Six Sigma: An Education All Business Professional Need

Companies and educational institutions ultimately depend on similar factors for their success; namely, the performance of staff and students. In order to enhance the performance of students within an institution, education professionals are constantly implementing new ideas to boost processes.

These ideas might include new techniques, learning aids, and more. With the new processes in place, student learning enhances and the reputation of the institution escalates.

One methodology which can help in the field of process improvement within educational institutions is Six Sigma.

This concept has been created to achieve strategic business results. It is based on an approach which considers the customer first, and the concept helps highlight ways in which defects within a system prove expensive to that institution.

The fewer risks the institution is exposed to, the less likely it is to lose students, when the Six Sigma methodology is transferred to education.

Six Sigma began in the 1980s, within the Motorola company. At this time, the company was at risk because of competition from a Japanese counterpart. Once applied, the Six Sigma methods not only saved the company but allowed it to regain its pre-eminent place in the market.

Other companies to successfully employ Six Sigma include General Electric and Allied Signal, both of whom increased profits and expanded after deployment of Six Sigma.

Institutional Culture Shift

Culture can be an important factor when it comes to the success of Six Sigma. In order to have a successful deployment, the institutional culture must sometimes be changed, a process which is effected with the successful acceptance of Six Sigma.

The changed culture will not just include Six Sigma professionals such as Black Belts, Green Belts, and Quality Leaders, but everyone else involved in the institution. Once the problem in a process has been identified and addressed, the process will be evaluated and improved upon.

Six Sigma raises customer satisfaction levels by reducing defects to 3.4 per million opportunities. The entire organization is responsible for achieving targets by changing the way each individual functions.

As far as quality management is concerned, then, there is no better tool available than Six Sigma. Within the educational perspective, teachers must be thought of as the employees, with parents acting as the customers.

Fees are paid by parents, who in turn expect that their children will receive a good education with measurable results. Teachers can expect a positive change in the performance of students when the teaching techniques are improved upon.

In order for the acquired profit to stay constant, this change must last for a set amount of time.

Implementation

Before Six Sigma can be implemented within a system, the problem must first be identified. Once recognized, a project can be defined in order to decrease the impact of the problem or eliminate the problem altogether.

The projects are led by Green Belts, with assistance from Black Belts. The methodology used is known as DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control).

Six Sigma requires the enthusiastic participation of all individuals at all levels, starting at the senior level. Innovation and creativity are encouraged through the basic Six Sigma principles, and a module developed to establish good communication between teachers and students.

Methods are prepared wherein the input of everyone is attained and evaluated. Within an educational setting, teachers build data by conducting studies.

The application of Six Sigma within an educational setting will mean that everyone will see positive changes in teaching methods, along with a positive result. With proper education, qualitative learning is achieved and desired goals reached.


Six sigma is a leader in business solutions. Six sigma certification is an incredible avenue to make huge changes in your business.