Six Sigma for Operational Excellence

What is the course about?

Six Sigma aims to selectively increase operational excellence in production and service by projects. It is not an alternative to Lean Thinking, but a complementary approach with systematic, data-based problem-solving in processes. This introduction focuses on the DMAIC Cycle - the methodology and the tools of Six Sigma. The presented scenario: Cookie Du Chef not only serves as a project example but should enable the transfer to your own project. Therefore the first two tools - Project-Topic and Project-Definition - are presented in detail. By means of the summarized presentation of the following tools, the logic of Six Sigma can be understood and the relevance for one's own working environment can be verified. sigmaGuide, a software guide with > 30 chronologically linked tools, simplifies and standardizes the application, according to the certification guidelines of the Technical University of Munich.

General Information

Six Sigma is a management system for business processes to reduce costs and to increase customer satisfaction. It arranges methods, tools, and statistics into five phases (DEFINE, MEASURE, ANALYSE, IMPROVE, CONTROL) to structure improvement projects. Their mastery successively leads to the Yellow, Green Belt, and Black Belt certification, which is monetarily rewarded by organizations worldwide. This makes Six Sigma relevant for every employee and attractive even for students.

Content of the course

This Six Sigma introduction course starts with principles for the scientific observation of processes, continues with practical steps to identify, and define a suitable Six Sigma project in the own working environment, and then outlines how this project could be implemented and evaluated along with the DMAIC phases. The content is based on an everyday project scenario and a software guide with > 30 Six Sigma tools.

1. Unit: Overview of Six Sigma and focus of the course
2. Unit: Six Sigma Project Scenario - Cookie du Chef
3. Unit: Structure your observations on the scenario
4. Unit: Model your observations on the scenario
5. Unit: DMAIC - Basis, purpose, and tasks of the Six Sigma project phases
6. Unit: DEFINE - Identify your own project topic
7. Unit: DEFINE - Define your topic as a Six Sigma project
8. Unit: DEFINE - Further steps of the first project phase
9. Unit: MEASURE - Logic of this phase and its related tools
10. Unit: ANALYSE - Logic of this phase and its related tools
11. Unit: IMPROVE - Logic of this phase and its related tools
12. Unit: CONTROL - Logic of this phase and its related tools

Course content

What will you learn?

This course will help you to better structure and model your observation of processes. You will then be able to define your own Six Sigma project and understand how it would be implemented and evaluated. Finally, the course will help you decide whether Six Sigma is appropriate for your company and whether you should acquire a Yellow or Green Belt certificate.

What is the target audience?

Employees and managers who create more than 30 (intermediate) outputs in production or service within a month, as well as students who intend to work in environments with repeatedly created products or services.

Course instructors

Go to Profile

Reiner Hutwelker

Reiner Hutwelker, Six Sigma Master Black Belt, formerly at Siemens Management Consulting, is a consultant, trainer and coach for process improvements using Six Sigma and Lean methods. With more than 25 years of experience in production and services, Dr. Hutwelker specializes in the development of methods, e.g. the business game 'codierFabrik', and the software toolset 'sigmaGuide'. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Technical University of Munich and responsible for the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification in Digital Learning.