Six Sigma is popular today, particularly within large corporations, however the following improvements are essential:
- Although many different methods and tools are available, there is no generally accepted BPM tooling and BPM governance method for conducting Six Sigma projects.
- Despite the numerous statistical analysis options, there is no obvious way of accessing the relevant E2E process performance data.
- It is difficult to integrate the Six Sigma project results within the BPM communication portal and ensure that the success be sustained after the project is completed.
By combining the Six Sigma methodology of SAP and BPM, companies can increase speed, quality and sustainability of the (LEAN) Six Sigma projects.
As many organization will have a stable SAP platform, the focus of organizations will shift towards business improvement projects.A complete Six Sigma methodology and BPM governance organization is essential to reach the benefits which are required to successful implement business process excellence and achieve cost reductions.
The BPM framework can support the Six Sigma projects to maintain the process scope of their Six Sigma projects (SIPOC model), root cause analysis (fishbone diagrams) and come up with measurable critical success factors (CTX diagrams).
The BPM Reporting functions enable various Six Sigma project documents to be produced such as RASCI charts and Job descriptions. As a result, companies can execute the Six Sigma DMAIC lifecycle, (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) on a standardized way and communicate the Six Sigma deliverables.
Using Process Performance Management all process data can be automatically collected from the SAP systems and used as the basis for reconstructing process behavior, visualizing the actual end-to-end process flow, process simulation and process optimalization.
The process data can be transferred to Six Sigma software for statistical process analysis (e.g. MINITAB®).The MINITAB analysis can be integrated with the BPM Performance dashboard, in this way business management has access to additional control charts for the evaluation of the processes.
When the Six sigma project is finished, the BPM governance organization integrates the Six Sigma deliverables and new process documentation within the BPM framework. The BPM communication portal enables enterprise-wide communication of Six Sigma deliverables.
The focus of the Six Sigma methodology of SAP is the management of the quality of products (product variation) and production (LEAN manufacturing). The methodology of SAP is a project oriented approach in which already available SAP functionality and production strategies (e.g. Kanban) are utilized.
The cProjects work center enables project management and collaboration capabilities to support all Six Sigma phases using standard templates.
SAP Quality management assures product quality monitor and improve quality standards,The analytical applications detect quality violations and triggers an alert via the intelligence dashboard for the plant manager.
FMEA and MINITAB can be used for Six Sigma analysis. MINITAB is the preferred standard tool for the Six Sigma analysts.
By the utilization of the SAP Six Sigma methods and the BPM Six Sigma methods the product and process improvement opportunities can be determined.
The BPM framework will ensure that the BPM information (e.g. corporate process model) can be reused for additional process optimization purposes after the Six Sigma initiative is completed.
The BPM Governance organization is reponsible for:
- The alignment of the Six Sigma projects and improvement proposals with the project planning of the PMO department.
- The management of the impact on the complete organization (e.g. process owners) and publish the results via the BPM communication portal.
- The integration of the project results within the daily operation and ensure the sustainable success of Six Sigma projects.
The SAP and the BPM Six Sigma methodologies have different objectives, tools and deliverables. The combination of the two methodologies will improve the speed, quality and completeness of the Six Sigma project deliverables.
Previous Blogs:
BPM governance :Part 4: Enterprise BPM Framework; BPM governance (white paper)
BPM projects & Platform :Part 3: Enterprise BPM Framework : BPM projects & BPM platform
Maturity level & ROI :Part 2: Enterprise BPM framework : Maturity level & ROI
BPM framework :Enterprise BPM Framework
