Six Sigma Project Management Using DMAIC

Six Sigma is a well-known business management strategy implemented by Motorola which is very popular in manufacturing industries. Nowadays it is experienced by several software companies as well to manage the projects.

Six Sigma strategy focuses on improving the quality of the processes. It strives to identify and remove the defects which can cause failures. Each Six Sigma project is managed with a distinct series of steps and has quantified targets.

5 one-liners about DMAIC:

• Define the project goals.
• Measure key aspects of the processes and collect relevant data.
• Analyze the data and verify cause and consequences relationship.
• Improve the processes based on the data analysis.
• Control to ensure that any deviations from target are corrected before they result in defects.

Quick-info about how a Six Sigma Project can be managed using DMAIC:

1. Define
   1. Business case
   2. Who is the client
   3. State map
   4. Project scope
   5. Deliverables
   6. Start and end date
2. Measure
   1. Key metrics
   2. Whether metrics are valid?
   3. Is the data adequate in the process?
   4. Baseline
   5. Progress
   6. Success
3. Analyze
   1. Current state
   2. Changes
   3. Resource requirements
   4. Causes of change-failure
   5. Risks and obstacles
4. Improve
   1. Future state map
   2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
   3. Specific activities that help the project meet its goals.
5. Control
   1. Cost, quality, schedule, scope, risk and change requests
   2. Type of progress reports
   3. The way how the project will meet its goals.

Six Sigma offers an effective methodologies — I’ll be writing more about it in the coming days. I am working on combining measure-ability of Six Sigma with PMI principles 

Any feedback/comments are welcome.

See Also:

1. Twenty One Project Management Tips On How To Get Co-operation of Senior Management
2. Project Environment Analysis 8
3. Five Chronic Problems With Failed Projects And How To Overpower Them With Common Sense
4. Project Manager Who Is Most Likely To Produce Great Results 60
5. Twelve Traits of Dependable Project Managers
6. Everyday Status Meeting – An Absolute Project Killer
7. Attributes of Agile Project Management