The Aims of Six Sigma

Six Sigma, when adopted properly and as nearly as possible, brings high rewards to the business. Companies like Motorola, GE etc have already set examples. Six Sigma was designed for this purpose mainly in mind. It aims to take up business from quality excellence to total business improvement. It can lead to the business’s situation from low and inconsistent profits to sustained high profits, thus bringing about overall growth in business organizations.

Aims of Six Sigma¹

Six Sigma aims beyond work. Its not only related with the work area but to the general life as well. It not only brings changes to business but to personal life as well. The major aims of six sigma are divided from the point of view of employees, management and customers.

• Employees Point of View
• Management Point of View
• Customers Point of View

1. Helping the employees to reach their full potential.
2. Helping the employees to explore more beyond their work areas. They should be given enough freedom to act and make mistakes.
3. Encouraging employees to open up their minds to creativity rather than following up the pre designed methods.
4. Creating joyful environment for the employees.

1. Transforming managers to leaders. Managers should not only be managing but creating the vision for the organization.
2. Reducing number of management layers between the lowest and highest level of employees. Thus faith level increases between employee and managers.
3. Follow 3Ds. Direct, Delegate and Disappear. Means define the goals for the organization, delegate proper powers to the employees and get out of their ways. This brings about best in the employees and helps them reach their full potential.

1. Core customer loyalty. Retaining the customers helps in building long lasting and fulfilling relations.
2. Value added to the customer. This is from customer’s point of view. If they don’t feel satisfied, they may change the suppliers.
3. Customer Base Reduction. Six Sigma believes that its better to keep less number of valued customers than keeping a large base of non paying customers. This leads to better profitability for companies and more customer satisfaction.
4. Public Perception of Company. This helps to improve the company’s image in the eyes of public. Because this is the major factor in deciding the future of the companies.

1. The main ideas have been taken from the book: “The Ultimate Power of Six Sigma” by: Keki R. Bhote. He was among those who helped develop Six Sigma Process at Motorola. Keki also introduced his simple but highly effective and statistically powerful Design of Experiments to the American Productivity and Quality Center staff and to many companies around the world.