Six Sigma ; Enterprise BPM Framework

Six Sigma is popular today, particularly within large corporations, however the following improvements are

essential:

1. Although many different methods and tools are available, there is no generally accepted BPM

tooling and BPM governance method for conducting Six Sigma projects.

2. Despite the numerous statistical analysis options, there is no obvious way of accessing the

relevant E2E process performance data.

3. 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 optimization.

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.

SIX Sigma of SAP

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.

BPM governance

The BPM Governance organization manages is responsible for:

1. The alignment of the Six Sigma projects and improvement proposals with the project planning of

the PMO department.

2. The management of the impact on the complete organization (e.g. process owners) and publish

the results via the BPM communication portal.

3. The integration of the 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.