What is Six Sigma? [BEGINNER’S GUIDE]

Adriana Girdler

A clear introduction to six sigma methodology and how it’s used in projects So, you’ve heard of Six Sigma and you’re trying to sift through …

A clear introduction to six sigma methodology and how it’s used in projects

So, you’ve heard of Six Sigma and you’re trying to sift through all the jargon and information. It can be totally confusing.

Let me give you a clear breakdown so that you don’t have to keep stumbling through information that feels totally foreign.

Six Sigma explained

Six Sigma is a disciplined, statistical-based, data-driven approach and continuous improvement methodology for eliminating defects in product, process, or service.

Six Sigma was developed by Motorola in the early 1980s but it became a popular management approach in the early ‘90s.

Six Sigma is built on quality management fundamentals and companies around the world have adopted Six Sigma as a way of doing business.

What industries use Six Sigma?

There are certain industries that typically use Six Sigma, including:

  • Automotive
  • Electronics
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Transportation

Why is it called Six Sigma?

It represents the measure of the variation in a data set collected with a margin of error that can be up to six standard deviations from the mean (the mean is an average of a data set).

In math terms, Six Sigma is 99.9997%, which means a Six Sigma performance produces a defect-free product 99.9997% of the time.

The goal of Six Sigma is to achieve a level of quality that is nearly perfect!

For organizations that use Six Sigma methodology, every sigma improvement will reduce cost and increase customer satisfaction.

Understanding Six Sigma

Still feeling a bit unclear? It’s easier to understand Six Sigma with visuals that I can walk you through. I just uploaded a new YouTube video where I walk through an overview of Six Sigma so that you can understand what it is and how it is used. Watch the video for the full breakdown.

Want to lead every project to success? Make sure you check out my SLAY Project Management course where I give you all the templates, tips, and techniques to implement to SLAY your projects.

Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management

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Adriana Girdler is a project manager, productivity specialist, entrepreneur, professional speaker, facilitator, visioning wizard, and author. As President of CornerStone Dynamics, Adriana is one of Canada’s prominent business productivity and project management specialists—helping both individuals and businesses do what they do, only better. She is a certified master black belt lean six sigma with over 20 years’ experience improving how companies work.

She also holds both PMP (project management professional) and CET (certified engineering technologist) designations. She’s a Tedx speaker, as well as a HuffPost and Thrive Global contributor. She has been interviewed on Global, CBC, CTV, CHCH, 680News Radio, Newstalk 1010, Sirius XM and published in the Globe and Mail and numerous industry magazines. WANT ADRIANA'S FREE ONLINE TRAINING? In 45 min, learn Adriana's 5 project management secrets she use on EVERY project. Sign up for the Free Webinar here: THE FAB FIVE FUNDAMENTALS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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