Learn About Six Sigma











Six Sigma consists of the following phrases:

Define Phase

  • Define customers and requirements
  • Brainstorm: What are the problems of the process?
  • Brainstorm: What are the goals and benefits of the project?
  • Define the measures that you'll use to determine effectiveness of the project.
  • Project Charter: Includes business case, problem and goal statements, project scope, milestones, roles and responsibilities, communication plan.
  • Develop high level process maps for a target process
  •  Describes suppliers, inputs, process, outputs and customers./SIPOC

Measure Phase

  • Define defect, opportunity, unit and metrics
  • Develop detailed process map to identify areas where data collection should take place
  • Develop data collection plan
  • Validate measurement system with MINITAB. Link the output here.
  • Collect data, begin developing Y = f(x) relationship using MINITAB. Link the output here.
  • Determine process capability and sigma baseline with MINITAB. Link the output here.

Analyze Phase

  • Define performance objectives
  • Flowchart: Identify value and non-value added process steps
  • Identify source of variation with MINITAB. Link the output here
  • Determine root cause
  • Determine Key input variables and the Y = f(X) relationship between the input and the output variables with MINITAB. Link the output

Improve Phase

  • Brainstorm potential solutions
  • Mapping the potential process
  • DOE planning sheet: Design of experiment
  • Perform design of experiment to try out  potential solutions. Link the output here.
  • FMEA: Assess failure mode of potential solutions
  • Pilot study: Collect data from the potential process and analyze them with MINITAB to validate improvement.  Link to output here.
  • Correct potential process

Control Phase

  • Collect data and make control charts for key measurements with MINITAB. Link the output here.
  • Calculate process capability with MINITAB. Link the output here.
  • Develop a control plan for on-going improvement
  • Develop transfer plan and handoff to process owner
  • Calculate cost and savings
  • Close project and finalize document.