Alternative Ways to Implement Six Sigma
We received this question from Abhishek and thought we'd post it as a question here on the forum to gather different viewpoints. The question was in response to this article http://www.onesixsigma.com/article/alternative_ways_to_implement_six_sig...
This is a very interesting article, however I had a couple of
clarifications:
1) While implementing six sigma, do you feel, DMAIC and DFSS ( DMADOV/DMADV) are enough to support all kinds of projects? In some industries I feel there could be modifications to the structure of six sigma projects.
2) As very correctly pointed out by you, too much of statistics should be avoided. However during data collection, why would the green belt help the black belt? In a case where there are no data capture mechanisms in place, why would the people help the black belt in collecting information? If there is not too much technicality involved, how does one manage a team who would actually be implementing the project? They would simply feel that it is common sense and they would do it themselves.
I have been plagued by these questions for quite some time now.
regards
Abhishek
Alternative ways to implement Six Sigma - Questions by Abhishek
My comments as author of the mentioned article:
1) Over the years many systems have been developed for problem solving (PDCA being one of the oldest). I was thought an 8 step method in the company I worked for some 20 years ago, but I have seen all sorts of methods from 4 to 12 steps. Basically all these systems work and at the end of the day come down to the same: don't jump to conclusions. In that respect DMAIC is just another of these methods (I will come back to DFSS a little later). So although other methods can be used I doubt if this adds value within a Six Sigma approach. After all, wathever the problem, you need to define it, quantify it, analyse it for causes, develop solutions and install a control mechanism. The complexity of the step can be different from project to project but if you start changing the basic approach from project to project it will confuse a lot of people and you wil loose one of the major comunicating tools within Six Sigma: the standardized approach.
But maybe you can give an example of a Six Sigma project that in your opinion would require a deviation from DMAIC? It is sometimes difficult to talk in general.
As far as DFSS is concerned, you already find a lot of variation in the systems used and this is causing problems. Again,at the end of the day they do the same thing (in fact the APQP manual of QS-9000 is a perfect framework for controlled design and is out there for years already).
2) You are right off course, if there is not much data gathering to do the team and maybe just the Black Belt may collect all data. But in case of a project with extensive data gathering in different areas (maybe even in different plants) it could be handy to have a local Green Belt (or Black Belt for that matter) that can arrange the data gathering. He should know the risks involved in data gathering and assure correct data. It is definetely not a standard task of the Green Belt to collect data for a Black Belt.
Willy Vandenbrande