Six Sigma improves a process by reducing defects and variation. It is a set of tools, but also a way of thinking: decide with data and understand what the customer really needs. Lean Six Sigma combines it with Lean's focus on removing waste.
Benefits: higher quality, less waste, lower cost and happier customers.
DMAIC - improving an existing process
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| Define | The problem, the customer, the goal and the scope (SIPOC) |
| Measure | Collect data on how the process performs today |
| Analyse | Find the root causes (fishbone, 5 Whys, Pareto) |
| Improve | Test and implement solutions |
| Control | Standardize and monitor so the gain stays |
DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, Verify) is used to design a new process or product.
Other common tools: 5 Whys, fishbone, SIPOC, box plots and FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis).