Six Sigma: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide: A Complete Training & Reference Guide for White Belts, Yellow Belts, Green Belts, and Black Belts

829 Pages·2018·8.402 MB·English

by  The Council for Six Sigma Certification

SIX SIGMA:
A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

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© 2018 The Council for Six Sigma Certification. All rights reserved.
Harmony Living, LLC, 412 N. Main St, Suite 100, Buffalo, WY 82834
July 2018 Edition
Disclaimer: The information provided within this book is for general informational purposes
only. While we try to keep the information up-to-date and correct, there are no
representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy,
reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or
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your own risk.
The author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss,
damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions
result from accident, negligence, or any other cause.

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SIX SIGMA: A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Using the most recent edition in your workplace?
Because we continually attempt to keep our Handbook up to date with the latest industry
developments, be sure to check our website often for the most recent edition at
www.sixsigmacouncil.org.

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SIX SIGMA: A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

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SIX SIGMA: A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

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Six Sigma, or 6, is both a methodology for process improvement and a statistical concept
that seeks to define the variation inherent in any process. The overarching premise of Six
Sigma is that variation in a process leads to opportunities for error; opportunities for error
then lead to risks for product defects. Product defects—whether in a tangible process or a
service—lead to poor customer satisfaction. By working to reduce variation and
opportunities for error, the Six Sigma method ultimately reduces process costs and
increases customer satisfaction.
In applying Six Sigma, organizations, teams, and project managers seek to implement
strategies that are based on measurement and metrics. Historically, many business leaders
made decisions based on intuition or experience. Despite some common beliefs in various
industries, Six Sigma doesn’t remove the need for experienced leadership, and it doesn’t
negate the importance of intuition in any process. Instead, Six Sigma works alongside other
skills, experience, and knowledge to provide a mathematical and statistical foundation for
decision making. Experience might say a process isn’t working; statistics prove that to be
true. Intuition might guide a project manager to believe a certain change could improve
output; Six Sigma tools help organizations validate those assumptions.

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SIX SIGMA: A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Without proper measurement and
What is beta testing?
analysis, decision making processes in
an organization might proceed as
Beta testing is the act of implementing
follows:
a new idea, system, or product with a
 Someone with clout in the select group of people or processes in
organization has a good idea as controlled an environment as
or takes interest in someone possible. After beta testers identify
else’s idea.
potential problems and those
 Based on past experience or
problems are corrected, the idea,
knowledge, decision makers
system, or product can be rolled out to
within an organization
the entire population of customers,
believe the idea will be
employees, or processes. The purpose
successful.
of beta testing is to reduce the risks
 The idea is implemented;
and costs inherent in launching an
sometimes it is implemented
in beta mode so expenses unproven product or system to a
and risks are minimized. widespread audience.
 The success of the idea is
weighed after implementation; problems are addressed after they impact products
or processes in some way in the present or the future.
Beta testing is sometimes used in a Six Sigma approach, but the idea or change in question
goes through rigorous analysis and data testing first. The disadvantage of launching ideas
into beta—or to an entire population--without going through a Six Sigma methodology is
that organizations can experience unintended consequences from changes, spend money
on ideas that don’t end up working out as planned, and impact customer perceptions
through trial-and-error periods rife with opportunities for error. In many cases,
organizations that don’t rely on data make improvements without first understanding the
true gain or loss associated with the change. Some improvements may appear to work on
the surface without actually impacting customer satisfaction or profit in a positive way.
The Six Sigma method lets organizations identify problems, validate assumptions,
brainstorm solutions, and plan for implementation to avoid unintended consequences. By
applying tools such as statistical analysis and process mapping to problems and solutions,
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