for the business process to function. Therefore, isolated work does not work in this type of strategy.
- Employee training. The employees must be trained and trained by the company to optimize time and benefit the company.
- Basic and sophisticated tools. Regardless of the type of company in question, basic and sophisticated tools must be available to all company personnel.
- Communication with clients. Customer satisfaction is the central pillar of the company and the central objective of the six sigma strategy, therefore the company’s gaze must always take the customer into account.
4. Efficiency and customer satisfaction
The six sigma operates with a 99.9% efficiency and effectiveness . This guarantees a very high efficiency in the results obtained. It can also measure the different requirements or expectations of those customers called “critical customers” to achieve higher levels of quality .
5. Methodology
A qualitative analysis favors the search for optimization of the results.
The project is based on a quantifiable, measurable and robust methodology . However, it is always convenient to apply a qualitative analysis since it favors the search for the optimization of the results.
6. Protagonists
Within the methodology, there are different protagonists. These work in hierarchical order:
- Champion. They are, literally, the figure of the project. They must have extensive knowledge since it is they who lead the different teams. These are the ones who must obtain significant results and generate projects. They are negotiators, facilitators and figures that link the management with the work team. They are also responsible for obtaining the resources.
- Master Black Belt (or master black belt). Also known as the experts who lead the Black Belts. This group of people are selected and trained members who have been Black Belts before and are well aware of their roles and opportunities. Has managerial and leadership skills. From it, habits should be promoted towards the rest of the organization.
- Black Belt or black belt. They spend many hours of their time on company projects. They must train, inspire and lead as well as take responsibility for the six sigma project. They must be born leaders with character and empathy at the same time.
- Green Belt or green belt. They are specialized people who dedicate their time to different projects and have a certain degree of specialization in certain processes. It is they who must apply the tools and concepts of six sigma in a real way in daily activities.
- Yellow Belt or yellow belt. Its objective is to transmit the principles of the methodology.
7. Six sigma cycles or phases
In the fourth phase, the team is trained to then start the process.
For this type of strategy, there are different life cycles that can be divided into phases or stages.
- Phase No. 1. During this phase the project is identified and selected.
- Phase No. 2. The work team is constituted or conformed .
- Phase nº 3. The frame of the document is framed. Limits, goals, prohibitions, etc. are established.
- Phase No. 4. The team is trained.
- Phase no. 5. Starting the process.
- Phase no. 6. Transfer to resolution.
8. Advantage
Throughout the times that this method has been implemented, different advantages have been rescued, among them, the most notable are:
- You can measure the problem and validate it. Every problem must be measurable.
- It focuses on both the internal and external customer.
- Bring out bad habits in people and promote change.
- Measurement of results and verification of their impact.
9. Tools
Six sigma organizes information, obtains data and analyzes it.
The tools are those techniques that help in the understanding, management and improvement of a certain process. The six sigma tools are:
- They generate ideas and organize information.
- They get relevant data.
- Data processing.
- Statistical analysis of the data.
- Implementation and management of processes.
10. Communication
The whole system is based on a central axis: communication between employees . This guarantees support, understanding and a high commitment both inside and outside the organization.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Lean Six Sigma/Characteristics Of Six Sigma
After seeing this methodology, it sounds very attractive to have a set of strategies, which will improve production and make my clients happy . If you are not yet convinced, we bring you some of the advantages of using this method, but we also have to mention the negative aspects that Lean Six Sigma can bring to our company.
Advantages of Lean Six Sigma
This tool should be part of the companies’ strategy due to the benefits it brings. This gives us several advantages, such as having efficient processes , improving the quality of the company’s products, automation in the way we work, reducing expenses and increasing satisfaction for our customers. Although this methodology is very time-consuming, it helps us to, in addition to everything we mentioned, have an advantage in the market .
Disadvantages of Lean Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma, has disadvantages in terms of feasibility, this because the companies that decide to use this methodology, begin to work to the letter as expected of the methodology, which could end creativity in the work area, which does not benefit any company.
Another negative aspect is the fact of the investment that the company has to make to achieve this objective. And it is not so easy to say, it also depends on how the company’s workers are trained , they should also know what the company should expect from them.
