Page 121 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

6

THE SIX SIGMA SYSTEMS APPROACH

FOR DEPLOYMENT

6.1 Introduction

Six Sigma is a comprehensive and flexible system for achieving, sustaining, and maxi-
mizing business success (Pande et al., 2000). It is uniquely driven by a close under-
standing of customer needs; disciplined use of facts, data, and statistical analysis; and
diligent attention to managing, improving, and reinventing business processes (Pande
et al., 2000). Six Sigma strives to improve quality, productivity, and bottom-line finan-
cial performance. The Six Sigma approach provides a methodology to achieve these
successes and provides a system to base any improvement initiative, including a solid
waste minimization program. Six Sigma relies heavily on data, facts, and the use of
statistical tools to study whether an improvement has been made. These statistical
tools are a powerful aid to conduct experiments and compare data and to provide
important information about a process to find the causes of problems and draw con-
clusions. Six Sigma methodologies are broken into six fundamentals as related to solid
waste minimization:

1 Define products or services.
2 Know the stakeholders and customers and their critical needs.
3 Identify processes, methods, and systems to meet stakeholders’ critical needs.
4 Establish a process of doing work consistently.
5 Error-proof process and eliminate waste.
6 Measure and analyze performance.

To achieve these fundamental goals, Six Sigma uses the five-step DMAIC method-
ology described below:

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