Are you familiar with the Six Sigma methodology?

"The secret to a good team is order, everyone knowing what needs to be done." The phrase isn't ours. It's from Pep Guardiola, the well-known former player and now soccer coach. However, the idea is perfect and totally adaptable to the philosophy we have at easyap. We are also a team in which working with structures and order is essential to offering a quality product and service. To this end, methodologies are key, and among them, we would highlight Six Sigma, which is what we work with on a daily basis. Are you familiar with it? Below, we explain the principles on which it is based and what it consists of. 

Six Sigma: What is it and what is it for? 

Efficiency is essential when developing any type of product. But if there is one sector where this term takes on even greater relevance, it is technology. technological software for accounting and auditing such as that developed by easyap must strive for maximum quality. To achieve this, each process in the development chain must be thoroughly studied and optimized.

This is where the concept of Six Sigma A work methodology that we could define as a method applied to the business world, with the ultimate goal of measuring and achieving maximum efficiency in every business process. In this sense, Six Sigma has the following : 

• Detect faults or inefficiencies in the various production processes. 
• Seek solutions and propose alternatives to optimize and eliminate such errors as much as possible. 

The fact is that the Six Sigma methodology gets its name from the way in which it attempts to achieve these objectives. To do so, it establishes six stages or levels (hence its name, which in Spanish is Six Sigma) with which to evaluate the efficiency of a process. Subsequently, it attempts to implement improvements so that, at most, only 3.4 products per million may have a defect.

The six levels detailed in the previous paragraph are what is theoretically referred to as DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities): 

• Sigma 1: 690,000 DPMO.
• Sigma 2: 308,538 DPMO.
• Sigma 3: 66,807 DPMO.
• Sigma 4: 6,210 DPMO.
• Sigma 5: 233 DPMO.
• Sigma 6: 3.4 DPMO.

Depending on the quality offered by the product developed by a company and the number of defects in the final product, it will be assigned one of the levels. According to this method, Six Sigma aims to ensure that a product that has been developed a number of times has as few inefficiencies as possible when it reaches the consumer. 

The stages for implementing this methodology

Whether it is a technology company, as in our case, or a company in another sector, the Six Sigma methodology methodology can be applied to any production process. In fact, every day there are thousands of Spanish and global companies from all kinds of sectors implement this method in their day-to-day operations. What makes it useful and attractive is that it is based on five specific stages that can be applied to any business: 

1. Define. Decide in which processes this methodology will be applied and what is expected to be achieved with it. 
2. Measure. As with everything today, it will be essential to measure which processes are working and which are not. 
3. Analyze. Based on the information obtained after measuring each process, you must study where to implement improvements and changes. 
4. Improve. Implement the actions that have emerged from the analysis carried out in the previous phase. 
5. Monitor. Those responsible for implementing all changes will also have to document how these improvements have enhanced—or failed to enhance—the processes. 

On the Internet, you will also find references to these five stages that make up the Six Sigma system, which are called DMAIC. This complex word is formed by the acronyms of these phases. That is, defines, measure, analyze, improve and control. 

In order to implement this Six Sigma system system and provide its products and services with the highest quality, should have professionals who are familiar with the methodology. In other words, specialists within their teams who are responsible for ensuring that the method is applied properly. 

In fact, when talking about Six Sigma specialists, the concept of Six Sigma belts has become popular. This consists of assigning roles to a company's employees based on their knowledge of the Six Sigma method and its application. Thus, as with martial arts levels such as judo, karate, or taekwondo, titles such as black belt, green belt, yellow belt, etc. are given based on knowledge. 

The different methodologies that Six Sigma uses

But returning to the application of the method itself, Six Sigma relies on other methodologies. The essential one, which we have already discussed in the previous point, is DMAIC. However, two other alternative methodologies emerge from the Six Sigma system: 

• The DMADV, also known as Design for Six Sigma (Design For Six Sigma/ DFSS). These are the acronyms for define, measure, analyze, design, and verify, and, as in the case of DMAIC, they correspond to the five phases that make up the method.
• The PDCA, which stands for plan, do, check, and act, is also derived from the four stages of the method. 

Although they may seem very similar in terms of their phases, the difference lies in when to use them. There is no written rule on when to implement each one. However, it is common for the DMAIC methodology to be used to optimize and improve existing products. DMAIC methodology is used to optimize and improve existing products and that DMADV methodology is used for new products that are about to be launched. 

The principles of the Six Sigma methodology

Now then, what is the origin of Six Sigma? How did it come about? And, furthermore, what principles underpin the birth of this working methodology? 

Like other working methods, Six Sigma originated in a large company, which was the first to implement it among its work teams. We are talking about what was once a technological giant, Motorola. Who coined the term? Engineer Bill Smith. engineer Bill Smith. 

Through the Six Sigma methodology, the company drastically reduced defects in its products. The concept, which began to gain popularity in the 1980s, served as a reference for other brands. A good example of this "copy-paste" approach was the case of General Electric in the 1990s, which applied it throughout the organization. 

To achieve this success, the methodology we are analyzing was based—and is currently based—on the following principles or ideas: 

1. ‘Smaller is better’. At the beginning, you must apply the method to every small process in the production chain to detect each and every minor error.
2. ‘The bigger, the better’. Subsequently, you have to work with this methodology in as many stages of the production chain as possible. 
3. 'Nominal is better'. Wasting time and team resources on review tasks should be avoided, although this is something that will happen in large companies and must be taken into account. 

How do we implement the Six Sigma method at easyap?

In easyap, as we mentioned at the beginning of this article, we have also adopted the Six Sigma methodology. We approach all our projects with this methodology in mind, with the aim of measuring any defects that may arise from our various processes. This allows us to subsequently eliminate them consistently, almost entirely and systematically. To do this: 

• We specifically use the DMAIC method, which we apply to our software to optimize it and minimize any potential inefficiencies that may arise for our customers.
• We see the end customer as the best indicator of the quality of our software. It is they who, through their level of satisfaction, set the standards we must achieve.
• We involve the entire team that makes up easyap. Our employees are essential to working with this methodology. In fact, all of them are capable of applying the quality techniques and measurements of the Six Sigma method. 

Automotive, distribution, marketing, banking and insurance, telecommunications... and we could go on. These are just some of the sectors in which we have worked and in which we continue to implement our electronic invoicing solution. In turn, we have developed projects in Europe, America, and North Africa for more than 20 years. 

Facts and figures that show that we have not done badly during this time working with the Six Sigma methodology. To undertake the digital transformation of your business , we will also use it, as it is part of our business philosophy. One in which product quality comes first. So, if you agree, all that remains is for us to get to know each other.