| Statistics are at the heart of Six Sigma's powerful | | | | set. A histogram is constructed by dividing the range |
| methodology for quality improvement. It pays to get to | | | | of data into equally sized segments. This data tool |
| know some of the most important of the Six Sigma | | | | enables you to quickly and easily answer several |
| statistical tools.Control ChartsThe control chart is the | | | | important questions: what distribution does the data |
| fundamental tool of statistical process control; a | | | | have? What is the most common system response? |
| proven technique for improving productivity. It monitors | | | | Is the data symmetric or does it contain |
| the variation of key characteristics and indicates the | | | | outliers?Pareto ChartA pareto chart is used to |
| range of variability that is built into a system. Control | | | | graphically summarize the relative importance of the |
| charts provide diagnostic information about process | | | | differences between groups of data. A pareto chart is |
| capability that can be used to analyze variation in | | | | constructed by dividing the range of data into groups. |
| process data to demonstrate whether a process is | | | | The vertical axis of the pareto chart is the cumulative |
| operating consistently. The bounds of the control chart | | | | percentage, and the horizontal axis of the pareto chart |
| are marked by upper and lower control limits that are | | | | is the groups of response variables. Unlike the |
| calculated by applying statistical formulas to data from | | | | histogram, the pareto chart is ordered in descending |
| the process. Data points that fall outside these bounds | | | | frequency magnitude. The Pareto Chart allows you to |
| represent variations due to irregular causes, which can | | | | focus your efforts to achieve the greatest |
| then be identified and eliminated. Control charts are | | | | improvements by identifying the largest issues facing |
| effective in defect prevention and will help ensure that | | | | the process. It identifies the 20% of sources that are |
| your process performs consistently. From them, you | | | | causing 80% of the problems.Peter Peterka is |
| can, in a precise manner, monitor, control, and improve | | | | President of Six Sigma us. For additional information on |
| on process performance over time. This will allow you | | | | Six Sigma Black Belt or Minitab programs contact |
| to be able to predict fluctuations, lower costs and | | | | Peter Peterka at He is the Principal Consultant in |
| ensure the process has a higher effective | | | | practice areas of DMAIC and DFSS. Peter has eleven |
| capacity.Failure Modes and Effects Analysis | | | | years of experience performing as a Master Black |
| (FMEA)FMEA is a powerful structured approach that | | | | Belt, and has over 15 years experience in industry as |
| helps you to identify and counter weak points in the | | | | an improvement specialist and engineer working with |
| early conception phase of products and processes. | | | | numerous companies, including 3M, Dell, Dow, GE, HP, |
| Using FMEA allows you to analyze any system or | | | | Intel, Motorola, Seagate, Xerox and even the US Men's |
| subsystem in manufacturing or service industries in the | | | | Olympic Team. For partial list look here. Peter is a |
| early stages of the process. This systematic | | | | certified a Master Black Belt and holds an MS degree |
| methodology identifies potential failure modes in a | | | | in Statistics from Iowa State and a BS in Chemical |
| system caused by either design or process | | | | Engineering from Purdue. Peter worked for 3M over 10 |
| deficiencies. It also identifies critical or significant design | | | | years where he gained extensive experience applying |
| or process characteristics that require special controls | | | | Sigma Methodologies to a variety of processes.Peter |
| to prevent or detect failure modes. FMEA improves | | | | has successfully developed Six Sigma deployment |
| the quality of products and services and processes by | | | | strategies and training for Product and Process |
| preventing problems from occurring. It documents and | | | | Development, Manufacturing and Business Process |
| tracks action taken to reduce risk while it integrates | | | | Improvement. His broad experience across many |
| with the DMAIC methodology.HistogramA histogram is | | | | technologies helped him gain insight on how to apply |
| used to graphically summarize the distribution of a data | | | | Six Sigma methods to Business Processes. |