Six Sigma Implementation with PerformanceWare

Six Sigma is among the performance and quality management systems and disciplines that can be implemented and managed with PerformanceWare. Six Sigma is a data and measurement driven process management technique that seeks to drive defects produced by the process to less than 3.4 defects per million. Defects are defined as any non-conformance with customer specifications. Six Sigma can be used in all manufacturing and service organizations.

Like all process improvement methodologies, Six Sigma should not be used independently without implementation of Activity Based Management or a similar process to evaluate and reduce costs. Both ABM and ISO 9000 can be implemented in conjunction with Six Sigma. Costs drive quality and quality drives costs. Improving quality and costs both involve improving processes and PerformanceWare is uniquely suited to define, document and communicate all processes within an organization.

With the open-ended nature of PerformanceWare, Six Sigma may be implemented in conjunction with ISO 9000:2000 or other quality system documentation and registration systems to provide a complete performance management solution. Following is a summary of how PerformanceWare may be used in conjunction with Six Sigma DMAIC (for improving existing processes and products) and DMADV (for developing new processes and products which perform at Six Sigma) techniques. Roster Network member consultants can assist you with an implementation of Six Sigma.

Define	Define the goals of the project being undertaken. The goals should start at the top with strategic goals set by executive management and flow down to goals for each process for which an improvement project is planned.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. Position Matrices track all group and individual performance goals. 2. PerformanceWare and the Position Matrices integrates individual performance standards into overall performance standards. 3. All project definition and planning policies, procedures, forms, checklists, work instructions and other documentation can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 4. Document Teams become the focus for all continuous improvement to a system and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 5. ISO 9001:2000 can be implemented to enhance the resource planning and documentation aspects of the project. Our facilitation system is driven by the setting of objective performance goals.
Measure	Measure the performance of the existing process and establish a baseline from which progress will be measured.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All measurement policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Document Teams become the focus for all continuous improvement to a system and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 3. Internal audit capabilities enhance measurement activities.
Analyze	Analyze the current process to find opportunities for improvement in the process and the root causes of existing defects.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All analysis policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Document Teams become the focus for all continuous improvement to a system and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 3. A corrective and preventive action log and tracking feature is included in PerformanceWare. 4. Individual and team goals and activities in performing analysis are documented.
Improve	Implement the desired process improvements.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. Document Teams become the focus for all continuous improvement to a system and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 2. All improvement policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare.
Control	Control the process through the creation, modification and documentation of the change that has been implemented.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All improvement policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. ISO 9001:2000 can be implemented to assure continued use and documentation of improved processes. 3. Internal and external audits can be facilitated with PerformanceWare audit pages.

Define	Define the goals of the project being undertaken. The goals should start at the top with strategic goals set by executive management and flow down to goals for each process for which an improvement project is planned.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. Position Matrices track all group and individual performance goals. 2. PerformanceWare and the Position Matrices integrates individual performance standards into overall performance standards. 3. All project definition and planning policies, procedures, forms, checklists, work instructions and other documentation can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 4. Document Teams become the focus for all continuous improvement to a system and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 5. ISO 9001:2000 can be implemented to enhance the resource planning and documentation aspects of the project. Our facilitation system is driven by the setting of objective performance goals.
Measure	Measure and determine internal and external customer needs and specifications.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All customer need measurement and definition and planning policies, procedures, forms, checklists, work instructions and other documentation can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Defining, measuring and meeting customer needs is the essence of the process management focus of ISO 9001:2000, which may be contemporaneously implemented with PerformanceWare. 3. Easy to use web based customer survey forms can be implemented to identify customer needs and measure ongoing performance in meeting these needs.
Analyze	Analyze what is needed to meet these customer needs and specifications.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All analysis policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Document Teams become the focus for all analysis and planning activities at the process level and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 3. Defining, measuring and meeting customer needs is the essence of the process management focus of ISO 9001:2000, which may be contemporaneously implemented with PerformanceWare.
Design	Design the process necessary to meet the customer needs and specification identified.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All design policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Document Teams become the focus for all design and planning activities at the process level and PerformanceWare expedites and documents their work. 3. PerformanceWare defines, documents and communicates all individual and group goals, activities, tools and processes, levels of responsibility and impacts of the process as designed. 4. ISO 9001:2000 can be implemented to assure continued use and documentation of improved processes.
Verify	Verify that the process does produce output sufficient to meet customer needs within Six Sigma.
PerformanceWare Opportunities	1. All verification, measurement and testing policies, procedures, tools, forms can be defined, documented and communicated with PerformanceWare. 2. Measuring the output of processes and whether it meets customer needs and specifications is the essence of the process management focus of ISO 9001:2000, which may be contemporaneously implemented with PerformanceWare.