What is worth mentioning is that Motorola developed such systems for use in the manufacturing sector; and at that time, nobody in the company ever thought that these systems will one day play an equally important role in the services sector as well.
With the development of new concepts and techniques, Six Sigma quality management systems are now being used widely in the services sector that includes everything from healthcare to Information Technology, Telecommunications and many others.
All this is enough to prove the versatility and compatibility of the Six Sigma quality methodology.
The Changing Face Of Six Sigma Quality Management Systems
As far as the basic concepts are concerned, not much has actually changed over the years. Significant changes have however happened in the way these systems are utilized. From being used as a standalone quality improvement technique in their early years, these systems are now being increasingly integrated with the overall management framework that might exist in an organization.
What this basically means is that these systems can now easily be deployed across all the functional departments of an organization, which may include everything from sales to purchase, production, inventory, accounts, and others.
Quite a lot of businesses have already achieved this feat, and the wide ranging benefits that they have derived and are deriving are enough to prove the reliability of such systems.
The Deployment Process
The deployment process starts with an assessment of the existing quality levels in an organization. Existing quality levels are described in terms of Six Sigma quality levels that can be anywhere between sigma 1 and sigma 6 depending on the organization.
Whatever the existing level, the main objective is to move on from there and gradually achieve the highest quality level, i.e. Six Sigma. It may seem as if the deployment process ends at Six Sigma quality levels, but it is not so because Six Sigma quality levels just signify the near-perfect defect rate of 3.4.
Other important objectives such as cost reductions and operational efficiency improvements have no such limitations - and this is why the deployment process never actually ends, even though it may seem so.
Apart from cost and defect rate reductions, the Six Sigma methodology also aims at reducing the work load of employees and improving their immediate work environment. It does so by stressing the use of advanced IT tools and techniques and by standardizing work processes.
All this helps in creating a motivated and dedicated workforce, which is essential for ensuring the long-term success of any organization.
Six Sigma is normally associated with the reduction of defects and improvement of business processes. However, what most people do not know is that Six Sigma can also be utilized for enhancing the knowledge and confidence of employees. It is now an established fact that employees are the most valuable assets of any business organization. This is why organizations need to utilize 6 Sigma concepts and methodologies for improving the overall quality of their employee base that is a major determinant of an organization's success.
Encouraging And Developing Leadership
Six Sigma enables employees to develop leadership qualities. It empowers them with special tools and techniques that allow them to take small decisions on their own. Employees associated with 6 Sigma projects and training, get to learn the importance of cultivating excellence, which is necessary for their own professional growth and the overall growth of the organization.
The success of any business organization depends on the ability of its leaders to effectively manage change that has become quite necessary due to increased competition. By utilizing Six Sigma concepts, organizations can develop more leaders at every level of the organization, which in turn will help in improving the efficiency of business processes. With the help of training and the requisite hands-on-experience, employees will be able to cultivate management skills, necessary for improving the quality and consistency of existing business processes.
Six Sigma Training
Six Sigma training will allow employees to get required certifications, such As Green Belt and Black Belt. This will naturally help in increasing their knowledge and confidence levels, which are the prerequisites for developing leadership qualities. Employees who receive Green Belt training will be able to develop a through understanding of the statistical methodologies used during 6 Sigma implementation projects. This way they will be in a better position to contribute their efforts towards the achievement of organizational objectives.
Employees who receive Black Belt training will become empowered to lead cross-functional process improvement teams apart from developing an extensive knowledge about statistical methodologies. These employees can then function as leaders of 6 Sigma project teams for helping team members in achieving project goals and objectives.
Encouraging New Ideas And Innovation
Six Sigma helps in improving the involvement of employees at every level of the organization by allowing them to suggest new ideas or solutions that will help in overcoming a certain problem or increasing the efficiency of a business process. Employees who have been empowered with the requisite training will be in a better position to develop new ideas and solutions within the framework of the Six Sigma project.
Garnering new ideas and suggestions from employees is necessary because very often it has been noticed that people in senior management positions are unaware of the small details concerning a business process. 6 Sigma helps project managers in quantifying the inputs and suggestions of employees and providing an effective platform that will allow employees to achieve what they are trying to accomplish.
Increased employee involvement enabled by Six Sigma will help the organization to foster team spirit, build trust, and improve coordination, all of which are necessary for the success of any business organization. An organization that has a committed workforce will not only be able to achieve its existing objectives but will also be able to secure its long term future.
Both Tony Jacowski & Tony are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tony Jacowski has sinced written about articles on various topics from University, Six Sigma and Information Technology. Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online and certification classes for six sigma pro. Tony Jacowski's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Tony has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dental Implants, SUV and Debts Loans. Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online and certification classes for lean six sigm. Tony's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.