The document provides an overview of Six Sigma, a methodology used for quality management. It defines Six Sigma as a data-driven, project-based approach that applies statistics to business processes to reduce defects. Key aspects include using the DMAIC process for projects, selecting economic projects, requiring trained belts and champions to lead projects, and focusing on money savings. The goal of Six Sigma is to reduce waste and better use resources through teamwork and changes. While implementation carries some risks, Six Sigma is meant to be a flexible approach tailored to each individual company.

1. Six Sigma Intro
A brief overview on the breakthrough
methodology for Quality
Management

2. What is hidden behind
“Six Sigma”?
A strange word and a blurred
image, that is the most
widespread knowledge on Six-
Sigma.
There is lot of confusion on what
is the real meaning of “Six Sigma”:
• does it deal with statistics?
• does it deal with numbers?
• can only big companies run it?
• is it quality-driven?
• is it money-driven?
•…
Let’s clarify what Six Sigma
SHOULD be for a company.
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3. What is Six Sigma?
Project DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control ) is nothing
but a PM method to build and manage strong and effective
Management
projects.
Six Sigma applies statistics to business case to enforce the reliability
Data driven DSS
of choices.
Economic
project Every project must be also evaluated for the economic impact, thus
driving the improvement on the real priorities.
selection
Training path Only skilled person can be effective on projects. Belts, Champions
are people that must be trained to follow the projects.
Improvement are economically evaluated and weighted. Cost and
Money saving
benefits can be easily compared.
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4. What is Six Sigma?
Project
Organization
Management
Tool box
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5. Why “Six Sigma”?
 2
( xi x)
Sigma = = Deviation n 1
( Square root of variance )
Axis graduated in Sigma
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
5
6
7
0
4
between +/- 68.27 % result: 317300 ppm outside
1 (deviation)
between +/- 95.45 % 45500 ppm
2
between +/- 99.73 % 2700
3
ppm
between +/- 99.9937 % 63 ppm
4
between +/-5 99.999943 % 0.57 ppm
between + / - 6 99.9999998 % 0.002
ppm
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6. What is Six Sigma goal?
Stop the waste of money
managing changes through team
work.
Better use of resources

7. Is Six Sigma risk-free?
Implementing Six Sigma, as well as any other changing management system (i.e
Lean) is not risk free:
1. Organizational changes: Six Sigma needs an internal structure to sustain the
improvement projects (Master Black Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt…) and this is a
long-term project;
2. Long term commitment: like any other long term changing process, the reached
goal is only a new starting point. Struggle to reach the best is the real push to be
better, every day.
3. Failure: …the worst project is a never-ending one. It is better to celebrate failure
rather than never close a project at all. Failure happens, that is why project
selection is a focus phase at the beginning. Choosing the easy-to-go project can
be a good trigger for empowering changing.
4. Holistic vision: if not sure, do not start. Six Sigma is a big, challenging and
intense journey. Six Sigma is a incredible saving machine that (after all) needs
fuel to work. A test-project is worth only to tune the effort, not if you still need
to decide whether or not start.

8. Is Six Sigma flexible?
Every company needs to have its own standard to implement Six Sigma.
Even if there are some basics to “respect”, there is not a certified Six Sigma path
or any ribbon to wear.
Lean Six Sigma is the proof that not all the Company can follow GE or Motorola
approach.
ISO has started an international work for standardizing the Six Sigma approach:
is it still quite doubtful if or when it will deliver.
Every company should focus on what is needed to improve processes, then
approach an improvement system.
No certification is worldwide acknowledge.

9. Six Sigma and projects
Mainly related on energy saving projects and improving test and R&D cost and time,
Six Sigma project in Chemical Industry are now a reality.
Industry Project LT Investment Savings PBT
Chemical Air control 20 wks 1.500 € 13.500 € /yr
Chemical N2 use 16 wks 5.000 € 20.00 € /yr 3 monthes
Chemical Drying air 34 wks 50.000 € 76.000 € /yr 8 monthes
Plant
Compound 16 wk * 70.000 € 20.000 € /yr 3,5 yrs
improvement
* Improvement and Control phase excluded.
Every process (operative and not) can be improved, Six Sigma is the breakthrough
innovative system to manage changing from INSIDE.
Six Sigma provides the structure, the methods, the tools to handle changing and
improvement management.
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10. Six Sigma: pro and cons
Is Quality improvement necessary to compete?
Is Six Sigma mandatory to improve Quality?
Is Lean or TPS mandatory to improve Quality?
Is Six Sigma a structured system developed through
experience to help companies to reach best-in-class
standards?
Is Six Sigma free?
Is Six Sigma worth?
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11. Thank you for attention.
www.matteocasadiostrozzi.it
info@matteocasadiostrozzi.it
Skype: matteo.casadio.strozzi
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