What Is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a methodology for business management, which believes that all the criteria making up a good product can be expressed in so many numbers. The system makes use of process capability study as the primary tool to ensure that at least six standard deviations are possible on either side of the ideal quality of the output. This is also called the process mean or average.

With those six deviations identified, it is possible for the industry management to ensure that virtually none of the products will be below standard quality. This is done simply by taking measures to keep production within the standards dictated by the process mean.

Simply Stated

In layman’s terms, the rules of Six Sigma methodology require that management should be able to define six states of quality on the plus and the minus sides of the average quality desired from a product. These different conditions of the product are determined by the materials, instruments and methods involved in a process, as well as the technical skill of people engaged in the process. By constantly monitoring the processes involved in production and making sure that the standards remain within the mean or average quality, it becomes statistically impossible for quality deviations to occur. The probability of sub-standard products being produced, as stated in Six Sigma theory, is .00034 %.

The Need for Rigorous Monitoring

Because Six Sigma methodology makes management aware of all the possible insufficiencies that may occur during the production process, it became necessary, for the full implementation of its principles, to create a hierarchy of different roles ranging from the top level management to facilitators. This is to make sure that the guidelines set by the system are observed throughout the different level of the business.

Different Kinds of Facilitators

In implementing their system for a certain business, Six Sigma requires the following roles to be present in the hierarchy.

Executive Leaders – These people belong to top-level management and are responsible for outlining the specific policies and guidelines for the implementation of a Six Sigma system in the organization. They also appoint the subordinate role holders and assign them their functions.

Champions – These people are selected by the Executive Leaders from the higher ranks of management and they are the ones responsible for putting into action the vision of Six Sigma as conceptualized by the leadership. They are directly responsible for training the people under them.

Master Black Belts – This group of people ensure that the policies set by the higher ranks of Six Sigma are made known to and understood by the people who are under them. They therefore act as coordinators between their direct superiors, the Champions, and their direct subordinates, the Black Belts.

Black Belts – These are the people who lead the rest in observing the principles of Six Sigma in the business processes. Completely trained by the Master Black Belts, they are responsible for executing the orders of the higher ranks and making sure everyone adheres to those guidelines.

Green Belts and Yellow Belts – These are people from the work force of the business itself who have trained in Six Sigma business philosophy under the Black Belts and are directly responsible for ensuring that the lower ranks of the employees conform their actions to the system.

While Six Sigma has its critics, the system has performed well with a number of large business concerns. However, the need is seen to adjust its rules for different types of businesses.