10 Six-Sigma Tools to Master

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Every Six Sigma project team utilizes a series of tools in their work to improve sigma performance. However, not all of the tools are complex. To make Six Sigma a success in your organization, it must affect everyone in the organization. Thus, it’s important to roll-out the basics first before starting on in-depth statistical training.

These basic skills are outlined in this post:

• The critical-to-quality (CTQ) tree helps a team identify the needs and requirements of the customer.
• A process map is a graphical display of the suppliers, inputs, process steps, outputs, and customers affecting a project team. There are four types of process maps. In the Define stage of DMAIC, there is the map of how the process is currently operating at the highest level. It is called the high-level process map. In the Analysis stage of DMAIC, there is the subprocess map. In the Improve stage of DMAIC, the team creates the should-be map. In Design for Six Sigma, there is the could-be map.
• The histogram is a graphical display of the number of times a given event is seen in a set of observations. Among its uses is telling the project team whether they are dealing with common or special cause variation. Common cause variation occurs in a process when no one of the components of variation (machines, methods, materials, measurement, mother nature, or people) has an undue influence on the process. Special cause variation occurs when one or more of the components of variation are having an undue influence on the process.
• The pareto chart divides data into the vital few versus the useful many. This is based on the concept of the 80–20 rule.
• The process summary analysis worksheet separates value added from non-value-added steps in the process. The steps are then categorized into the types of nonvalue activity. The most common non-value-added activities are moves, delays, set-ups, internal failures, external failures, control/inspections, and value enabling.
• The cause-effect diagram is a brainstorming tool that helpsteams generate factors that affect poor sigma performance.
• The scatter diagram is a tool to assist a team in establishing a relationship between some factor and the response the team is trying to improve.
• The affinity diagram is yet another tool to assist a project team gather its thoughts. It is typically used to help a team generate ideas to improve sigma performance.
• The run chart monitors some value over time. It should be examined for shifts, trends, or unusual patterns.
• The control chart shows the expected level of variation for a process variable enabling a project team to determine when the process is no longer consistent, predictable, and repeatable.