Six Sigma Basics and Fundamentals

Explore how Six Sigma applies across IT, banking, education, hospitality, and manufacturing to reduce defects, improve processes, and boost quality using DMAIC and data analysis.

Explore ratios by comparing defect and yield in examples from dishes to temperatures, learn to convert defects per million to percent, and preview the six sigma bell curve and decimals.

Explore the meaning of three defects per million (DPM) within six sigma basics. Use board and janitor examples to define defect rate and six sigma level.

Contrast three sigma and Six Sigma levels, detailing defect rates of 6.68% versus 3.4 defects per million, and illustrate with janitor and whiteboard examples to define defect.

Define defect as nonconformity to customer requirements and distinguish it from defective, then compare dpmo and dpm, using dish examples to illustrate sigma level calculations.

Trace the historical background of Six Sigma from Motorola's 1986 breakthrough led by Bill Smith to GE's 1996 adoption and the push to reach Six Sigma levels by 2000.

Explore the seven essential Six Sigma tools, including flowcharts, tally check sheets, Pareto diagrams, control charts, histograms, scatter diagrams, and fishbone diagrams, to analyze data and identify root causes.

Identify and distinguish two data types—quantitative (variables, continuous data) and qualitative (attributes, discrete data)—with examples like temperature, survey ratings, and defects.

Learn the average and range, plus mode, median, and standard deviation, to analyze data. Use class examples and histogram concepts like frequency and overlapping values to build improvement tools.

Identify the mode as the repeated value, note when no mode exists, compute the median by ordering data, average the two middle values for even sets, and introduce standard deviation.

Explain how standard deviation measures the average distance from the mean, distinguishing samples (s) from population (p), and show Excel calculations using stdev functions.

Learn process flow charts and mapping to describe problems, using standard symbols for start/end, inputs, outputs, activities, decisions, and links; explore swimlane diagrams and practical vacation request scenarios.

Count defects with a tally check sheet, summarize by defect, then use an Excel Pareto chart to prioritize actions on the 20% of defects driving 80% of total defects.

Learn how a histogram highlights the highest frequency and mode in data, using Excel's insert histogram chart to identify the highest frequency cluster and suggest improvements.

Learn how control charts monitor variation over time and how the bell curve relates to Six Sigma process capability, with key chart types and sigma concepts.

Plot a scatter diagram to show the relation between two variables, oil viscosity and temperature, identify positive, negative, or no correlation, and note that correlation does not imply causation.

Use the fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram to identify the root cause of a problem, with causes categorized in manpower, machine, method, material, and environment, guiding you to a solution.

Master the dmaic methodology—define, measure, analyze, improve, and control—using pareto diagrams, control charts, fishbone diagrams, histograms, and scatter diagrams to drive cross-functional improvement.

Define a project and draft a concise charter. Build a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart timeline to guide initiation, planning, execution, controlling, and closing.

Start your Six Sigma project by measuring the current sigma level, then set a plan and goals, and overcome the five sigma wall with redesign and design of experiment.