Through this article reader shall understand the Different Stages Six Sigma Project and details of the steps involved is to be discussed.

Different Stages in a Six Sigma Project

Six Sigma in recent years has emerged as the premier methodology for solving all kinds of business problems and continuously improving the business processes. With Six Sigma, business organizations have managed to eliminate almost all the issues that have been ailing them for a long time.

There are Different Stages in a Six Sigma Project which are completed sequentially:
1. Define: Understanding the problem which is affecting the business or process
2. Measure: Collect data about the problem
3. Analyze: Perform detailed analysis of the collected data and identify the root cause behind the problem
4. Improve: Design a solution for the problem and implement it
5. Control: Sustain the improvement in the process.

Define: The problem which is affecting the business should be identified and understood thoroughly for starting the project.
1. Identifying the need for the project
2. Identifying the people, processes or departments affected by the problem
3. Collect ‘Voice of Customer’ for understanding the magnitude of the problem
4.Extract CTQ from the VOC collected from various stakeholders
5.Identify team members for the project
6.Prepare Project Charter explaining and justifying the need for the project
7.Persuade the management to approve Project Charter by citing its benefits when the project is successfully completed

Measure: Collect data for the problem and validating its accuracy
1.Identifying the CTQ and the target(y)
2.Formulate the Data Collection Plan for the y
3.Gather data for y
4.Design a Measurement System Analysis experiment for verifying the collected data
5.Perform Measurement System Analysis
6.Calculate Process Capability

Analyze: Detailed analysis of the collected data is done and the causes behind the problem are identified
1.Identifying the potential factors (x’s) impacting the y
2.Design Data Collection Plan for the potential x’s
3.Gather data for the potential x’s
4.Assess y to get the current performance level
5.Perform Hypothesis Testing to statistically validate the impact of potential x’s on y
6.Check for relationship between different x’s having impact on y
7.Summarize the analysis

Improve: Formulate a solution for the problem affecting the process and implement it
1.List the identified x’s extracted through statistical analysis having impact on y
2.Design a solution for improvement
3.Prepare Action Plan
4.Implement Action plan
5.After sometime, gather data for improved y
6.Verify through statistical analysis whether y has achieved the target level
7.Analyze data for pre and post comparison of both x’s and y

Control: Once the target has been achieve, steps should be taken to ensure that improvement is sustained in the process
1.Prepare Control Plan
2.Implement Control Plan
3.Collect data for improved y
4.Collect data for x’s
5.Verify the collected data
6.Perform statistical analysis to verify that improvement has sustained
7.Assess process capability of the improved process
8.Prepare documentation wherever required
9.Prepare Cost Benefit Analysis to assess benefits from the project
10.Close the project
11.Hanover the improved process to the Process Owner

After closing the project, perform detailed analysis to check whether lessons learnt from the project or improvement steps taken can be implemented in other processes or other departments in the organization