6 Sigma

Six Sigma is a business process improvement strategy that essentially checks that a business is doing what its customers want, that the processes employed are the most effective known and that variation is removed from those processes to provide significantly improved consistency, cost effectiveness and a base to improvement.

First introduced back in 1986 by Motorola - who began achieving significant results just two years later - it is not a methodology solely for manufacturing industry, far from it. It is equally applicable to any process in any business sector - from banking to construction and much, much more.

Within the UK, thousands of companies are aware of Six Sigma and are planning to introduce it to their businesses; some have already adopted it to great effect.

Six Sigma - Who Is Policing It?

The Six Sigma revolution here in the UK is well and truly under way, with many leading companies already introducing its theories and working practices with excellent results. But who is keeping watch over this new phenomenon? Who is judging the experience of those very individuals responsible for its introduction?

No recognised standard exists and no single body is acknowledged as the arbiter of Six Sigma - either here or overseas.

This lack of focus means anyone looking to introduce Six Sigma is faced with a dilemma - what should they be looking for when recruiting experienced Six Sigma specialists? How can the quality of their training be verified?

The introduction of a definitive standard is essential if Six Sigma is to retain any credibility.

By its very introduction, some will argue that such a standard will stifle the development of Six Sigma. But without it, Six Sigma will fall victim to its own prey - deviation from perfection.

Six Sigma Implementers in demand across the board

Implementers of the Six Sigma business process improvement strategy are much in demand across a broad range of industries.

"Since I first began working with Six Sigma, there has been a consistent and rapidly growing requirement for implementers within a cross section of service, engineering and manufacturing industries" explains Mike. "This demonstrates that business is generally anxious to introduce Six Sigma and gain the savings quoted by those groups well advanced in its development (such as GE and Motorola with over 10 years behind them)."

Most industries such as automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, finance, process and domestic appliances have all been looking for people with the skills and experience to implement a Six Sigma programme within their organisation.

"The significance lies in the fact that whilst some companies are looking to fill gaps, with trained and fully experienced black and master black belts, in existing structures, this is not the whole picture. More and more companies are actively seeking out Six Sigma personnel to implement and then move their programmes forward," continues Mike. "It is an interesting time in the development of Six Sigma."

"The number of people trained or training in the UK is quite large but those trained with 2 or more years project experience are so rare that companies will go to great lengths to employ them." He explained.

Those companies unaware of this improvement philosophy are now becoming the minority and do need to consider the ideas especially as the large and OEM organisations are increasingly buying in to Six Sigma and as Mike makes clear "will soon expect their supply chains to join the incredibly organised improvement wave."

Mike Rowles can be contacted on 01384 397555 or email on mike.rowles@jonlee.co.uk - anyone wanting more information on Six Sigma or recruitment issues should feel free to speak to him.

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