This article by Natasha Baker, summarizes the main points in the research paper, Six Sigma: Myths and Realities, which takes an antagonistic look at Six Sigma in an effort to help organizations evaluate its worth.
Taking an antagonistic approach in Six Sigma: Myths and Realities, author Nihar Rajan Senapati argues that Six Sigma is not necessarily the innovative, cost-cutting concept it is touted to be. Senapati states,
"In the current times of economic recession and slow down in demand, every corporation looks at any possible issue of cost cutting and wise deployment of scarcely available funds. So it is worthwhile to deliberate on Six Sigma with intent, rather than an impulse?"
With that, Senapati sets out to investigate Six Sigma by looking at other traditional and contemporary process improvement models. The models The author chooses are:
- Total Quality Management (TQM)
- Deming's Cycle
- Malcolm Bainbridge National QUality Award Assessment (MBNQA)
- European Foundation for Quality Framework (EFQM)
- Dorian Shainin's Statistical Engineering (SE)
Do you need more clarification on Six Sigma? Take a look at Joe Taylor Jr.'s article, What is the Purpose of Six Sigma?
Six Sigma focuses on process deviations. It's aim, through the DAMIC framework, is to reduce defects to 3.4 per million opportunities. In Six Sigma: Myths and Realities, Senapati states that there has been much debate about the use of the +/- 1.5 standard for process deviation. The author argues,
"There is sufficient mystery around this process deviation, which was used to calculate 3.4PPM of non-conformities. Is this particular +/-1.5 of the process mean is presumed for all business processes to arrive at 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO)?"
The doubts that linger over Six Sigma's effectiveness in relation to other process improvement methods which is discussed in this paper from view points of Six Sigma protagonists such as Lockheed Martin. Six Sigma: Myth and Realities offers a practical view that gives organizations the opportunity to take a closer look at Six Sigma before implementing it.
There are alternative process improvements methods that can be implemented, at a lower cost than Six Sigma, and Senapati does a nice job arguing this. Key Concepts of Six Sigma can provide additional information to help organizations determine if Six Sigma is applicable. A PDF version of Six Sigma: Myths and Realities is available to download in the Project Management Media Gallery.