Applying Six Sigma metrics to a project
Overview
This standard covers the competences required for applying Six Sigma metrics to products and processes. It involves consulting with appropriate personnel and gathering all the necessary data to produce a metric graph. You will need to apply Six Sigma metrics to monitor the process and justify improvements, applying both primary and secondary metrics for the Six Sigma project. You will be expected to use the data collected and the graph produced to identify where improvements can be made, and to prepare an action plan that will bring about the improvements.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the activities that you cannot solve, or that are outside your responsibility, to the relevant authority. You must ensure that all the necessary documentation/visual representation is completed accurately and legibly. You will be expected to take full responsibility for your own actions within the activity, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you produce.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of the production of Six Sigma metrics, and will provide an informed approach to the techniques and procedures used. You will need to understand the principles and application of Six Sigma metrics, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required criteria.
Applying safe working practices will be a key issue throughout.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- consult with relevant people and gather the necessary data to produce a metric graph
- apply Six Sigma metrics to monitor the process and justify improvements for the selected activity
- apply both primary and secondary metrics for the Six Sigma project
- transform variable data to attribute data where appropriate
- use the data collected to complete a primary metric graph
- use the graph produced to identify where improvements to metrics can be made
- prepare an action plan to implement the improvements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- the main features and benefits of carrying out a Six Sigma metrics activity
- the importance of using metrics to drive a Six Sigma project
- how to calculate defects per million opportunities, defects per unit and rolled throughput yield
- how to utilise Z tables to calculate the sigma score
- the time period necessary to calculate a meaningful baseline
- how to set realistic objectives and targets for the Six Sigma metrics activity
- how to gather the data required for inclusion in a metric chart
- how to construct a Six Sigma metric chart
- the relationship between
parts per million',defects per million opportunities', Yrt and the sigma score - the difference between variable and attribute data
- why it is advantageous to transform attribute data into variable data
- how to transform attribute data into variable data
- the significance of the 1.5S shift, and how it can be utilised to infer long-term metric values
- the extent of your own authority within the project, and to whom you should report in the event of problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
- Carry out Six Sigma metrics activities on both:
- products
- processes
- Calculate, for each of the activities covered:
- defects per million opportunities
- defects per unit
- rolled through put yield (Yrt)
- the sigma score
- Calculate metrics, which are:
- long-term
- short-term
- variable or attribute