Six Sigma In Project Management: A Quick Guide

Six Sigma In Project Management: A Quick Guide


Six Sigma is a business process improvement methodology used to improve the output quality in a process. It is a set of quality management methods that feature both empirical and statistical approaches. It was first introduced by Motorola engineer Bill Smith in 1986, but it was 10 years later when Jack Welch made it central to his business strategy at General Electric. Since the 1980s, the use of Six Sigma has been adopted by companies across the globe and it has evolved into more than a quality system but a way of doing business. Six Sigma methodology is used to improve business practices with statistical data and analysis in order to make better decisions based on facts rather than best guesses.

The Six Sigma methodology is a training session that is based on data and targeting projects with quantifiable business outcomes. The core tool of the Six Sigma approach is the DMAIC roadmap, a more scientific method for project development. It includes five steps: define, measure, analyze, and set objectives. Define is used to figure out the business problem, goal, resources, scope, and timeline for completion. Measure is used to establish a baseline to measure against when improving processes. Analyze is used to identify what's preventing the system from performing.