12 Key Requirements For Six Sigma Success By Lennart Sandholm and Lars Sorqvist

1. 12 Key RequirementsFor Six Sigma SuccessBy Lennart Sandholm and Lars Sorqvist Presented by: Mahmoud Abdalla March 31, 2003

2. Objectives • Importance of this subject to the class • What is Six Sigma? • The 12 Key Requirements • My Conclusion

3. Importance of this subject to the class • Numerous large and well-known corporations have successfully adopted Six Sigma methodology, such as Motorola, General Electric, American Express and Ford Motor Co. • The results have often been extremely good • Greatly considered by Software Development Projects

4. What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a comprehensive system for achieving, sustaining and maximizing business success. Six Sigma is driven by close understanding of customer needs, disciplined use of facts and data, and statistical analysis

5. Sigma levels

6. DMAICProblem Solving Methodology Improve Measure Analyze Define Control Define the goals and customer requirements Measure the process to determine current performance Analyze and determine the root cause(s) of the defects Improve the process by eliminating defects Control future process performance

7. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #1 Management Commitment and Visible Support • Total Commitment and Support of Top Management • Linking success of Six Sigma to Bonuses and Salary Raises

8. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #2 Treatment of Six Sigma as a Holistic Concept • Managers should have primary role in leading the process • All stakeholders should be kept involved and communicated to continuously

9. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #3 Investment of adequate resources • Investment returns are Great! In many cases more than 5 to 10 times the original investment • Invest in adequate resources and provide extensive training programs

10. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #4 Focus on results • Focus on achieving results by setting challenging improvement goals • Explain and clarify goals to entire organization with regular refreshers

11. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #5 Customer orientation • Can’t just focus internally on cutting costs • Six sigma projects should be selected based on what customer benefit is attainable • Develop knowledge of customer needs and behavior and evaluate completed projects from the perspective of the customer

12. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #6 Focus on Training • Provide appropriate training for everyone involved in the project

13. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #7 Adaptation to an Organization’s Situation and Needs • Developing the Six Sigma Program is based on a number of parameters, including the nature of business, customer relations and competition

14. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #8 Prioritization and selection of projects • Identify and prioritize projects to focus on

15. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #9 Development of uniform language and terminology • Both externally with client and internally within project

16. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #10 Development of strategy to introduce Six Sigma • Four Phase Approach: • Introduction • Trial • Implementation • Continuation

17. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #11 Follow-up and communication of success stories • From Three Perspectives: • Goals • Methodology • Return • Communicate internally and externally with the Client

18. The Twelve RequirementsRequirement #12 Responsiveness to external influences • Accepting of new ideas from outside • Benchmarking and collaboration with researchers • Maintain cutting edge results

19. My Conclusion • 12 Key Requirements are key to the success of implementing Six Sigma • If followed closely and taken seriously, Six Sigma can produce great results