The Evolution Of Six Sigma And Lean Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a comprehensive strategy pursued by the organisations to bring about breakthrough improvements in their processes and products and services. Since it is a statistical tool and quantitatively measures the quality of processes, it is more of the real world and less theoretical.

At the core of six sigma, lies the concept of identifying the redundant processes in the internal and external value chain of an organisation and eliminating them to bring about a reduction in cost and adding more value to the output created by the organisation. Six sigma prescribes the tolerance for variation in output created by an organisation at 3.40 defective units in every one million units of output created.

Six Sigma involves continuous and persistent efforts on the part of the organisation to upgrade the quality and deliver greater value to the customer. Since six sigma is a measurement oriented approach, it enables the professionals to understand clearly in objective terms the current status of the organisation in regard to quality and also helps them in seeing where they are heading to.

Two methodologies are used in implementing six sigma in an organisation. One methodology is DMAIC, which is used for bringing in quality improving existing processes of the business and the second methodology is DMADV, which is used at creating new products and processes of high quality. The success attained by the corporate houses like Motorola who pioneered six sigma lured the organisations all over the world from all spheres of activities to implement six sigma and attain the notable improvements in cost and quality. As a result, the organisations have taken the initiative to introduce six sigma training programs for their professionals to tune up their skill set.

Several institutions independently provide for six sigma courses against a fee which can be pursued by the professionals who wish to add to their portfolio and sharpen their skills. The six sigma certifications which can be obtained for various levels like yellow belt, green belt black belt, masters in black belt on the basis of the degree of specialisation.

After attaining the six sigma black belt training the professional becomes a technical expert who can effectively ensure proper implementation of projects involving six sigma. A certified black belt is the leader who is responsible at the ground level to give material shape to the quality aspirations of the top management for the organisation with the help of the lower cadre of six sigma certified professionals’ black belt certification gives the professionals an edge over their peers and provides them with the much desired education for quality improvement.

A comparatively recent improvement over six sigma is the lean six sigma which combines the concept of lean speed with that of six sigma and uses the methodology of DMAIC of six sigma in implementation. Lean speed focused on introducing remarkable improvement in the speed and efficiency of the processes in the organisation and thereby bringing about a substantial reduction in the total lead time. This, in turn, results in a significant reduction in cost to the organisation as the non-value adding steps in the processes are eliminated. Now the organisations have shifted their focus on lean six sigma training and lean six sigma certification courses which can deliver greater value on account of the synergistic benefits of six sigma and lean speed.