Small Business and Six Sigma
These strategies are based on analysis of data and statistics, which is in turn used to increase operational performance.
All the steps involved in these processes required a serious commitment of both funds and time.
Since the early days, however, the idea behind Six Sigma implementation has become the focus, rather than the rules.
This means that small businesses have found that they can implement the features of Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
Using these features, a small business can regulate work with proper standards regardless of its size.
Advantages Small businesses actually have a few advantages of large ones when it comes to employing Six Sigma.
First of all, the small size means that the implementation of Six Sigma can be significantly sped up.
There are fewer layers in the hierarchy, a more flexible flow of processes, and quick access to those at the top of the ladder.
Training lead times within the small business can also be a lot faster.
Cost Factors Now, it is important to keep in mind that less expense does not mean no expense.
There are still high costs when it comes to Six Sigma training, so it is important to take a look first at the savings that will result for the first set of projects which use the Six Sigma strategies.
These gains are typically quite quickly accessed in smaller organizations; this means that more can be achieved as trainers and trainees working in the same area can demonstrate live execution of the procedures.
Employees can therefore observe the process errors which occur, and come up with innovations to improve productivity.
The advantage here is that process issues can be looked at in two different ways at all times.
This will help the Six Sigma process continue to flow rather than become stagnant.
In other words, it is easier to make a smaller number of employees within the same area see things a little bit differently.
In a large corporation, companies have to keep a large number of employees over a vast number of areas moving with the vision at all times.
There are still some disadvantages that need to be considered when it comes to small businesses and their use of Six Sigma.
First of all is, of course, the issue of funds.
Hand in hand with that issues is the cost of trained Black Belts themselves.
These professionals charge quite highly for their services, and most small businesses prefer to place these funds into marketing efforts instead.
All the steps involved in these processes required a serious commitment of both funds and time.
Since the early days, however, the idea behind Six Sigma implementation has become the focus, rather than the rules.
This means that small businesses have found that they can implement the features of Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
Using these features, a small business can regulate work with proper standards regardless of its size.
Advantages Small businesses actually have a few advantages of large ones when it comes to employing Six Sigma.
First of all, the small size means that the implementation of Six Sigma can be significantly sped up.
There are fewer layers in the hierarchy, a more flexible flow of processes, and quick access to those at the top of the ladder.
Training lead times within the small business can also be a lot faster.
Cost Factors Now, it is important to keep in mind that less expense does not mean no expense.
There are still high costs when it comes to Six Sigma training, so it is important to take a look first at the savings that will result for the first set of projects which use the Six Sigma strategies.
These gains are typically quite quickly accessed in smaller organizations; this means that more can be achieved as trainers and trainees working in the same area can demonstrate live execution of the procedures.
Employees can therefore observe the process errors which occur, and come up with innovations to improve productivity.
The advantage here is that process issues can be looked at in two different ways at all times.
This will help the Six Sigma process continue to flow rather than become stagnant.
In other words, it is easier to make a smaller number of employees within the same area see things a little bit differently.
In a large corporation, companies have to keep a large number of employees over a vast number of areas moving with the vision at all times.
There are still some disadvantages that need to be considered when it comes to small businesses and their use of Six Sigma.
First of all is, of course, the issue of funds.
Hand in hand with that issues is the cost of trained Black Belts themselves.
These professionals charge quite highly for their services, and most small businesses prefer to place these funds into marketing efforts instead.
