What is Six Sigma Variability?
Six Sigma is a methodology used by businesses to attain excellence in production and processes. It has its roots in the concept of variation. Regardless of all the efforts that the company may have invested in the dissemination of their mandate, there will in most circumstances be a difference between set goals and actual achievement. It is in this context that that aspect of Six Sigma variability arises.
It is important to note that the Six Sigma process is concerned with a businesses’ desire to perfect the delivery of the products and services it offers to clients and to minimize losses and maximize profits. This is achieved through decreasing the amount of variability or variations in products and services. Efforts are then mobilized to attend to the situation and correct the errors. Variation in products causes a multitude of problems when it comes to business efficiency. When there is variability in products, customers do not know what to expect.
The most crucial phase of Sigma methodology is the statistical measurement and analysis that is concerned with assessing the degree of achieved results and comparing this with the expected results. The data will then be harnessed and taken through various statistical tests in order to come up with a solution that will counter the cause of the differences that arise in the product or service. The rectification of this difference will call for the application of Six Sigma tools enacted by professionals within this methodology.
One thing to note when it comes to the question of variability is that there are two causes of variations that exist is most business settings. One of the causes is simply the common cause of variation. This is majorly concerned with the day to day factors in and around a business that occur from time to time, leading to slight differences in products. These causes are considered very random and take place independent of each other.
This means that that the common causes arise from the within a system itself and the setting of the business. Such will include issues to do with the materials and the employees, as well as the methods of production being employed. In most cases, this kind of a cause does not adversely affect the proper functioning of the business and the output will remain relatively stable over a long period of time; which is why variability within a business often goes unnoticed before it is way too late and productivity and business efficiency are affected.
The second cause is the special cause of Six Sigma variability. This relates to the no-form kind of events that take place affecting the production of business. In this case, the cause is not foreseen and will occur at the time least expected. This level of unpredictability makes the output of business to be unstable for a very longtime and will only be corrected through the statistical based control of the business; as is practiced within the Six Sigma Methodology.
It is very important that there the two kinds of causes are distinguished so that proper tools can be used to deal with the situation. Nonetheless, there are those scholars and other business people that feel that there is no need to imply a cut line between the two. This, in effect, poses the danger of the wrong use of tools to deal with a given cause.
The basic thing to understand is that Six Sigma variability is not always solely a result of common causes but also special causes. This designation will come in handy to ensure that each problem is handled in the best manner possible and accurately. The main goal of Six Sigma is to reduce any type of variability found in a business, firm, or organization in order to improve the efficiency in which a business operates, overall profitability, and customer satisfaction. All of these will equate to long term success for any business venture!