ISO Publishes Standard for Six Sigma

Six Sigma has long been an important part of many organizations’ performance improvement efforts, but it’s lacked a standardized method of implementation—until now.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published a data-driven method for improving business and quality performance through Six Sigma as a two-part ISO standard.

 Six Sigma is widely used to:

·               Drive process improvement and make statistically based decisions.

·               Measure business results with a level of reliance.

·               Prepare for uncertainty.

·               Combine high returns and benefits in the short, medium, and long term.

·               Remove waste, defects, and errors.

The new standard, ISO 13053:2011, Quantitative methods in process improvement—Six Sigma, deals exclusively with the application of Six Sigma to address existing processes and is published in the following two parts:

·         Part 1: DMAIC methodology, describes the five-phased define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) methodology and recommends best practices, including on the roles, expertise, and training of personnel involved in such projects.

·         Part 2: Tools and techniques, describes tools and techniques—illustrated by fact sheets—to be used at each phase of the DMAIC approach.

“Six Sigma can be used to effectively address serious chronic business issues,” says Michèle Boulanger, President of JISC-Statistics and co-chair of the subcommittee that developed the standard. “Organizations can deploy Six Sigma projects to increase customer satisfaction and become more competitive.”

Although Six Sigma has been widely used since the mid-1980s, this is the first time that its best practices have been brought together under an ISO standard to solidify and consolidate it. ISO reports that the publication of Six Sigma methodology in an ISO standard will boost international uptake of the methodology in a coherent form, reduce fragmentation, and provide users with harmonized best practices. Both parts of the standard can be applied to all sectors and organizations.

ISO 13053 was compiled by technical committee ISO/TC 69. For more information, visit www.iso.org.