Business process management - Essay Example

At this stage it is also essential to establish a good infrastructure to achieve the goals. The charter should carry all information such as roles and responsibilities should be defined, and the expected outcome clarified. Six Sigma lays emphasis on the customer expectations and how their expectations should be met. The emphasis on customer is the most attractive feature of Six Sigma methodology. At the definition stage these five factors are taken care of - Supplier, Input, Process, Output, and Customer (SIPOC). B. Measure – According to George Eckes, three measurement principles must be adhered to – a.

Measure only what is important to the customer b. Only measure process outputs that can be improved. c. Refrain from measuring an output for which there is no record of customer dissatisfaction. Thus, in this phase relevant data is collected and the various metrics are prepared based on the data. The important aspects of the current aspects have to be measured. To make the measurement of the process efficient and effective, the Six Sigma team has to ensure that the input is measured after which the process as well as customer satisfaction should be measured. C. Analyze – in this phase the defects are analyzed which helps to establish the “Cause & Effect” relationship. . close – through data collected identify the most critical factors that causes deviation D.

Improve – The data from the metrics and analysis conducted in the earlier phases is used here. Better techniques are utilized in this phase which helps eliminate the root cause of the defects. The Six Sigma team during this phase is guided by their prioritized list which reveals which improvement can lead to the largest change. E. Control – during this phase continuous control and monitoring of process improvement is done which helps in planning for future products and services with zero defects.

In the manufacturing sector the production lines have to be constantly evaluated. With constant vigilance throughout the supply chain, it is possible to achieve 99.73% defect free parts. This is a costly process as it requires statistical tools to monitor and keep control. 2. Obstacles and challenges of the Six Sigma method The Six Sigma method has its own strengths but also enjoys certain challenges. 1. Issues in strategy The critics of Six Sigma contend that it is not a new technique or a principle but simply the old methods have been repackaged and a new term given to it.

Many do not consider it an important strategy that should be implemented. This enhances the importance of trying to evaluate the strengths and weakness of the Six Sigma methodology so that organizations can take an informed decision about the utilization of the Six Sigma principles, tools and concepts. 2. Organizational culture Implementation of Six Sigma calls for a change in the organizational culture that supports quality in planning. Thus, organizations must have a clear understanding of the obstacles without which the methodology may fail. 3. Issues in training