Six Sigma is a set of tools and techniques to improve the production process, eliminate defects, and guarantee quality. The term Six Sigma is taken from statistics, specifically from statistical quality control, it evaluates process capability. Initially, it was used in manufacturing processes to produce an optimum output with specific specifications.
In 1986 a senior Engineer and Scientist Bill Smith of Motorola introduced the concept of six sigma. The purpose of this concept was to standardize the way defects were counted. Six sigma was created as a continuous quality improvement technique from manufacturing to support function.
Today also Motorola continues to implement six sigma throughout its enterprise. , through Motorola University, it extends the benefit of its Six Sigma expertise to other organizations.
Six Sigma is a systematic approach and methodology devised based on data to reduce defects In any process from manufacturing section to transactional section and from product to service.
Six Sigma promotes the quantitative measurement targets over qualitative markers. The employees using statistics, financial analysis, and project management are most engaged with six sigma.
Six Sigma consists of several key elements:
- Focus to develop the process of continuous business improvement without any deviation.
- Philosophy – process inputs determine and control the by Process outputs
- The measure of Success – 3.4 defects are acceptable per million opportunities
- Approach – define, measure, analyze, improve and control Known as DMAIC
- Fuel – methodology is developed keeping in mind the continuous process improvement.
With the help of the defined methodology, six sigma can improve new and existing processes.
DMAIC – This method is used in improving existing processes. The acronyms are derived from the stages of the method as:- define, measure, analyze, improve and control. The problem is looked at objectively and the fact-based statistical analysis is used to find ways to improve them.
DMADV – This acronym is derived from- define, measure, analyze, design, and verify. This method is used to develop a new product or service. This can also be used to redesign a process that has reached its limits. This method is used to identify and translate customer needs into a product or service that satisfies the customer.
Type of Six Sigma Jobs
Six Sigma jobs are not industry-specific so there is a variety of industries that offer six sigma jobs. Nowadays large organizations have a separate department for Six Sigma. A Six Sigma certification from a reputable institute gives a boost to the career and opens up opportunities. Six Sigma professionals excel at statistics and are trained to be analytical. They are talented enough to find ways around problems.
limitations of Six Sigma
The six sigma approach is one for all and is stringent at times especially for organizations that are creative and innovative. And employees working innovatively often find six sigma a barrier to ideas. Technically it does not allow introducing new ideas and methods even if it’s beneficial. It disbars experiments. And most importantly it leaves a key component of humans and how they impact and work through different obstacles
Six Sigma Career Prospects
Six Sigma Certification in Call Centers
Nowadays a call center is a must for every industry. It is the hub of interactions between the company and its customers. With being virtual in every phase of customer assistance multiple channels of communication including online chat portals, social media, and email have evolved. And six sigma methodology is ideal for call center customer service.
Quick resolutions, reduced wait time, and customer satisfaction, etc are the different metrics where the Six sigma team collects and analyses the data with a root cause study to improve the customer relationship.
Now call centers are adopting six sigma techniques, so the six sigma certification has increased demand as the largest and most respected names require professionals for their Call Centers like Apple, Amazon, Starbucks, Netflix, and many more.
Six Sigma Certification in Construction
Construction companies have a lot many processes that are coordinated with a large labor force. When potential dangerous scenarios are involved there is no room for mistakes as the defects and safety breaches affect the companies profit and also the companies reputation. The Six Sigma Process reduces defects to only 3.4 per million opportunities. Six sigma certification teaches employees to work as teams and identify the defects and work on them and it is considered a small investment for large returns, As a result of six sigma application, the construction sites are safer, the labor force is better managed and dangerous errors have reduced the quality of buildings are better and there are happy satisfied customers.
Six Sigma and Distribution Any company can manufacture and distribute the product with six sigma efficiency. Efficient supply chain management is critical to the distribution of products. Once six sigma methods are used to perfect the supply chain method the products are made available to the customer in a fixed time, thus increasing the customer satisfaction of timely delivery.
Six Sigma Certification in eCommerce
Ecommerce in short is online buying and selling. The advantages of eCommerce include all the disadvantages of the geographical limitations of geographically located shops. Six sigma helps to achieve the objective goals of the company. As six sigma eliminates error and reduces the customer wait time thus customers start to notice and develop brand loyalty for the product.
Six sigma in Engineering
Engineering is a very complex process. It involves people, projects, and complex processes. In such a scenario six sigma becomes essential for maintaining and obtaining efficiency. With various analyses through six sigma the areas of defects are identified and reduced, engineers are the ones that create the products and process to manufacture the product, six sigma provides a positive quality driven change to increase the quality productivity.
Six sigma in Field Services
Examples of field services include installation mechanisms, repairs, mining maintenance of all types. These services are performed on clients’ property or on the way to clients’ property. Coordination of field service is tricky and very important. When six sigma tools and methods are practiced by field agents, the right employees come to the right place at the right time thus helping the client and efficiently increasing customer satisfaction.
Six Sigma Certifications in Finance and Banking
In the financial world, there is no room for errors; every error has a cost. Six Sigma provides a strategy to eliminate errors and work efficiently. Proper training is given to staff to help reduce costs and increase revenue. The rework involved and the recheck needed all are placed inlined with processes as per the six sigma methods keeping the compliance in place thus helping to bring down the excessive expenditure
Six sigma in Food Service
Six sigma is very important in food Service, food being a perishable item has to be ordered based on the demand or consumption. There are a lot of things that need to be checked like hygiene and health ingredients measurements, cooking time, and food temperature. Six sigma helps to streamline the process and that creates the chain of food being offered ingredients used quality and freshness and overall customer satisfaction. By eliminating all the wastage and maintaining the time and temperature requirements.
Six sigma in Government organization
Six sigma methods train government employees to improve the processes that are used to deliver services to the public which not only helps the economy but also satisfies the customers thus instilling confidence in people. Since government processes are large-scale to help everyone it is necessary to apply six sigma to develop processes and reduce wastage. The ultimate goal of six sigma in a government organization is to reduce defects and provide a smooth service to customers.
Six Sigma in Healthcare & Medicine
It is an industry where errors, wastage, and delay cannot be tolerated. Six sigma in healthcare institutes helps to create a safe environment by reducing delays and improving patient care. There are a lot of health care processes that use six sigma to provide customer satisfaction and smooth administration. With new technology coming in place and shortage of workers and an aging population, six sigma device mechanisms wherein better health services are provided with lower costs.
Six Sigma in Hospitality
Hospitality is an industry completely based on customer service. Many hospitality organizations have opted for the six sigma methodology to cater to the customer and to administer their organization. As hospitality relies on customer satisfaction to anticipate and meet the needs of the guest, six sigma is very important as managing the inventory and earning customer satisfaction.
Six sigma in Human Resources (H.R.)
The HR department of an organization is involved in various activities such as hiring, compensations, orientations, rewards and recognition, legal expectations, and formal complaints. Analyzing and assessing are the hallmark of six sigma, it is used at every step to provide an error-free work environment and increase the productivity of employees.
Six Sigma in Information Technology (I.T.)
A fast-paced industry with technology change process improvement is vital. The IT industry implements six sigma at the core processes like product development and maintenance, bugs and errors increase costs and six sigma helps in eliminating those. Many IT companies after adopting six sigma have seen drastic improvement and customer satisfaction.
Six Sigma in Manufacturing
Manufacturing and six sigma go hand in hand. Even six sigma has its origin in a manufacturing company.
Once the process is adapted as per six sigma specifications the defects, wastage and time are considerably reduced. Nowadays every manufacturing unit follows six sigma, Six sigma professionals analyze, derive, and practical help in implementing six sigma at the unit.
Six sigma in Marketing
The marketing sector of the business translates the unsatisfied customer to a satisfied and loyal customer. With six sigma in place, the company minimizes the defects, errors, and wastage from start; it not only increases the customer base but also provides customer satisfaction. Marketing when combined with six sigma results in customer delight and profit for the company
Six sigma is also used in the Military & Defense, Retail sector, Sales sector, Supply Chain Management, and warehousing.
Six Sigma also uses many management tools.
Five Whys
A simple method to describe the problem and uses questions (typically five) to get to the root cause of a problem. the cycle wouldn’t start, I was late for the ride again today) and then ask the question “why,” breaking down the issue to its root cause. In these two cases, it might be: because I didn’t maintain the cycle properly and because I needed to leave my house earlier for the ride.
CTQ Tree
The Critical to Quality (CTQ) Tree diagram lists down the components of a process for the features needed in product and service if you have satisfied customers.
Root Cause Analysis
It goes to the analyses phase and identifies the root cause in business and then correct it, rather than simply correcting the minor symptoms
The purpose of all Six Sigma tools and methodologies is to streamline business processes to produce the best products and services possible with the smallest number of defects. The adaptation of the six sigma approach by corporations around the world reflects how six sigma is successful in its objectives.
Certifications for Six Sigma training are awarded in the same manner as similar to the one used in karate
The Six Sigma certifications are:
- A white belt for an entry-level overview.
- A yellow belt for assisting, It’s more practical by assisting a project.
- A green belt is for the principles of Six Sigma and knowing and learning its implementation under the guidance of a black belt.
- A black belt holder plans and executes projects using Six Sigma principles.
- A master black belt certified manages the implementation of Six Sigma projects across functions.
- A champion is an upper-level executive with the highest ranking for six sigma certification and he is responsible for the implementation of Six Sigma across all departments in an organization.
Many organizations, colleges and institutes offer six sigma programs. However, there is no standard curriculum designed for the same.
A Six Sigma Certification requires experience and training. The certification helps to become a specialist in process improvement and enhances credibility.
Few reasons why a person needs to get a six sigma certification.
- To Help Reduce Risk and Eliminate Errors and Defects in an organization.
- To improve Business Processes and Quality
- To Increase Your Value in Industries
- Ensure Compliance in the processes
- Rise to Managerial Positions in quality improvement
- Excellent Salary
- Gain Hands-On Experience in Quality Management
The Six Sigma training process includes theoretical principles and their implementation in on job industry projects that are learned during the course to real-life scenarios. Opting for a Six Sigma course helps to gain experience even before joining the workforce.
Why it is necessary to have Six Sigma Certified Professionals in organizations
- Improved and increased Productivity
- Reduced Costs and wastage
- With the quality standards, Clients’ Confidence in the Business is increased.
- Reduce Employee attrition and Training Costs
A Great Career Option- Six Sigma Jobs
The scope of six sigma has increased over the period. In today’s time, six sigma certified individuals are looked at with respect. And six sigma is one of the most in-demand jobs. With outsourcing being in trend most professionals have started the consultancy business as they prefer being their boss. Back belt certified professionals are more in Demand.
The scale of Six Sigma Jobs
In today’s industrial scenarios the importance of Six Sigma in business is undeniable. There are lots of vacancies for the six sigma jobs available on online websites or newspapers. Experienced persons get the top six sigma jobs while beginners have to start with entry-level positions. Large organizations have separate six sigma departments. The purpose of these departments is to improve efficiency and make the business process defect-free, by analyzing the defects and eliminating them.
Trained Workers
Many six sigma jobs require trained professionals, and companies look for trained Six Sigma green belt certification professionals. They want people who have the experience, skills, and knowledge to deal with complex issues. Six Sigma techniques make a huge difference to a business’s operations. companies are willing to pay big money for experienced workers. Some companies provide in-house training to the hired personnel thus reducing the chances of mistakes by a huge margin. Some companies provide retraining to the existing employees so that they can avoid unnecessary recruitment expenses
Certifications
Professionally trained persons are awarded six sigma certifications and belts. These belts are as per the level of their expertise. The highest belt that can be awarded is the master belt while beginners start with green and yellow belts. Practical experience along with Six Sigma certifications helps to easily get good jobs. Six Sigma job openings are for both experienced and inexperienced so finding a position in this field is not too difficult.