Posted: 12/22/2009 10:09:18 AM EDT
| Anyone here have experience with it? Was it positive or negative? What can you tell me about it? |
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i only heard a little about it while interning and doing work at chemical plants, so my understanding may be all fucked up.
6 sigma sounds good on paper (i bet they just picked 6 because six and sigma both start with s so it sounds nifty), but a huge pain in the ass to implement on equipment, especially when the failure rate on equipment makes it impossible to achieve 6 sigma (standard deviations). |
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I ran a Six Sigma project at Bao Steel, in Shanghai China. This is the largest steel plant in the world. The project was a success.
When applied to manufacturing, it can work great. When people try to apply it to non-manufacturing processes, it can be (and often is) a cluster-f*ck. |
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I guess it depends on the size of and how your company implements it...I assume that's why you ask. If you are thinking about taking 6 sigma classes or training on your own I would go for it...companies are making a big deal out of it (and ISO cert).
That said, like most (all?) of the quality initiatives that have come out over the years it is fairly common sensed based and not really revolutionary...but they play it like it is. When presented with the material you realize it consists of things that make sense. One of the key principles of 6 sig is the use of statistical methods for measuring the quality (lack of defects) of your processes...hence the name 6 sigma as in standard deviation...and the pursuit of (that) extreme level of quality. A lot of companies talk the 6 sig talk, but for a variety of reasons, don't fully or correctly implement it...so its good training, good theory, but if your company doesn't follow through it generates a lot of problems. Big companies even have 6 sig departments, directors, etc. so it has become a career path in and of itself...so I would support, attend, learn, etc. if offered. |
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Quoted: I ran a Six Sigma project at Bao Steel, in Shanghai China. This is the largest steel plant in the world. The project was a success. When applied to manufacturing, it can work great. When people try to apply it to non-manufacturing processes, it can be (and often is) a cluster-f*ck. I was in a presentation once where a guy was trying to sell Six Sigma for third party project management services. When he announced that he was a Black Belt, the reaction he got was what you would have expected if he had announced himself as the Grand Dragon. |
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Quoted:
I ran a Six Sigma project at Bao Steel, in Shanghai China. This is the largest steel plant in the world. The project was a success. When applied to manufacturing, it can work great. When people try to apply it to non-manufacturing processes, it can be (and often is) a cluster-f*ck. This. A Six Sigma implementation needs to be driven by someone who understands this. And will work ACTIVELY to keep Six Sigma OUT of and away from the "front office". If your company is all "front office" and does not actually manufacture something with well defined metrics for success, avoid it like the plague. To the point you may want to start looking for other employment if you hear it's coming to where you work. |
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Alright, here is my take...
Improving business and improving efficiency... GOOD. WE taught the Japanese JIT, and lean manufacturnig... And they ended up kicking our butts when they implemented it correctly... Stuff like this being used to play "catch up" never works, in my opinion. You have a manufacturing facility that can improve... Perfect fit. |
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Quoted:
I ran a Six Sigma project at Bao Steel, in Shanghai China. This is the largest steel plant in the world. The project was a success. When applied to manufacturing, it can work great. When people try to apply it to non-manufacturing processes, it can be (and often is) a cluster-f*ck. This Exactly in manufacturing it can work wonders everywhere else it's a total fucking cluster fuck. |
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Quoted:
I ran a Six Sigma project at Bao Steel, in Shanghai China. This is the largest steel plant in the world. The project was a success. When applied to manufacturing, it can work great. When people try to apply it to non-manufacturing processes, it can be (and often is) a cluster-f*ck. This! My company tried it for a few years. It just doesn't apply to non-manufacturing. We spent loads of money and time to learn it and get certified only to have management decide years later that it doesn't work for us. But hey, I'm a green belt. 
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I'm a BB. Like any business tool, if used properly it will be a great benefit, if not used properly, it will cause many problems.
You will get a lot of people chiming in here bitching about 6S, they are usually the people too dumb to understand the utility of applying statistics. Take their whining for what it's worth, nothing. Every gun nut would do well to study 6S or even basic statistics. Then you would realize how much bullshit is floating around the gun world, especially when talking about accuracy tests. |