Six Sigma Manufacturing

Optimise and organise your workplace to save overall operational costs and improve efficiency with Lean Six Sigma.

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What Are the Benefits Of Six Sigma in Manufacturing?

Six Sigma is an incredibly popular manufacturing method amongst companies because of its plethora of benefits. We’ve highlighted just a few of the reasons why you may want to implement Six Sigma methods in your organisation:

  • Waste is minimised through optimising your production processes. 
  • Efficiency will be increased through decreasing process variation as all employees will be completing work to the same high-quality standard.
  • There will be a reduction in errors through looking at data that is showing problems and implementing change for this which in turn will boost profit.

How Should Companies Use Six Sigma?

There are many ways in which you can implement Six Sigma manufacturing within your workplace depending on how your business works. Below we’ve highlighted five different steps you can implement Six Sigma methodologies into a warehouse environment:

Define 

The first step to implementing any new methodology, but especially for Six Sigma, is to define problems, customer needs and project goals. Within this step, employees will create a map of the process to understand the needs of the customer, what they require from production, and also what their overall project focus may be. This can be done by creating clear project goals and aims. 

Measure 

From this data you have collected, measure how you are currently performing and realistically assess what problems are repeatedly occurring during production. In this step, you will start to understand your processes better by focusing on measuring both your production processes, but also measuring what the customers are looking to gain from your product.

Analyse

This is when you take the data you have collected from the measuring step, and analyse which errors are occurring, where they are, and why they are occurring. The analysis is key when looking at your data because you’re trying to discover the root cause of your problems, and work together as a team to understand why this is happening. From here, you can start implementing effective solutions.This could be talking about how to better organise tools so they are more accessible and efficient for employees, which could be done through installing visual signage.

Improve 

After taking the analysed data you have collected and looked at the problems you have found, you can start to consider solutions to these problems to improve efficiency within the workplace. Within this step, it is advised to create a ‘Kaizen’ culture (culture of continuous improvement) and create conversations about these problems and brainstorm solutions together between employees. This is more likely to generate well-thought-out and diverse solutions, which all work to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

Control 

The final step is about maintaining the improvements that you have implemented. You want to make sure that you are monitoring the solutions in place to ensure they are achieving the results that you are after. This could be done by measuring data and analytics and setting yourself goals to reach. You may measure elements within your warehouses such as the reduction in total production time or a decrease in physical waste. This step is about controlling improvements that have been put in place to ensure they don’t occur again. A great way to ensure that everyone is able to see how these changes are working is to display data by using Kanban boards on the warehouse floor.

Buy Lean Six Sigma Products From Orgatex

At Orgatex we pride ourselves on being experts in efficiency improvement, visual management and Six Sigma manufacturing solutions. We offer a range of high-quality products to help streamline efficient work processes across industrial, manufacturing and logistic sectors. Our team is more than happy to help you implement a tailored Six Sigma solution within your organisation, using the highest quality products. Simply contact us to get started.

In addition to our visual and lean management products such as container labelling and visual boards, we also offer methodology solutions to problems in the workplace when trying to implement lean and Six Sigma programs.

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If you have any questions about lean Six Sigma and how it works, read our frequently asked questions below. If the question you have isn’t answered, please feel free to Contact A Member Of Our Team, who will be happy to advise.

Six Sigma Manufacturing FAQs

What Does Six Sigma Mean in Manufacturing?

Six Sigma is a methodology implemented within manufacturing which utilises data and statistics to analyse the errors or mistakes that are being made, and to create and implement effective solutions. Concerning manufacturing, Six Sigma means to optimise your manufacturing process to improve efficiency, and costs, and reduce defects.

What Are the Lean Six Sigma Principles?

The lean Six Sigma principles are as follows:

  • Prioritise and focus on the customer’s requirements and needs. 
  • Understand the processes within your workplace, from understanding your processes you can identify the causes of problems and focus on ways you can solve these problems.
  • Remove anything that doesn’t add value to your manufacturing process and in turn, this will reduce waste.
  • Finally, communicate and be flexible to opinions and change processes to further improve what you are doing.

Who Developed Six Sigma?

The development of the Six Sigma process was accredited to Bill Smith and Mikel Harry in 1986. They were two engineers at Motorola who developed the famous idea.

Are Lean and Six Sigma the Same?

Lean is more of a general methodology for use within a range of industries whereas Six Sigma is entirely focused on implementing processes within manufacturing businesses. However, many organisations combine the two to create lean Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma is a tool kit which encompasses all the methodology tactics – from both helping to reduce waste and increasing efficiency.

Is Six Sigma Still Relevant?

Many businesses implement the lean Six Sigma methodology to help improve their production process and waste reduction. Many businesses that have implemented this technique successfully, both large and small, have seen a significant increase in their profit margins.

Where is Six Sigma Used?

Six sigma is traditionally associated with businesses within the manufacturing industry as this is where the method was traditionally developed. However, any business can implement the Six Sigma method to help improve its management system and efficiency. Major companies such as Nike and Amazon have seen unparalleled success by implementing the Six Sigma methodology within their workplace.

Find More Lean Methods

Find More Lean Methods