Should You Calculate Your Process Sigma?

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	Discussion Forum "Recently, I heard a six sigma user use the fact the the number of opportunities for defects was large for his product as a justification or excuse for why his defect levels were high. But of course, the customer does not nor should not care about how complicated the product is. That is the supplier's problem." Opportunity Counting

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y Zack Swinney

Many people hear about the Six Sigma quality methodology and immediately want to calculate their own process sigma to determine how close (or far) they are from six sigma. My immediate response to them is twofold: 1. are you currently measuring your process capability?, and 2. are you satisfied with your performance? If the answer to both is yes, then calculating your process sigma may be interesting but not necessary.

When Process Sigma Is Not Neccessary
Let me illustrate with an example. A power company measures their performance in uptime of available power to their grid. Every minute of potential uptime (power is available) is an opportunity, every minute of downtime (power is not available) is a defect in the eyes of a customer. Data is continuously taken, the process capability is measured, and the yield is calculated to be 99.9%. The power company is satisfied with their current performance (but always looking to improve), and the customer's needs (as collected via Voice of the Customer) are being met.

If the entire company communicates in yield and everyone within the company understands this language, is determining the process sigma level useful? I submit that if the company is pursuing full implementation of the Six Sigma quality methodology across the organization then calculating sigma is appropriate because processes within the organization and between plants can be compared. When a company is only considering Six Sigma for one functional area (power transmission OR bill collection OR call center) then the company might be better suited to maintain the metrics that everyone currently uses and understands. How can an organization communicate if everyone doesn't learn the language?

How to Calculate Process Sigma
I know what you're thinking, 'Ok Zack, get on with it. I want to calculate my process sigma anyway. How can I do it?' Here is your two minute instruction on calculating your process sigma.

Next Page > How to Calculate Process Sigma - With Example

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