Six Sigma software: definition, types and uses

Six Sigma requires disciplined processes and continuous measurement. Here is how Tallyfy supports process improvement methodologies.

Quality and compliance discussions make up over 1,500 combined mentions in our conversations with mid-market organizations. One of the best ways to optimize your business is through the use of Six Sigma software.

Six Sigma is a set of techniques/tools that aim to improve company output, which is typically done by finding and eliminating inconsistencies or defects in service or product processes.

Six Sigma is especially important if in charge of a large corporation, or are operating in a very competitive market.

Whichever the case may be, a small boost to your business might mean a giant leap over your competitors or a boost in profit.

Six Sigma software and certification also acts as a status symbol - it proves to customers that your business is serious about quality and consistency of the product.

What is Six Sigma software?

Six Sigma has been around as a business methodology since 1986.

As a concept, however, it dates back to the 196th century. Its early versions can be found within Carl Frederick Gauss’s bell curve and Carl Shewhart’s analysis of the three sigma deviation from the mean.

In the 1980s, US mobile communications giant Motorola made a lasting impact on the way businesses operate by introducing the Six Sigma methodology.

Motorola’s work in this area began a decade earlier when executive Art Sundry realized that he was dissatisfied with the consistency of quality in their product. This led to an internal search for a solution.

Two years later, Motorola had won the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, with the methodology spreading to other major firms like General Electric, AlliedSignal, and Citibank.

Some of the main principles of Six Sigma include:

• A focus on achieving measurable and quantifiable financial returns from any project.
• An emphasis on strong management leadership and support.
• A commitment to making decisions on the basis of verifiable data and statistical methods, rather than assumptions.

Types of Six Sigma software

There are several pieces of software out there that promise to help you incorporate Six Sigma methodologies into your business processes, but there are four main types that they all fall into, which are:

• Analysis tools - These are used to perform statistical / process analysis.
• Program management tools - They can manage and track a corporation’s entire Six Sigma program.
• DMAIC and Lean online project collaboration tools - As the name suggests, these are used to Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control processes.
• Data Collection Tools - These feed information directly into the analysis tools and reduce the time spent gathering data.

What separates useful software from shelf-ware

Here’s something I’ve noticed across dozens of implementations: the best Six Sigma tools don’t just crunch numbers - they force you to follow the process. People naturally want to jump straight to solutions. It’s human nature. You spot something that looks broken, your brain immediately starts fixing it. But that’s exactly how you end up solving the wrong problem.

Decent software makes you slow down. It won’t let you skip the Define phase to get to Improve. It asks annoying questions about your measurement system before letting you analyze data. This friction feels tedious until you realize it’s saved you from wasting three months on a root cause that wasn’t actually root.

Modern tools have also started weaving in elements from Change Management, Agile practices, and even Design Thinking. That makes sense - pure statistical rigor means nothing if people won’t adopt the changes. The software that actually works in mid-market companies tends to blend these disciplines rather than treating Six Sigma as its own isolated religion. You’re not just tracking defects; you’re managing how people respond to discovering those defects.

Quality control workflow templates

Example Procedure

Print Production & Quality Control Workflow

1Initial Print Job Setup

2Configure Print Properties

3Submit Print Request

4Review File and Specifications

5Get Cost Approval If Needed

+2 more steps

View template

Example Procedure

Customer Complaint Resolution Workflow

1Acknowledge the Complaint

2Categorize and Prioritize

3Investigate the Root Cause

4Propose Resolution to Customer

5Implement the Resolution

+2 more steps

View template

Example Procedure

Warehouse Delivery Receiving & Inspection Workflow

1Receive and log incoming shipment

2Create receiving log entry

3Verify shipment against purchase order

4Conduct damage inspection

5Sign delivery confirmation and document receipt

+2 more steps

View template

Six Sigma methodologies

5 Whys

The 5 Whys Six Sigma methodology was introduced by the executives at Toyota: their approach was to keep asking questions until they would find weaknesses in the processes.

The way it works is, you need to start from the problem and ask “why is it happening?”

If the answer does not get you close to the solution of the problem, you just keep asking “why” until you get there.

For example:

1. Why was the company in the red last quarter?

Because there were a lot of charge-backs.

2. Why were there a lot of charge-backs?

Because the customers were dissatisfied with the product.

3. Why were they dissatisfied with the product?

Because some of the products were defective.

4. Why were the products defective?

Because there were a few malfunctions on the assembly line.

5. Why were there malfunctions? Because the hardware is starting to get outdated.

As you probably guessed, the name comes from the idea that you’re going to find your problem after asking “why?” five times.

CTQ Tree

If you find workflow diagrams helpful in laying out process issues, the CTQ (critical to quality) tree can be vital in identifying client needs and creating solutions.breaks down the process into different components.

The way it works is, you first identify the critical needs of your customers. Then, you add highly-specific drivers to each need. Meaning, a factor that the customer uses to identify whether or not their critical need is solved. Finally, you add measurable performance requirements to satisfy the driver.

For example: let us say you are launching an E-commerce store selling winter coats.

1. The critical requirements could be for the coats to be warm and comfortable.

2. For it to be comfortable, it has to be made out of special materials.

3. The special materials have to be made out of 80% wool, at least.

CTQ trees can be used outside of Six Sigma software, but they were initially created as part of this methodology.

How Six Sigma software will solve your problems

We’ve already established that Six Sigma software is aimed at improving the consistency of business processes, but using it has a wide range of likely benefits for your business.

Increased efficiency

Each process within a workflow is analyzed as part of Six Sigma to seek out weaknesses that are affecting efficiency. These weaknesses are then eliminated or mitigated, leaving the business processes measurably more efficient. Results speak for themselves.

The ability to measure and quantify the benefits - particularly financial ones - probably makes Six Sigma software as popular as it is amongst businesses large and small, both of which need to be able to justify changes to processes.

Better customer service

Any process improvement has to be not only about improving efficiency and delivering financial benefits, but also ensuring that customers get a better service and end product.

In the case of Motorola, Six Sigma was used to deliver a more consistent product. This also helps with service quality - by freeing up the staff that has to take care of defects and complaints, you end up with a bigger focus on serving people well.

Improved staff morale

There are many things that can affect the morale of your staff, which in turn affects every aspect of how your business runs. One of these is forcing them to spend their working lives dealing with inefficient processes that increase their workload at the same rate as increasing their frustration levels.

Feedback we have received from regional banking teams suggests employees waste approximately 30% of their time on handoffs, tracking, and email within routine processes. When forms are filled incorrectly and need to be redone, or approval status is unclear, frustration compounds quickly.

Eliminating the processes that are causing this frustration, and freeing up time for more constructive and rewarding work is a big step towards ensuring you have a happy and more productive workforce.

Is manual tracking sustainable?

Conclusion

In our experience at Tallyfy, Six Sigma software and the methodology behind it has revolutionized the way businesses operate by putting the focus squarely on delivering what the buyer is expecting more consistently than before.

The limit on acceptable “defects” in products and services when using Six Sigma is 3.4 per 1 million and its root-and-branch approach to improving processes ensures that your business will be eliminating problems not just reactively but also proactively.

One trap I keep seeing: teams get access to sophisticated software and feel obligated to use every feature. Don’t do this. Too many tools create noise instead of clarity. Pick the handful of techniques that actually enrich your results and ignore the rest. A focused Pareto analysis beats a cluttered dashboard full of charts nobody reads.

For small-to-medium sized business, the benefits of Six Sigma software are clear. Gaining the certification will help you stand out from your competitors in the market, while the process improvements will make your product or service one that keeps satisfied customers coming back time and time again. If your product or service is in a marketplace where quality is critical, not using Six Sigma software is setting yourself up to fail.

If your product or service is in a marketplace where quality is critical, not using Six Sigma software is setting yourself up to fail.

Related questions

What is Six Sigma software?

Six Sigma software assists teams in enhancing their work by identifying and repairing problems. Think of it as a kind of digital toolbox that can assist in gathering data, designing charts and identifying patterns. These apps help to simplify the higher-level Six Sigma equations by performing complex calculations so people do not have to do them by hand - saving time and reducing errors.

What is sigma software used for?

How Sketch Works Sigma software is the tool to monitor how well work is getting done and how to do it better. Teams employ it to estimate how long tasks will take, where mistakes occur and what customers think. It is like having a smart assistant that assists you in understanding what is working and what is not in your work.

What is Six Sigma tool used for?

Six Sigma tools enable teams to problem solve and make work easier. They show where things are going wrong, help map out improvements and monitor whether changes are having an impact. Common tools are process maps of how work is done, or charts that keep track of progress, or special calculators of what the results will be, said Vernacchia.

What is the 6 sigma model?

The 6 sigma approach is a method to make working almost perfect when you go through following five steps: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC). It is like a recipe for addressing something gone wrong: you state what is wrong, you collect information, you figure out what made it happen, you make it get better, you keep it working well.

How can Lean Six Sigma be applied?

Lean Six Sigma is useful through which slowness and mistake-proneness can be pinpointed. Teams then deploy data and special tools to make sense of the problems, test solutions, ensure improvements will last. It is like being a detective who discovers the clues for what is wrong and then repairs it.

What are the best Six Sigma software options?

Minitab, JMP, and SigmaXL are some of the high-rated Six Sigma software tools. They all have their own strengths - some are better suited for beginners, while others have more advanced features. The idea is to find one that aligns with your team’s skills and requirements, much in the way that you match the right tool to a specific job.

How does Six Sigma software help reduce costs?

Six Sigma tools and software reduce errors and improve business practices to the point where an entire process is composed of 3.4 defects per million or less. It reveals where time and materials are wasted, predicts problems before they happen and quantifies whether improvements are (really) saving money. It is as if you have a financial advisor for your work processes.

Can Six Sigma software integrate with other business tools?

Contemporary Six Sigma software is able to integrate with virtually lots of other business systems such as spreadsheets, databases and project management applications. This makes it easier for groups of people to share information and be on the same page, as various apps on your phone can work together.

What training is needed to use Six Sigma software?

The majority of people usually require some basic instruction before they can use Six Sigma software to its full potential. This often involves training on Six Sigma processes and how to use the software. It’s similar to learning to drive - you need to understand the rules of the road and how to drive a car.

How do you choose the right Six Sigma software?

The right Six Sigma software will depend on your team’s comfort level, how large your projects are and which problems you hope to solve. Consider factors such as ease of use, support, and cost. It’s like buying a car - you want something that meets your needs and your budget.

What are common mistakes when implementing Six Sigma software?

Common pitfalls include choosing software that is too complex, not training people effectively and attempting to use every feature at once. Success comes from starting simple, receiving good training, and then gradually pulling out the advanced features as your team becomes more comfortable with them.

How do you measure the success of Six Sigma software implementation?

Things can be measured and tracked for success in Six Sigma software through quality improvements, speed, and cost savings. Instead, focus on quantifiable measures such as errors that have been reduced, completion times that have been accelerated and dollars that have been saved. It’s like score-keeping in a game - the numbers let you know if you’re winning.