Top Six Questions About Six Sigma: An Overview

Written by: Michele McDonough • Edited by: Michele McDonough
Updated Dec 3, 2010 • Related Guides: Project Management Methodology | Six Sigma | Lean Six Sigma

Have you heard the talk about Six Sigma, but aren't quite sure what it's all about? In this overview of Six Sigma, we give some answers to the top six questions that people have about this project management concept and its components.

Overview of Six Sigma

Since its formulation in 1986 at Motorola, Six Sigma has spread like a wildfire throughout corporate America. Unlike trendy methodologies that pass through the business world and disappear as quickly as they came, Six Sigma is here to stay. There are a number of articles here on Bright Hub's Project Management Channel that go into the details of this process, but the purpose of this segment is to give an overview of Six Sigma for those who are new to the subject. See the last section of this article for a list of recommended further reading as well as a link to free templates you can download for use in Six Sigma related projects.

What is Six Sigma anyway?

Six Sigma is a business management strategy that focuses on improving processes and solving quality-related problems by finding ways to minimize defects in a good or service. Take a look at How to Implement Six Sigma for a more detailed discussion on this topic.

Do I have to be a math genius to learn and use Six Sigma?

No, not at all. Some Six Sigma components require statistics so that improvement and quality can be measured. However, very few Six Sigma tools involve anything more complex than basic statistics. Many of the results are expressed in terms of raw numbers or percentages.

Whenever I hear people talk about Six Sigma, they use a lot of acronyms like DMAIC, DMADV, and DFSS. What do these mean?

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There are two key methodologies used in Six Sigma projects, one for dealing with existing processes and another for implementing new processes. DMAIC is an acronym for Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control, the five Six Sigma components that are utilized in a project designed to improve existing practices.

Likewise, DMADV stands for Define-Measure-Analyze-Design-Verify, the steps taken in the creation of a new product or service design. DFSS, or Design for Six Sigma, is simply another name for the DMADV process.

If you would like to explore these Six Sigma components in more detail, Natasha Baker’s article Key Concepts of Six Sigma and this document offered by the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute are great places to start.

What’s the difference between Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma?

Lean Six Sigma is a melding of Six Sigma components with those from Lean Manufacturing. While Six Sigma focuses on the quality of the final product or service, Lean is primarily concerned with speed and the elimination of waste and unnecessary steps. In Lean Six Sigma, these two approaches are consolidated in recognition that both speed and quality are important. More information on the topic of Lean Six Sigma can be found here.

Is Six Sigma the only project management methodology I’ll ever need?

No. Six Sigma is a powerful tool for process improvement, but it is not a replacement for general project management. Many of the Six Sigma components can be applied to make any project run more smoothly and efficiently, but they should only be incorporated into your project management program when applicable.

When should Six Sigma be used?

The answer to this question can vary a great deal depending on the type of business involved. In general, whenever there are processes that generate a lot of negative customer feedback, whether that customer is internal or external, the components of Six Sigma should be considered as a means to study and rectify the problem.