Читать книгу Statistical Quality Control - Bhisham C. Gupta - Страница 44

Six Sigma is a management philosophy that emphasizes reducing variation, driving down defect rates, and improving customer satisfaction. Specifically, the tenets of the philosophy include:

 Enterprise‐wide deployment of Six Sigma to improve processes

 Implementation driven from the top down

 Process improvements achieved through projects completed by teamsFigure 2.1 Six Sigma project selection.

 Project benefits linked directly to the organization’s bottom line

 Rigorous application of data analysis and statistical tools

 An extremely high standard for quality

In this management framework, quality is no longer relegated to the quality department, nor is it reserved only for the shop floor. Each facility, each department, and each employee plays a part in improving quality.

In larger companies with an established Six Sigma program, a high‐level steering committee chooses Six Sigma projects that align with and help advance the company’s strategic goals. These strategic goals are derived from customer requirements and upper management’s overall business strategy. The relationship among these elements is illustrated in Figure 2.1. These projects are completed by cross‐functional teams, and the benefits are reported in terms of defect reduction and, especially, dollar savings.

The Six Sigma philosophy also places an emphasis on measurement. Decisions are based on data, not on company folk wisdom or gut feel. In addition, there is a relentless emphasis on reducing variation, driven in large part by an extremely high standard of quality in which virtually no defects are produced.