Six Sigma Fundamentals: A Complete Introduction to the System, Methods, and Tools

For centuries, we thought Neanderthals were brutish, ape-like proto-humans. The most recent work on Neanderthals suggests they were very human in most ways, so it is time to change our popular icon of them. Every school child is taught that atoms are made up of visible electrons that revolve around a nucleus, and the famous Atomic Energy Commission seal shows this as fact. Today, however, the atom is seen as more of a concentric cloud. Human evolution is usually depicted as a fairly straight tree, showing a direct progression from knuckle-dragging beast to erect and noble humankind. But the icon more acceptable today is a complex and growing bush-like image with many branches, some withering and others enlarging over time. These changes are basically from simple to complex, or from linear to geometric.

So it is with the improvement movement. We have seen many programs, tools and methodologies come and go. Some have worked for a long time, some have not. In all cases, however, each new methodology, tool or program, in the process of displacing an old one, has contributed new knowledge and new approaches. The six sigma methodology provides us with a new systematic twist of a process in identifying and resolving issues, in addition to integrating the business strategy as part of the organizational vision. An integral part of this process is the project, which of course, provides specificity for the ROI and accountability for those assigned to it. This is indeed new and worth pursuing, for as long as it lasts!

We need to update the icons or models that we use to represent how we perceive relationships between technology, people and business strategy. Evolution, even in quality, is a way of life. Six sigma is the way to help us accomplish our goal. However, we do not have to improve every process and every product. Some things are good enough as they are.