Six Sigma
What It Is and How to Implement It Effectively
Mani Venkatesh, Consultant and Six Sigma
Master Black Belt, outlines how to get this
methodology implemented in your organisa-
tion.
The roots of Six Sigma as a measurement into an organisational approach to achieve
standard can be traced back to Carl breakthrough performance and generate
Frederick Gauss (1777-1855) who significant bottom-line results. When
introduced the concept of the normal curve. Motorola received a Baldrige Award in 1988,
In the 1920s, Walter Shewhart showed that it shared its quality practices with others.
three standard deviations from the mean is
the point where a process requires Today, Six Sigma (which for classical
correction, establishing Six Sigma as a practitioners involves an emphasis on data
measurement standard in product analysis & variation reduction) and Lean Six
variation. Sigma (which places greater emphasis on a
process mapping and value analysis driven
However, up until the end of the Second approach to improvements) have been
World War, the predominant method of increasingly adopted by leading companies
ensuring quality in the industrialised world in their quest to achieve breakthrough
was still by inspection, and detailed performance.
sampling plans were developed and adopted
in the United States military to make that So what would it take for an organisation to
easier. Japan championed the emphasis on adopt Six Sigma as its fundamental
quality and defect prevention after the war, business improvement approach?
and it is the predominant approach to
quality improvement in the world today. An extremely high level of senior
Six Sigma, a methodology developed by leadership commitment:
Motorola to improve its business Six Sigma links with organisation strategy
processes by minimising defects, evolved and could be used to tackle the most
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