DMAIC Six Sigma, Six Sigma DMAIC Process or DMAIC 6 Sigma Strategy. DMAIC Six sigma Tools are Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. Six sigma in strategic management. DMAIC Tools, 6 sigma DMAIC. Six sigma problem-solving.
DMAIC Six Sigma
DMAIC Six Sigma refers to a set of tools and technologies that identify and erase the cause of defects and minimize the variability in manufacturing to improve the business process. This strategy was articulated by Bill smith in 1986. He was American engineering and working at Motorola when he introduced this process. A six-sigma process can produce a defect-free feature. Six-sigma applies a systematic improvement system known as DMAIC-Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (Evans, 2013).
The Six-sigma process follows a sequence of stages when carried out in an organization. Hence, the project has a special value target that reduces cycle time, pollution, costs, and increases customer satisfaction and company profits.
Example of Companies Following DMAIC Six sigma Strategy
Amazon
Motorola
BAE Systems
Bank of America
Becton Dickinson
DMAIC 6 Sigma Strategy
At the end of the 1970s, Japanese business industries had managed to maintain competitiveness markets all over the world, because of providing a higher quality product at a lower cost (Yang, 2012). However, the secret 0f this competitive market was the systematic integration of the knowledge, skills, technology, and experiences to improve core products and new business markets.
Firstly, Motorola implements the six-sigma program to improve the operation to yield an effective result. After implementing this program, Motorola earned a huge profit by reducing the defect of the products. Six-sigma program managed to save about $2.2 billion and finally, Motorola achieved the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1988.
DMAIC Six sigma Tools
The Six-Sigma program has a five systematic improvement process known as DMAIC- ‘Define,’ ‘Measure,’ ‘Analyze,’ ‘Improve,’ and ‘Control’ (Evans, 2013). Another cycle of the six-sigma program is DMADV- ‘Define,’ ‘Measure,’ ‘Analyze,’ ‘Design,’ and ‘Verify’ that organization applies to design and redesign. Therefore, they are also known as sig sigma problem-solving tools.
Figure-1: DMAIC Six Sigma Process or DMAIC 6 Sigma Strategy
Define
Define is the first step of the six-sigma project that summarizes the plan of the project. Therefore, this step focuses on identifying the problems of the project, the objective of the project, and the opportunity for the six-sigma project. The input of this stage comes from the voice of the customers, business, process, or employee. Finally, the Define stage addresses some management issues such as what will need to be completed, by whom, and when.
Examples of the most used tools in the Define phase: Business Case, Problem Statement, Project Scope, Team & their broad responsibilities, and Time plan.
Measure
The measure is the second stage of the six-sigma and the main purpose is to gather data related to the project. It can use the histogram to analyze the data as well as discover its nature. The most common measurement methods are process sigma and defects per million opportunities (DPMO).
Examples of the most used tools in the Measure phase: Benchmarking, process flowcharts, run charts, process capability, and Gage R & R.
Analyze
The principal objective of this stage is to dig out the main cause of the business ineffectiveness. In addition, It focuses more on finding out the root cause among many causes that identified initially. Although, It very often matters to jump to a solution without emphasizing on to find out the source of the problems. Hence, this phase tries to find out why errors, defects, and variations occurred in production in the industry. However, the Analysis step of the DMAIC process conducts an experiment after identifying the variables.
Examples of the most used tools in the Analysis phase: Fishbone Diagram, Hypothesis testing, Brainstorming, 5 Whys, Scatterplot, Histogram, and Time-series plot.
Improve
The prime objective of this phase is to ascertain the potential result and execute them for improvement. This stage will start to remove or resolve the problem once the root cause is identified exactly. One of the common problems of this stage is to prejudice ideas before evaluating them. But, A good problem solver always accepts the most promising ideas among a set of proposed ideas.
Examples of the most used tools in the Improvement phase:
The control stage focuses on how to continue the improvement and ensure excellent performance. The main objective of the Control phase is to ensure-Holding the gains. It also ensures the monitoring system, improving the standard, and increasing profits in the organizations. In the meantime, the post-implementation result will be evaluated to ascertain the progress or modify them. The most important part of this stage is to train the relevant stakeholders to overcome the challenges.
Example of the most used tools in the Control phase: Control plan, Process sigma calculation, Cost saving calculations, and Control charts.
Conclusion
In sum, Six Sigma DMAIC methodology has become one of the most popular and worldwide accepted strategies. This strategy can be executed in high-profile to small-size organizations; because of five important stages – DMAIC ensures continual improvement in the business.
Principles of Total Quality Management & Eight Principles of TQM.
Quality Definition in Business
Quality in business means satisfying the customers by providing excellent products and services. Researchers defined quality in many ways, but the essence of the definition is almost similar. Edward described that “quality is the ability to exceed the customer’s satisfaction by providing service and product.” In addition, Crosby defined “quality as conformance to customers’ requirements.” Moreover, Juran defined quality as being ‘fitness for use. So, quality is the standard or degree of the products or services that can differentiate them from others by measurement.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Total Quality Management (TQM) refers to the management process that includes the commitment and dedication of every employee in the organization to maintain a high level of quality in every sector for customer gratification. The employees have to be informed about the strategy before implementing it. In the mid-1980s, total quality management (TQM) was introduced based on the Company-Wide Quality Control (CWQC) and benchmarking process. Later, many scholars, such as Juran, Deming, and Ishikawa, contributed to the practices and improved the content of Total Quality Management. The most important contributions of Total Quality Management are the Deming Cycle, Juran quality trilogy, Ishikawa’s Fishbone diagram, and CWQC (Yang, 2012). For example, Netflix practices Total Quality Management, and Netflix organization changes confirm that the authority focuses on maintaining the TQM tools.
What are the Principles of Total Quality Management?
Principles of Total Quality Management
The 8 Principles of TQM are:
Customer Focus
Leadership
Involvement of People
Processes Approach
System Approach
Continual Improvement
Factual Approach to Decision-Making
Mutual Beneficial Supplier Relationship.
Principles of Total Quality Management (TQM)- 8 Principles of TQM
In the mid-1990s, the eight basic principles or elements of total quality management (TQM) were proposed by some well-known philosophers (Evans, 2013). These eight principles of TQM entirely work together to develop the process and yield customer satisfaction. The 8 Pillars of TQM are key components to achieve competitiveness. Many organizations adopt these TQM pillars to gain top positions in the market.
1. Customer Focus
The first and prime principle of total quality management (TQM) focuses on the existing and potential customers buying the products and services. Customers are the people who justify the quality of the products and services. So, the company needs to ensure that the customers will feel they have spent their money on a quality product if it can last long enough to fulfill demands. You can exceed customer satisfaction only when you know their needs. So, successful companies align their objectives with the client’s needs. According to the gap model of service quality, organizations can lose clients if they misunderstand the service quality.
2. Leadership
Leadership is the process by which an individual influences other people to work effectively to achieve organizational goals. They enhance relationship engagement in the organization. Leadership is essential in maintaining unity among employees to achieve interdependent goals (Evans, 2013). Although there are mainly three types of leadership in the industry, the democratic leadership style is the best to perform well. Leaders can form a convenient environment to work effectively inside the organization, where all employees work to achieve the organization’s goal. So, leadership seems to be an essential principle of total quality management.
The primary advantages of Leadership are:
The primary motive of the leaders is to motivate the employees to improve job performance.
Leaders inspire, motivate, and create a strategic plan congruent to the business goal.
They develop a precise vision for the future of the organization.
3. Involvement of People
People from every level give their all-out efforts and dedication to the organization’s profits. The total employee commitment enables the industry to develop products and grow sales. So, all the employees in the organization have to be well-trained, committed, and dedicated to achieving an interdependent goal on time. Additionally, the industry needs to create a responsive environment where every employee will be motivated to complete the task correctly. The employees’ activeness, motivation, and retention can yield customer gratification. The involvement of people can produce effective teamwork. According to Evans (2013), three types of cooperation are vertical, horizontal, and inter-organization.
The primary benefits of People Involvement are:
It influences employees who are dedicated in the workplace.
The involvement of people is an intrinsic motivation that charms employees to contribute to the organization’s growth. The process theories of motivation explain how people’s involvement and affiliation motivate employees to keep working in the workplace.
It enhances employees’ creativity and innovation in the organization.
4. Processes Approach
The company needs to improve the process consistently to yield sound output. A good result from the processes approach can bring customer satisfaction. Hence, TQM focuses on the process approach to assure product or service quality.
5. System Approach to Management
Total quality (TQM) highlights executing the strategy systematically. The industry makes a proper implementation plan and collects data while applying those processes.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) describes this principle: “Identifying, understanding, and managing interrelated processes as a system contributes to the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its objectives.”
6. Continual Improvement
Continual improvement of the process is an essential step for every industry to satisfy its customers. Therefore, TQM assists the company in keeping watching the constant improvement of the system to improve the service quality and product of the industry. Above all, continual improvement assists the company in achieving competitive advantages, and it is the most critical principle among the eight principles of TQM.
7. Factual Approach to Decision-Making
An objective approach to decision-making is another crucial principle of TQM. It eases making decisions based on the information collected from data. Making a decision based on facts is an effective way to achieve customer satisfaction. This principle uses the actual method to collect and analyze data to make decisions for the company’s progress.
8. Mutual Beneficial Supplier Relationship
Mutual beneficial supplier relationship is another essential principle of total quality management for building rapport with suppliers. It is also called reciprocity. Usually, a business is conducted by multiple combined departments, and each department is assigned individual tasks, although these departments’ functions are interconnected. The total quality management process helps all sections work combined to achieve an interdependent objective. The company uses visual aids and flowcharts to understand how employees perform perfectly. Executing total quality management (TQM) is not easy; TQM represents a significant cultural shift, so the company needs to implement it slowly and accurately (Evans, 2013).
Conclusion
The Eight Core Principles of TQM areCustomer Focus, Leadership, Involvement of People, Processes Approach, System Approach to Management, Continual Improvement, Factual Approach to Decision-Making, and mutually beneficial Supplier Relationship. These are examples of total quality management principles, also known as the eight pillars of comprehensive quality management. However, the eight principles of TQM are fundamental elements in driving a business successfully. Everybody in the company has to be conscious of the plan, method, and strategy to achieve a goal. The risk of failure can increase due to not maintaining the principles of total quality management. So, the authority should ensure that every employee is aware of them. It will motivate the employees, letting them know they contribute to the industry. Effective communication also reduces the risk of failure and increases coordination and cooperation.
Examples of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Practice:
Toyota Production System (TPS): Toyota’s renowned production system is a prime example of TQM in action. TPS focuses on eliminating waste, improving efficiency, and empowering employees to identify and solve quality issues on the production line. By implementing TQM principles, Toyota has consistently delivered high-quality vehicles while minimizing costs and lead times.
Six Sigma: Six Sigma is a methodology used by companies like General Electric and Motorola to reduce defects and variation in processes. By applying statistical tools and rigorous analysis, organizations identify the root causes of problems and implement solutions to achieve near-perfect quality levels. Six Sigma emphasizes data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement to drive business success.
Kaizen: Kaizen, meaning “continuous improvement” in Japanese, is a fundamental aspect of TQM. Companies such as Honda and Canon embrace Kaizen as a core philosophy, encouraging employees at all levels to suggest improvements and participate in problem-solving activities. Through small, incremental changes to processes and systems, organizations achieve significant improvements in quality and efficiency over time.
ISO 9000 Quality Management System:
Many organizations adopt the ISO 9000 series of standards to implement TQM principles and ensure consistent quality in products and services. By establishing formal quality management systems that focus on customer satisfaction, process improvement, and compliance with regulatory requirements, companies demonstrate their commitment to delivering high-quality products and services.
Customer Feedback Systems: TQM emphasizes the importance of listening to customer feedback and using it to drive improvements. Companies collect feedback through surveys, focus groups, and online reviews, and use this information to identify areas for enhancement. By continuously monitoring customer feedback and responding to their needs, organizations strengthen customer relationships and enhance overall satisfaction.
Employee Training and Empowerment: TQM recognizes the critical role of employees in achieving quality objectives. Companies invest in training programs to ensure that employees understand quality standards and are equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to continuous improvement efforts. By empowering employees to participate in problem-solving and decision-making processes, organizations foster a culture of engagement and ownership for quality.
These examples demonstrate how TQM principles can be applied across various industries to drive continuous improvement, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve sustainable business success, all while ensuring the originality and authenticity of the content.
Total quality management (TQM)
The Advantages of Total Quality Management Principles
Although Japan identified total quality management (TQM) advantages in the mid-1950s, now the benefit of the TQM is disclosed worldwide. The most important benefits of the TQM are:
The TQM principles develop the quality of products and services to satisfy customers; it motivates employees naturally and boosts their productivity.
Additionally, the principles of TQM reduce production costs and faults and make processes more efficient and reliable.
Moreover, it improves the condition of the work environment and the communication process.
Finally, the core principles of TQM raise the profit margin.
Total Quality Management Tools
The researchers introduced many tools of the TQM that help the industry operate smoothly with profit. These tools can help the industry in many approaches. For example, the fundamental strategies are; identifying difficulties with quality, analyzing data, collecting information, identifying the leading causes of the problems, and assessing the results.
Quality Strategy to Profitability in the Organization
Since the 1980s, researchers have represented diverse quality management systems to maintain the quality of the products and services in the organization, such as total quality management system (TQM), Six Sigma, reengineering, skeletal system, and so on. The company has executed the most quality improvement strategies worldwide to yield good results by solving problems or faults.
The History and Evolution of Quality Management Strategies
Inspection quality control (IQC), since 1910
Statistical process control (SPC), since 1930
Total quality control (TQC), since 1950
Company-wide quality control (CWQC), since 1970
Total Quality Management (TQM), since 1985
Six-Sigma (6σ), since 1986
Business Excellence Model, since 2000
The development and implementation system of the DMAIC Six Sigma program
References
Evans, J. R. (2013). Quality & performance excellence. Cengage Learning.
Yang, C. C. (2012). The integration of TQM and Six Sigma. Total Quality Management and Six Sigma, 219.
Citation for this Article (APA 7th Edition)
Kobiruzzaman, M. M. (2024). Principles of Total Quality Management & 8 Principles of TQM. Newsmoor- Best Online Learning Platform. https://newsmoor.com/total-quality-management-tqm-eight-principles-and-practices-of-tqm/
