Individuals who have completed a Six Sigma certification class earn belts to designate their level-Green Belts are for beginners, Black Belts are for project leaders, and Master Black Belts are for those in charge of implementing Six Sigma throughout the business. It requires a sizable upfront cost to implement and train employees on the methodology of Six Sigma and its execution.Įmployees of all levels must be trained in the various positions of the methodology as well. To function effectively, Six Sigma requires buy-in from everyone involved. Outside of a manufacturing operation, Six Sigma often fails to yield the kind of results needed to justify such a time-consuming and expensive management change. However, just because companies in different sectors have applied this methodology doesn’t necessarily mean that these companies have used it correctly or effectively. Originally developed for manufacturing, Six Sigma can now be found across many industries. The methodology is most effective with repetitive, assembly line-style operations where individual steps can be isolated, examined, and improved upon. The term “sigma” is a measurement of how far from perfect a system or producer can get-by Six Sigma standards, companies should reduce manufacturing defects to less than 3.4 per 1 million units.īusinesses use the Six Sigma methodology to improve processes by identifying the errors that lead to defects and implementing new management systems once errors have been addressed. At its core, Six Sigma involves collecting and leveraging data to eliminate defects and waste in manufacturing, with the end goal of improving overall efficiency and quality.

The Six Sigma methodology was developed in the mid-1980s by engineers at Motorola as a way to improve manufacturing processes.

Six sigma processes quizlet