Six Sigma in Engineering

Getting by in any business or industry sector has never been harder, which for the most part comes down to simple competition. No matter what it is you are doing or how well you think you are doing it, there’s always someone out there doing it better…and not charging as much for the results either.

Those looking to take a step forward to become one of the key players they’re always lagging behind could well benefit from the Six Sigma philosophy.

General performance is of course the make or break defining characteristic in the engineering industry. And despite the best efforts of most businesses to ensure only the highest standards are met at all times and output is consistent across the board, it often proves to be the case that the bar is set too low or too high – in any and all cases therefore the business suffers as a result.

Six Sigma training is different, and has already been implemented by some of the world’s biggest businesses which have revolutionised their output as a result. The Lean Six Sigma approach is one whereby each essential process is analysed in a statistical and quantifiable manner in order to accurately gauge when and where things stray below what’s considered normal or acceptable. These ‘defects’ as they are referred to in the methodology represent the exact areas in which efforts must be focused and improvements made in order for the business to move forward.

By utilizing the define, measure, analyse, improve and control process – aka the DMAIC – an engineering business is able to not only reduce errors and maximise output, but also minimise costs. What’s of crucial importance to remember is that in the engineering industry – just like many other industries – it’s rare that any two jobs will ever be the same or even similar in nature. As such, it’s difficult to use conventional approaches to optimisation and improvement.

What makes Six Sigma a unique methodology for doing business is the fact that it is 100% industry independent – it has never failed to bring a new dynamic each and every time implemented. All manner of engineering and manufacturing industries have begun applying the methodology, including automotive and aerospace leaders, the producers of consumer electronics and various manufacturers of healthcare equipment.

Some of the specific benefits brought along by Six Sigma training courses include:

The ability to produce higher quality products faster and cheaper
The minimising of waste
Better use of all assets and resources across every essential department
Maximising sales while minimising marketing efforts
Reducing costs across the business and eliminating non-essential costs
Nurturing more dynamic and efficient employees
Boosting customer service and overall satisfaction

In order for any project to reach its full potential for the lowest costs and with the greatest efficiency, those involved in its implementation must understand its specifics in fine detail. This is precisely what Six Sigma certification empowers project managers and other key players to do in all areas of their work, facilitating wall to wall improvements.