Data Driven

Experience and judgement are helpful in pointing the way to potential causes of problems and to solutions. However, Six Sigma requires data-based evidence to underpin the analysis and decisions. Only by measuring and quantifying the relationships between input variables and outputs, can we be sure which are the important inputs to change and also be able to predict the effect that a change will have on the outputs. Often Six Sigma will result in a mindset change from measuring and controlling outputs (called ‘y’) to focusing on inputs (called ‘x’) in the knowledge that if we can control the significant inputs we can guarantee outputs with high levels of confidence.