Online Article Archive

Design for Six Sigma employs a set of tools and methodologies in the design of new products or services and their supporting processes. This is to ensure that the outcome remains as simple and cost effective as possible while serving the needs of the customer.
Products and services are defined such that they can be produced […]

Process mapping is an essential tool in helping us understand the activities and sequence of steps involved in any process. It also helps to identify areas where data collection should take place. It is commonly used at the early stages of project definition or project development to visualize the activities involved in a process. By […]

A fundamental element of Six Sigma philosophy is that unless we are prepared to invest in the measurement of quality, we cannot improve quality, if we don’t measure quality, and don’t follow-up on these measures, then we are sending a signal that we really don’t value quality. This, in turn, affects day-to-day behaviors and activities […]

How an organization structures the people working on Six Sigma is a function of two things: first, by how the Group decides to focus its deployment (e.g., geographical considerations, degree of design, and engineering focus); second, by how the Group wants to integrate Six Sigma into its organization versus how it intends to ensure […]

Organizations who have adopted Six Sigma have learned that if they do not design for Six Sigma, they will not achieve it. DFSS is a rigorous approach to designing products and services and their enabling processes to ensure that they meet customer expectations. As the organization evolves in Six Sigma, we will learn more about […]

Defect Opportunities can exist at any level of a hierarchy (complex, system, subsystem, component, and element levels). The hierarchy level concept can be applied to every business situation. For example, there are many levels to a policy, service, project, assembly, design, etc. For each of these levels, we count the number of opportunities and defects […]

Training for Six Sigma must flow down from top to bottom. If Six Sigma is to be driven off the strategic issues of the business, then it follows that senior management must gain adequate exposure to Six Sigma philosophy, concepts, and methodology before any action is taken. Based on this training, senior management is then […]

Most organizations find it useful to have a way to evaluate the capacity of products, services, and processes. This step provides them with an idea of where they are on the Six Sigma map, where to focus improvement projects, as well as point out areas where data is available or needs to be collected in […]

A successful leader is engaged in their business and they stay engaged by practicing the art of intentional inquiry. Learning how to ask the right questions that require your team to think instead of simply responding, is an art that requires experience and practice.
It’s also the basis for good coaching. Most leaders don’t […]

When pursuing an online career, there are several programs and companies for you to look into. While it can be difficult to decipher one opportunity from the other, it is important you look for the qualities of a good leader. You will be amazed at how much of an impact the leader can have on […]