The Cost of Poorly Performing Processes – Need for Six Sigma
February 12, 2025
Introduction Proliferation of information technology has increased in the last decade. Today’s organizations are acknowledging the importance of information systems. It has been accepted worldwide that information system provides competitive edge and are the bedrock for innovation. The six basic functions of information systems are capture data, transmit data, store data, retrieve data, manipulate data […]
All products and services fail! Even the processes which have already achieved six sigma precision fail. However considering the possible sources of failures, the effects that they are likely to have and how prioritizing failure modes makes the product, service, process plan more robust. Considering possible failure modes and integrating them into the design goes […]
During 1990, ERP market was dominated by few vendors namely SAP, BaaN, Oracle, People Soft and JD Edwards, who were also known as big five of ERP market. The market was, then, was growing at compound rate of approximately 35%. Fortune 500 companies were the major customers. Key focus of ERP vendors, during that period, […]
Call Handling Proper operation of a help desk is an essential component of proper servicing and resolution of problems. Service module of an ERP system assists organization to respond promptly both in respect of internal and external customers and gain valuable management data which helps in retaining customers as well as improve internal operation of […]
Inventory management as well as Supply chain operations are often overlapping and hold the key to the success of sales operations. In all of the businesses be in automobile, manufacturing, pharma or retail industry, status of inventory reflects the health of the business. Inventory operations have two key elements namely Inventory System and Physical operations. […]
Six Sigma is a process oriented methodology designed to improve business performance by improving specific areas of strategic business processes. There are 2 different methodologies available for carrying out improvements in processes or operations.
Improvements can be of two types: improving the existing process or designing a new process altogether. When we have an existing process and we want to improve the process we deploy the DMAIC methodology. While designing a new process or completely revamping the existing process the Design for Six Sigma or IDOV methodology is deployed.
DMAIC | DFSS |
Structured and iterative process improvement methodology | Rigorous approach to designing processes that will exceed customer expectations |
Focus on defect reduction | Focus on defect prevention |
Define | Define the problem. Define the customer(s) and the requirements. Define the current capability. Define the key processes that will have the greatest impact on customer. |
Measure | Identify the statistical measures to monitor the key process. Set up the data collection plan. Measure the process |
Analyse | Determine the analysis tools and methods to be used. Summarize the data measured. Run the analysis and determine the root causes, effects, etc. |
Improve | Improve and Implement. Focus on developing process/technology to improve the root cause. Test the method on sample process and validate the improvement. |
Control | Standardize and document the process and implement the plan. Monitor the process and feedback the results back to the process for continuous improvement. |
Identify | Develop a team. Create team charter. Gather VOC. Perform competitive analysis. Develop CTQs and formally tie design to VOC. |
Design | Identify functional requirements. Develop alternative concepts. Evaluate alternatives and select a best-fit concept. Deploy CTQs and predict sigma capability. |
Optimize | Determine process capability. Develop detailed design elements. Predict performance. Optimize design. |
Verify | Test and validate the design. Share feedback with manufacturing and sourcing to improve future manufacturing and designs. |
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