Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Chapter 2: Six Sigma History & Application)

Flashcards on Six Sigma History & Application

How does Six Sigma differ from traditional quality programs like Total Quality Management (TQM)?

Six Sigma instills a culture of continuous improvement, while traditional programs focus on specific goals and may reset.

How does Six Sigma prevent regression after improvements are made?

Six Sigma implements controls and monitoring techniques to sustain improvements.

What does DMAIC stand for in Six Sigma?

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control

What does DMADV stand for in Six Sigma?

Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify

Who developed the normal curve, a foundation for Six Sigma statistical methods?

Carl Friedrich Gauss

Who was the first to link sigma level with quality measurement?

Walter Shewhart

According to Walter Shewhart, at what sigma level does a process require correction?

Three Sigma (3σ)

What happens to costs as a process approaches Three Sigma?

Errors increase exponentially, and costs rise significantly.

What statistical tool is Walter Shewhart credited with developing?

Control charts

Who expanded Shewhart's statistical quality methods to non-manufacturing environments?

William Edwards Deming

What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle developed by Deming?

Plan, Do, Check, Act

How did William Edwards Deming influence Japanese manufacturing and Lean Six Sigma?

Deming introduced statistical process control (SPC) in Japan, influencing Lean Six Sigma principles.

What mathematical model serves as the foundation for Six Sigma statistics?

The normal curve (bell curve), developed by Carl Friedrich Gauss.

What role did Motorola play in developing Six Sigma?

Motorola introduced defects per million opportunities (DPMO) and saved $16 billion in 12 years.

Who were the key contributors to Motorola's Six Sigma development?

Bob Galvin, Bill Smith, and Dr. Mikel Harry

How did Motorola expand Six Sigma beyond its own company?

Motorola published articles, developed training programs, and encouraged adoption across industries.

How did Six Sigma evolve under ABB and Dr. Mikel Harry?

Dr. Harry and Richard Schroeder (ABB) linked Six Sigma to financial performance, emphasizing quality drives profits.

How did Larry Bossidy impact Six Sigma at Allied Signal?

Larry Bossidy ensured executives received Six Sigma training and helped establish company-wide deployment strategies.

How did Jack Welch use Six Sigma at General Electric (GE)?

Jack Welch linked employee rewards to Six Sigma performance and provided training at all levels, saving GE $7-10 billion.

What are some common myths about Six Sigma?

Six Sigma starts with logical ideas and validates them with data, offering significant savings.

How do companies apply Six Sigma to business problems?

Identify areas of concern, conduct cost-benefit analysis, and prioritize issues using Six Sigma methods.

What are the levels of Six Sigma certification?

White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt

What is a Six Sigma White Belt?

Entry-level knowledge supporting Six Sigma culture.

What does a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification cover?

Six Sigma roles, team management, basic quality tools, metrics, and root cause analysis.

What does a Six Sigma Green Belt do?

Data collection, analysis, project execution, and may lead smaller projects.

What key concepts are covered in Green Belt training?

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), statistical distributions, basic hypothesis testing, Kaizen & waste elimination.

What are the responsibilities of a Six Sigma Black Belt?

Leads large-scale projects, uses advanced statistical tools, designs processes, and trains Green Belts.

What is the role of a Six Sigma Master Black Belt?

Manages Black Belts & Green Belts, consults on complex projects, and trains leaders.

What is required for Six Sigma certification exams?

Exams on basic concepts for White & Yellow Belts; longer exams with statistics and project scenarios for Green & Black Belts.