Six Sigma Training Vs Total Quality Management

Six Sigma Training has not been developed with the intention to replace TQM.

It was developed by some of the most gifted CEO s with a view to make their business successful to the maximum extent possible - with the help of the tools and techniques of the quality profession.

Then What Is The Difference?

The difference between Six Sigma Training and TQM is best described in a word - 'management'. TQM provides broad guidelines for management. TQM is often related to the development and deployment and maintenance of organizational systems required by various processes.

Six Sigma is more for the purpose of continuous quality improvements for achieving zero defects. TQM helps in improving quality, but cannot take it ahead to continuous improvement. One major difference is visible in the approach.

TQM is more about conformance to internal requirements. Six Sigma focuses on continuous improvement and reduction in defects. The Six Sigma project is driven by the benefits from the viewpoint of the stakeholders, customers, shareholders and employees.

The outcome for both the systems is the same, achievement of better quality products. Six Sigma, however, has an edge here. It focuses on a reduction in defects and satisfying the specifications of the customers. Additionally, Six Sigma Training also helps reduce operational costs.

It achieves this by reduction in cycle time, reduction in defects and cost savings - but not at the cost of the quality and value of the product. Costs that provide no value to the customers are eliminated. Such costs may be those incurred due to waste.

TQM is generally an initiative taken up at individual operational levels, and may not be within the same processes. Six Sigma, on the other hand, aims at improving all operations in a single business process. For such projects, skilled and certified professionals are required such as Black Belts and Green Belts.

There are some team members who may be working part-time on their regular activities along with these projects. They aim at achieving the strategic goals and objectives and aligning the projects to the organizational goals. TQM projects do not necessarily need any specialists. These activities can be managed by non-dedicated managers along with their regular workloads.

Six Sigma team members work temporarily on such projects. The TQM goals are set by the quality department and are based on the assumption that the criteria are good for the quality as well as the organization. They are projects motivated by quality philosophy and undertaken by quality professionals.

Six Sigma projects start with a pre-planned project charter and with an outline of targets, highlighting prospective financial benefits and savings. Very often, organizations have implemented TQM projects without any idea of the financial benefits. The focus of TQM is on quality and performing to the standards, whereas Six Sigma focus is on strategic goals - and the metrics are based on these objectives and goals.

There are significant differences between TQM and Six Sigma - and though some tools and techniques of TQM and Six Sigma are similar, Six Sigma often has a distinct use for these tools. It seems as if Six Sigma will be more popular and achieve more that TQM.

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