The Cost of Poorly Performing Processes – Need for Six Sigma
Prior to the introduction of Six Sigma philosophy, there was a debate as to whether Six Sigma is a goal worth pursuing. Many experts in the area of quality believed that wastage was a way of life. Trying to eliminate wastage would cause more wastage. They believed that it was possible to eliminate waste but…
What is Six Sigma ? – A Tool to Conquer Variability
Definition of Six Sigma Six Sigma is not a mere methodology or a quality tool. It is a philosophy i.e. a systematic way of thinking to solve quality problems. Six sigma involves use of statistics to convert raw data into facts about how the processes of the organization are being run. The thrust is on…
What Six Sigma is Not ? – Fallacies about Six Sigma
Six Sigma has really become a management buzzword. A lot of people use it in very different contexts. As a result a variety of meanings have been conjured up for the very simple six sigma process. To simplify matters and to ensure that the readers have an accurate understanding of what the Six Sigma process…
In the equation - Y = f(X), Y is the dependent variable and it is dependent on the variable X. In other words, when there is a change in value of X then value of Y will automatically change. The following are the characteristics of both types of variables:
| Y | X |
| Dependent variable | Independent variable |
| Output of the process | Input to the process |
| Effect | Cause |
| Symptom | Problem |
| It is monitored | It is controlled |
It is important to know that the variable or the factor that we want to improve is a Y or an X. If the variable under control is a Y then we should identify the Xs or the independent variables that affect Y and we should focus on improving the Xs and thereby improving the Y. There could be more one X that influences the Y and we should try to brainstorm along with the team to identify as many Xs as possible and then perform Pareto analysis or other prioritization tools to identify the critical Xs that impact our Y.
Customer is the person (whether internal or external to the organization) who uses the output that the organization produces. A customer could be
Customer requirements can be defined as the needs of the customer and his expectations from the output that the organization is producing and delivering. When the organization is able to meet all the customer requirements then it will lead to Customer Satisfaction. On the contrary, if the organization is unable to meet the customer requirements then the customers will be dissatisfied and over the period of time they will turn away from the organization’s product. Customer requirements are also called Voice of the customer - “VOC”.
While performing the above the following questions should be asked:
CTQ stands for ‘Critical to Quality’. In other words it represents the critical requirements of the output. CTQ’s could be derived from Customer requirements, Risks, Economics and Regulations. For eg a CTQ could be on-time delivery or accuracy etc. It is very critical to identify and define CTQs appropriately because it depicts the quality parameters that relate to wants and needs of the customer.
Once we have collected the voice of the customer (VOC) we then will have to arrive at Critical to Quality (CTQ) elements so that the customer requirements can be incorporated into our process and the output can be produced as desired by the customer.
Article Written by
Himanshu Juneja, the founder of Management Study Guide (MSG), is a commerce graduate from Delhi University and an MBA holder from the esteemed Institute of Management Technology (IMT). He has always been someone deeply rooted in academic excellence and driven by a relentless desire to create value. Recently, he was honored with the “Most Aspiring Entrepreneur and Management Coach of 2025 (Blindwink Awards 2025)” award, a testament to his hard work, vision, and the value MSG continues to deliver to the global community.
Article Written by
Himanshu Juneja, the founder of Management Study Guide (MSG), is a commerce graduate from Delhi University and an MBA holder from the esteemed Institute of Management Technology (IMT). He has always been someone deeply rooted in academic excellence and driven by a relentless desire to create value. Recently, he was honored with the “Most Aspiring Entrepreneur and Management Coach of 2025 (Blindwink Awards 2025)” award, a testament to his hard work, vision, and the value MSG continues to deliver to the global community.
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