When the level of Quality Demands the use of the Six Sigma Methodology

January 5, 2012

When your customers demand the highest level of quality, the six sigma methodology is generally the one that is called upon to achieve the necessary goals. These goals are to reduce the number of error in your processes and deliverables to only 3.4 errors in every million deliverable that you create.  That might seem like a tall order, but companies have been achieving it since 1981 when Motorola introduced this methodology to the business world to help them compete with the Japanese firms.

By using the six sigma methodology you will have a successful production line that is capable of completing and selling 99.99966% of all that you produce. This methodology takes mathematics and practical theory to the test when applied in the real world. Unfortunately this is unpractical to implement successfully for many businesses.

That does not mean you cannot use the six sigma methodology within your organization. It only means you might not achieve the goal of the methodology of only having 3.4 errors per million deliverables. The processes in this methodology are very helpful in reducing the errors in any application it is applied to. Because of this the number of errors in your project will be reduced even when the theoretical goal is not fully achieved.

The overall goal of the six sigma methodology is to help an organization to have a long term quality plan that is constantly making improvements towards the end goal of reducing all possible errors. This is done with continuous evaluation of the processes involved with your deliverable. Once a problem is indentified, then the methodology also has a mechanism to implement the change that is necessary to make the improvement part of the daily business routine.

While the overall goals of the six sigma methodology might seem unobtainable, it is still a milestone that should be sought. By reducing the errors of the deliverable, the profits of the organization will increase because of the reduction in waste being produced. This is helpful with any company in business to create a revenue stream in the world.

Development Methodology is all about the Life Cycle

January 2, 2012

The development methodology for your project can take the form of a life cycle. This will have four distinctive phases to it each with their own part to help make the progression of your deliverable from its initiation phase to a solid conclusion.

From a project manager’s point of view, the use of a development methodology is a positive way to set a clear path for your current project to follow. The processes are all laid out in advance of proceeding to execution phase so most of the possible issues and risks of the project have already been investigated. This makes the production part of your project run smoother and more effeicent.

As part of any development methodology, the list of tasks that need to be completed is already made for each process when you move to the execution phase of the project’s lifecycle. This is because it was completed in the planning stage. With this list that will be linked to the necessary resources needed for each, the project team can progress from one tasks to the next without any hesitation.

The way many project managers use the development methodology is similar in the direction of a set of instructions to a puzzle or model. Each process is laid out in the order in which it is to be accomplished. This allows for the finished product to take form and be ready for delivery as expected. It also helps to guide the project team to what needs to be accomplished next. This is very helpful in assisting the project manager to be effeicent in the way he manages the time of their team members.

When using a development methodology software program, they will come with templates and examples to assist the project manager make the right decisions when it comes to creating the project plan for their organization. In most instances this program will follow the international standards of PMBOK and Prince2 so your deliverable can comply with the regulations of your target audience.

The use of a development methodology is to help guide the project manager and their team on a path to success. This will allow for a quality product to be produced on time and in budget when followed correctly.