Six Sigma – Part 2: DMAIC: Defining and Measuring

In Six Sigma - Part 2: DMAIC: Defining and Measuring, you'll learn ...

• How to define a Six Sigma project such that the scope is constrained to a manageable and achievable size
• How to launch a Six Sigma project using problem statements and objective statements
• How to use process mapping to better understand your processes and discover where real breakthrough improvement can be achieved
• How to use diagrams to identify a list of possible factors that may be contributing to the performance of your project’s critical output
• The different types of data that can be collected and how to characterize data in a critical, scientific way

Overview

Six Sigma is the single most effective problem-solving methodology for improving business and organizational performance. There’s not a business, technical, or process challenge that Six Sigma can’t improve. The world’s top corporations have used it to increase their profits collectively by more than $100 billion over the past ten years. In certain corporations, indicating Six Sigma proficiency on your résumé is now a prerequisite to moving into a position in management.

Simply stated, Six Sigma is about applying a structured, scientific method to improve any aspect of a business, organization, process, or person. It’s about engaging in disciplined data collection and analysis to determine the best possible ways of meeting your customers’ needs while satisfying yours and minimizing wasted resources and maximizing profit in the process.

This course is Part 2 of a 5-part series based on the popular book Six Sigma for Dummies, 2nd Edition¹. Despite its astounding effectiveness, few outside of the community of Six Sigma practitioners know what Six Sigma is all about. Six Sigma for Dummies provides a fast and easy way to understand and implement Six Sigma. In fact, Six Sigma For Dummies is the most straightforward, non-intimidating guide available.

This course, Part 2 of the series, is where we begin digging into the depths and details of practicing Six Sigma by presenting the information in the context of Six Sigma’s DMAIC problem-solving road map. The first two phases, Define and Measure, enable you to properly scope and launch a project (Modules 1 and 2) and then objectively identify all possible causes of problems (Modules 3, 4 and 5).

This course series provides more than an overview or survey of Six Sigma. It provides a comprehensive, actionable description of the methods and tools of Six Sigma. Yes, Six Sigma is rigorous, technical, and analytical. But this course series takes on this difficult subject and makes it understandable through examples, simple explanations, and visual aids.

This course is applicable to engineers of all disciplines working in any industry. Six Sigma is applicable everywhere — not only in large and complex corporations but also in the less complex and more intimate worlds of professional performance and personal accomplishment.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define projects intended to improve processes.
• Align Six Sigma projects with business needs.
• Explain the benefits of a Six Sigma project.
• Isolate a problem using a problem statement.
• Identify the entitled level of improvement.
• Set project goals using an objective statement.
• Initiate a DMAIC project and characterize a process by mapping its flow, sequence, and steps.
• Create a high-level process view using a SIPOC.
• Apply value stream mapping (VSM) to gain perspective on a process.
• Explain the need for diverse, cross-functional teams in idea generation.
• Conduct a brainstorming session.
• Use affinity and fishbone diagrams to organize and analyze ideas.
• Apply Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify potential factors.
• Distinguish different types of data.
• Explain the basics of statistics.
• Differentiate short-term variation from long-term variation.

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 30 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.