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Some argue that many of the tools Six Sigma uses are not new. However, while Six Sigma uses conventional methods, its application is anything but conventional. Instead is stresses the importance of searching for a new way of thinking and doing.In fact, Six Sigma defines a clear road map to achieve Total Quality. Some of the strong points of that have encouraged industry to deploy Six Sigma as a metaphor of Excellence includes:
Leadership Commitment: Top management not only initiates Six Sigma deployment, it also plays an active role in the whole deployment cycle. Six Sigma starts by providing senior leadership with training in the principles and tools it needs to direct the development of a management infrastructure to support Six Sigma. This involves reducing the levels of organizational hierarchy and removing procedural barriers to experimentation and change.
Customer Focus : Systems are developed for establishing close communications with "external customers" and with internal customers. From upstream suppliers to ultimate end-users, Six Sigma eliminates the opportunities for defects.
Strategic Deployment : Six Sigma targets a small number of high financial leveraged items. It focuses the company's resources: right support, right people, right project and right tools on identifying and improving performance metrics that relate to bottom-line success.
Integrated Infrastructure : The leadership Team defines and reviews project progress. The Champion act as a political leader and remove the barriers for the project team. The Master Black Belts act as a technical coach and provides in-depth knowledge of quality tools. The Black Belt controls the project while the Green Belts support the Black Belt together they form the Six Sigma Projects Teams. In addition the incentive and recognition systems motivate the project teams to achieve the business goals.
Disciplined Framework : Six Sigma projects are implemented using the Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control disciplined road map. This MAIC discipline sets up a clear protocol to facilitate internal communication. In addition, from a business perspective, Six Sigma is also a framework for continuous business improvement.
Education and Training:
Six Sigma believes that true commitment is driven by true understanding. As a fact-based methodology, it intensively utilizes quality and statistical tools to tranform a practical problem to a practical solution. Thus, a top-to-bottom training is conducted in Six Sigma philisophy and system improvements techniques for all levels.In conclusion, Six Sigma's approach and deployment makes it distinguishable from other quality intiatives. The Six Sigma approach involves the use of statistical tools with in a structured methodology for gaining the knowledge needed to achieve better, faster and less expensive products and services than the competition. The repeated,disciplined application of the master strategy on project after project, where the projects are selected based on key business objectives, is what drives dollars to the bottom line, resulting impressive profits.
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