Profile picture for user Eva Klein

As the first two articles have explained, more and more companies are recognizing the value of Six Sigma. IDS Scheer has been actively involved in this field since July 2007, when it launched a corresponding product and service offensive. We worked closely with our customers to create ARIS Six Sigma , which offers a host of models and analysis options covering the entire DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analysis-Improve-Control) cycle (see picture below for an overview). This blog entry gives you information on how each of the five phases is supported by ARIS Six Sigma.

five phases supported by ARIS Six Sigma

Establishing the project scope and objectives of a Six-Sigma initiative is a key aspect of the Define phase. The Six Sigma SIPOC model used for this purpose is supported by ARIS Six Sigma, allowing all the relevant elements of a process to be defined. The SIPOC model (supplier, input, process, output, customer) leads to the creation of a high-level process chain containing just a few key details.

Six Sigma SIPOC model

The input/output matrix is a way of evaluating the SIPOC model. It is a report that identifies the most important input and output combinations in order to achieve the defined project objectives.

input/output matrix  a way of evaluating the SIPOC model

To define the SIPOC model processes in more detail, they can have an event-driven process chain (EPC) assigned to them. The main purpose of such assignments is to document each process and identify all roles that are critical to the success of the project by means of evaluations using RASCI charts.

using RASCI charts

The Measure phase involves measuring process performance in order to carry out the statistical analysis that is at the heart of the Six Sigma method. In conventional Six Sigma projects, this often requires laborious data measurement, typically only based on sampling because of the effort involved. ARIS PPM can supplement or even replace this manual procedure via automated measurement of process performance, thus delivering a complete measurement picture of all process instances. Sampling becomes a thing of the past. The measurement data can be transferred via an interface from ARIS PPM into Minitab, the standard software for Six Sigma statistics. Minitab offers statistical analysis tools, such as box plots, control charts, and process capability sixpacks, to determine the current Six Sigma values.

Process Capability Sixpack of Supplier

The fishbone diagram and CTX model are features of the Analysis phase. Users can utilize the fishbone diagram to model the five “why” questions, making it possible to drill down and find the root cause of a problem.

fishbone diagram

CT stands for “critical to” and refers to the critical success factors of a process. The CTX diagram transforms any issues arising during a process into critical success factors, e.g., in terms of quality, cost, and time. This allows the critical path of a given project to be identified.

CTX diagram

The report that evaluates this model is the CTX table report, which is used in the Improve phase of the DMAIC cycle. It collects all critical factors and searches for all occurrences in the process models. The report displays a summary of the critical factors and lists individual processes that contain such factors.

CTX table report

The Control phase allows process quality to be displayed in ARIS Performance Dashboard based on Minitab diagrams, e.g., for process capability. Process data is automatically measured, which ensures that the diagrams are completely up-to-date. This continuous data monitoring also provides process owners with valuable insights.

ARIS Performance Dashboard

As this article described, the available ARIS products and services cover the entire DMAIC cycle. Intuitive visualizations facilitate improved communication and boost the knowledge level of employees engaged in a Six Sigma project. Automation (PPM) lowers costs and shortens project duration, while integration of Minitab results in the company dashboard means that data is always up-to-date (e.g., control charts).

by Sadiq AL-Shara
Posted on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 17:53

Thank you so much for the incisive article.

Assuming we have a SIPOC model in ARIS Business Architect, with its process (function object) having an EPC model assigned to it, and we needed to define the suppliers, inputs, outputs, and customers based on the assigned EPC:

  1. How can we represent the documents used in the EPC as SIPOC inputs and/or outputs if the SIPOC model in ARIS Business Architect does not include information carrier objects?

  2. Would the SIPOC supplier be only the first position used in the EPC or all the positions used in the EPC that contribute to supplying the output of the EPC? And in both cases, would the respective position itself be used as a supplier in the SIPOC model or the organizational unit that is composed of the respective position?

  3. Can an external person be a SIPOC supplier (i.e. a customer filling an application form for a certain service)?

Assuming the above questions are invalid due to the fact that SIPOC modeling is performed on higher levels of a process view, then what is the point of assigning and EPC to a SIPOC process (Function object) in ARIS Business Architect if the EPC’s content is not to be reflected in the SIPOC model itself?

Thank you in advance.

0
by Eva Klein
Badge for 'Community Team' achievement
Author
Posted on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 11:51

Hi Sadiq,

First of all, the SIPOC model can be used on a higer level of a process where you see the persons that you need. The assignment of EPC(s) to a SIPOC is of interest for the process optimization. You can start the rasci chart on an EPC to find out who is involved in the optimization.

  1. Documents can be represented as input or output in the SIPOC model using the  "technical term" object. The  "technical term" object is a rather general object that can be used for different representation purposes.

  2. Anyone from the EPC can be a supplier, as long as this person plays an important role in assuring that the output is ok for the customer.

  3. Yes, an external person can be a SIPOC supplier (for example, in the context of outsourcing).

I hope this information helps you.

Regards

Eva

0
by Sadiq AL-Shara
Posted on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 20:41

In reply to by kylekatarn (not verified)

Hi Eva,

 Thank you for taking the time to reply, and yes, the information you provided was very helpful.

Just to summarize:

  1. Positions, Organizational Units, and Persons can be SIPOC suppliers and customers depending on the level the SIPOC is being used in.

  2. Documents that are to be represented as SIPOC inputs or outputs can be replaced by Technical Terms (even though if you ask me, that just seems to be a redundancy of objects in the database).

Thanks,

Sadiq

0
by Mike Holdsworth
Posted on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 04:00

One of the ways I tend to think about SIPOC diagrams, is as an aggregate level overview of the underlying EPC's.

It strikes me that it should be possible to find all the Application Systems, Process Roles, Output etc. automatically rather than looking through all the underlying EPC;s or using the Find command.

So, is it possible to auto generate the SIPOC from a collection of EPC's? For instance, starting from a Value Chain object, drill down untill aris get's to the underlying EPC's and collect distinct objects for presentation on a SIPOC?

 

0
by Eva Klein
Badge for 'Community Team' achievement
Author
Posted on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 08:59

Hi Mike,

for me it is a good idea, but at the moment automatic generation of a SIPOC from a collection of EPCs is not possible.

Regards

Eva

0
by Poh Chuan Fong
Posted on Wed, 07/04/2012 - 06:14

Hi Eva,

I have a question on the timelines. As part of the requirements to generate timeline I need to have certain attributes filled up. I got a couple of question on this:

1. What is the definition of "Number of identical parts" (which is a required attribute for connectors)

2. How is depletion time in timeline calculated?

3. How do I convert "depletion time" from days to minutes in timeline?

4. I am doing a service VSM and I do not need the supermarket and withdrawal and production kanban icons. is there a way to generate timeline without these as it doesnt make sense in the models.

Appreciate your prompt response. Thank you. 

0
by Eva Klein
Badge for 'Community Team' achievement
Author
Posted on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:14

You don't need to model a supermarket into your value stream map to start the timeline. You can't change the depletion time from days to minutes in ARIS. The only way to get the time in minutes is to calculate it manually. The depletion time is calculated from the number of identical parts, quanitity, work days, shift work, and shift time.

Regards

Eva

0
by pankaj bhatt
Posted on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 14:28

Hii  Eva Klein

How can we purchase Six Sigma Module for our business purpose. please tell us process

 

Regards

Pankaj Bhatt

+917042041080

 

0

Featured achievement

Rookie
Say hello to the ARIS Community! Personalize your community experience by following forums or tags, liking a post or uploading a profile picture.
Recent Unlocks

Leaderboard

|
icon-arrow-down icon-arrow-cerulean-left icon-arrow-cerulean-right icon-arrow-down icon-arrow-left icon-arrow-right icon-arrow icon-back icon-close icon-comments icon-correct-answer icon-tick icon-download icon-facebook icon-flag icon-google-plus icon-hamburger icon-in icon-info icon-instagram icon-login-true icon-login icon-mail-notification icon-mail icon-mortarboard icon-newsletter icon-notification icon-pinterest icon-plus icon-rss icon-search icon-share icon-shield icon-snapchat icon-star icon-tutorials icon-twitter icon-universities icon-videos icon-views icon-whatsapp icon-xing icon-youtube icon-jobs icon-heart icon-heart2 aris-express bpm-glossary help-intro help-design Process_Mining_Icon help-publishing help-administration help-dashboarding help-archive help-risk icon-knowledge icon-question icon-events icon-message icon-more icon-pencil forum-icon icon-lock