Understand the DMAIC process to work on Six Sigma projects

Posted by Taggart on October 8th, 2018

What is Six Sigma? This is perhaps the most important question for in case you are looking to build your career in this domain. Since 1986, when the methodology was conceptualized in Motorola, Six Sigma has added massive value in improving business processes of companies around the world. What you need is Six Sigma training and certification to get started. This is when you will be able to work on elements like the DMAIC process and root cause analysis.

If you go by the definition, Six Sigma is described as one of the most effective methodologies in achieving process improvements. The concept is simple enough to be comprehended by anyone. Let us use an example – A Six Sigma project team is formed and given a business process to improve. The team will first do the root cause analysis (RCA) to find out about the factors that cause the process to fail or provide less than optimum or desired outcome. Once the problems have been identified, the team goes about finding solutions. Here is where a lot of data analysis is done and the solutions are arrived at. The solutions are then implemented and monitored and a control mechanism is put in place so that there is no slippage in the future.

At the core of Six Sigma is DMAIC, which is an acronym for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. If you get to understand this concept, you can make it big in the domain of Six Sigma. Of course, when a Six Sigma project is undertaken, it is not a project for a single person. A team is put in place and the proper hierarchies are formed. For a complex project, the project lead would likely be a master black belt. The rest of the team could consist of a black belt and a few green, yellow and white belts. Every member of the team is assigned specific tasks so that the project moves in the way it should.

To give you more clarity on Six Sigma, let us look at the DMAIC process. This process flows in a scientific manner so that the right outcome is generated. In the define phase, the business process issues are gathered, the team is formed, the project scope and timelines are defined and the project goal is set. In the measure phase, the performance metrics are finalized and data collection is done. The root cause analysis of the process issues is done in the analyze phase. Once all this is done, the improve phase is taken up where the solution is arrived at and it is tested and implemented. The last phase is the control phase where mechanisms are put in place to ensure that the gains are not compromised.

What is Six Sigma? All that you read above is the Six Sigma methodology. The process may look simpler on paper, but in actuality, it can be rather complex. However, the learning is immense because you have the best in this domain mentoring you. And with the right kind of training, you can make huge waves in the Six Sigma domain and add value.

What is Six Sigma? Go through training and certification and you will know all about it including the DMAIC process.