Companies use powerful Six Sigma tools to cut costs in a post-recession economy

The seminar held at the Park Regis hotel in Dubai on Saturday (November 17, 2012) got together an elite gathering of professionals and decision-makers from major companies in the UAE who debated on the increasing relevance of the Six Sigma strategy to cut costs in a post-recession economy.

Taking its name from a Greek symbol to validate the performance of a company, Six Sigma was first introduced by Motorola in the US and has since become a standard tool in large business organizations worldwide. The overall success of Six Sigma globally has spawned promising career opportunities for certified Six Sigma professionals in the Middle East.

Blue Ocean, one of the pioneers of Six Sigma training in the Middle East offers Green and Black Belt certification from the prestigious US-based International Quality Federation (IQF). The five-day training is held in Dubai and conducted by industry experts.

The world's top institutions like General Electric, Bank of America, Honeywell, Johnson and Johnson and JP Morgan Chase have implemented Six Sigma methodology resulting in savings worth millions of dollars. At least 25 per cent of Fortune 200 companies have a serious Six Sigma programme in place.

"The entire company needs to embrace the concepts of Six Sigma for it to work properly. If employees are willing to learn it and apply it skillfully to their jobs, costs will be reduced by 50% or more. Six Sigma also helps in understanding customer's needs better. It improves performance and delivery," explained Mr. Sathya Menon, Program Director, Blue Ocean.

The Six Sigma concepts can be applied to finance, production, sales, marketing, supply chain and logistics design, administration and service. Six Sigma is used most often to help eradicate company malfunctioning through its use of business, statistic and engineering principles.

Six Sigma can be used to devise any solution that can reduce risks for a company and increase profitability. An example is where a nurse tending to a HIV patient can prevent herself from catching the deadly virus with the aid of a superbly-designed syringe, using the Six Sigma methodology.

Six Sigma training helps employees in better utilization of resources. It increases employee confidence as it imparts new skills that can be easily used and built upon in the workplace. Companies who have successfully implemented Six Sigma methodology can definitely expect better services from each other.

Implementation of the Six Sigma methodology has already created wonders for companies worldwide, it's now time for the Middle East to log on, said Mr. Menon. "Certified Six Sigma professionals have a brilliant future to look forward to, a promotion, a salary hike and greater self-esteem at the workplace."