The reduction is defects and subsequent improvements mean lesser amount of servers, improvements in response time, improved project delivery and so on.

Even for an organization that is prospering, the Six Sigma methodology proves to be useful in sustaining the growth in the ever-increasing competition of the IT industry.

How Useful is Six Sigma Certification?

Six Sigma certification is a structured approach to problem solving. Its focus is to understand the problem area, collect detailed information about the problem and convert it to an opportunity to bring about an improvement.

It is a data driven methodology that aims at implementing solutions appropriate to the given scenario. The IT sector has many areas where Six Sigma certification can prove to be useful.

This is because IT is in itself a very big user of processes such as testing, software development, hardware implementation and so on. Even if you consider its utility for software development projects, you will find that the Six Sigma concept of voice of the customer (VOC) is highly beneficial in developing a system that suits the needs of the end user perfectly.

In another scenario, if you consider a situation where project leaders want to reduce the high number of servers without reducing the efficiency of the system in use. Six Sigma teams can find out the root causes of the existence of such a high number and come up with the exact reason using the Fishbone Diagram.

DMAIC and DFSS can be highly beneficial for IT companies. Very often, a software development project may fall behind schedule for various reasons. Six Sigma certification can help in the project by using the DMAIC methodology.

The software development teams can apply the approach to focus on analyzing the problem, collecting the data, identifying the root causes and implementing the appropriate solution on schedule.

How Six Sigma Is Applied

When IT leaders make the decision to implement Six Sigma certification in their companies, one thing they need to do is impart Six Sigma training to employees with leadership qualities and knowledge of the various processes.  The need to be certified as Black Belts and Master Black Belts, or companies need to hire outside Black Belts or Master Black Belts to undertake the Six Sigma initiative.

Once done, the identification of the project is very important. By prioritizing projects according under-performing areas and areas that need immediate improvements, the right project can be selected.

The performance data should be collected, and performance metrics should be put in place to ensure that the performance is being achieved as expected.

A top-down approach to Six Sigma implementation within the entire organization, or a smaller part of the organization, can be decided upon and the initiative taken forward by the Champions and organizational leadership.

With the Six Sigma culture embedded into the organization, the results will start showing in all activities, leading to improvements in profitability. With the refinement of the processes, the end user will benefit the most.