Six Sigma is now said to be a set of tools - What, exactly, are they?

[Marc]

As I read through the six sigma threads I keep seeing "Six sigma is a set of tools".

I'm interested in what each of you considers a six sigma tool. List them if you can.

[Govind]

This is a good thread.
To me, Six Sigma is not just a set of tools. It is a philosophy, mindset, culture and a disciplined approach to improvement.

Six sigma tools should not be confused to only statistical tools. Six sigma involves;
Project management tools,
Risk Management tools,
Financial decision making tools,
Management tools,
Quality tools,
Lean manufacturing tools, etc.

Success or failure of a project also depends on careful selection and application of right tools for the right applications. I would suspect the tools list would go on and on.

If I may, I would like to encourage the contributors to this thread to also mention the intended application of the tool while mentioning name of the tool.
Regards,
Govind.

[qualitygoddess]

In agreement with Govind. In a class I teach where we spend a few lecture sessions on Six Sigma, we focus on these traditional tools and concepts. I cannot list all of them here, since I am working from memory, and not from my lecture notes.......please note that I progressively move the students through the learning and use of tools, and really present the Six Sigma stuff near the end of the 14-week class. The students complete a case study, using the tools to create a six sigma project. We have lots of projects involving service companies.

Concepts to compare and contrast: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve Control (DMAIC) and the Shewhart cycle Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). We spend time learnig to do DMAIC using real world examples. We spend time talking about project management tools, too. If anyone has any good DMAIC success stories, please share either here, or PM me.

Tools: simple data analysis tools (like mean, std dev, analysis of a sample population, probability, regression, histograms, etc.); more complex data and problem analysis tools (like distribution curves, pareto, affinity diagrams, cause & effect diagrams, scatter diagrams, flowcharts, ); even more complex data analysis tools (like control charts, process cap studies, DOE, FMEA, taguchi loss function ).

--Jodi

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Govind

If I may, I would like to encourage the contributors to this thread to also mention the intended application of the tool while mentioning name of the tool.

I'd love to hear from some folks about tools they have used and for what as well - Not to mention comments about effectiveness (any meassureables?).

[Ingeniero1]

Still, nothing works as well as these proven tools:

DAIOYAF
ORAYAO and OMAYAO
DIRTFT, TINSO and OCIAYG
MEOR
NQENP

Remember?

Alex.

[Ingeniero1]

I just couldn't resist doing that! Why with all the acronyms, Japaneses words and all of that stuff.

I most respectufully submit what actually works:

DAIOYAF = Do As Instructed Or You Are Fired

ORAYAO = One Reject And You Are Out
OMAYAO = One Mistake And You Are Out

DIRTFT = Do It Right The First Time
TINSO = There is No Second Opportunity
OCIAYG = One Chance Is All You Get

MEOR = Meet Expectations Or Else

NQENP = No Quality Equals No Pay

Alex

[Jim Howe]

Years ago when I was a ssupervisor of electronic inspection my dept mgr would page me with this decrie! Jim! (stutter, stutter) Clean Room! "OMIGA" (Oh, Make It Go Away). I could usually accomplish OMIGA but sometimes it was "INGA" (It Never Goes Away)
With that out of the way Lean is the only tool I am familiar with, but I am just beginning the learning process.

[km214]

Marc and forum readers,
Six Sigma tools are expansive covering everything from service industries to high tech bio med, pharma, and various other industries. Like ISO it can be benefitial if properly utilized. I have found that without managment support "nothing works" If you have the full support and resources to implement six sigma, you will go far is finding processes to imporve and many ways to save money.
As for the tools, nothing us quality folk have not seen or used a million times in our careers, just put together in such a manner that the flow of steps is clear and thorough. I do not see SS as just another fad, I see real value from it so long as it is utilized effectively. DMAIC is very similar to many quality process evaluating programs but I relate it most closely with Plan -Do -Check- Act of ISO 9000...I just add another check at the end...
By havign a team of dedicated individuals with technical experts for each project there is complete coverage of present issues and direction for improvement opportunities.
It is what I refer to as a plan of action for improvement.