Six Sigma Application in Problem-Solving (Essay Sample)

Six Sigma Application in Problem-solving
Name
Institution
The problem and desired outcome.
Six Sigma is a program that uses a set of tools to reduce defects, errors, costs and finally achieve customer satisfaction. Since its invention by the Motorola Company in the 1980s, institutions from all scopes, including governance, business, military, and healthcare, have used the concept to solve problems, improve productivity, and earn more profits (Jirasukprasert, Garza-Reyes, Kumar & K. Lim, 2014). The practical application of the concept is crucial for organizations, especially those in production or those facing operational problems. Notably, Elegant Clothing and Textile Company is an organization that deals with the manufacturing and sale of clothes and other related accessories. The company does well in terms of market share and quality, with its clothing lines one of the most preferred in the region. However, the company faces a problem with retaining customers and mostly relies on first-time customers to make sales. At first, the management assumed that the problem lay within the marketing and sales department. However, a careful investigation of the consumer behavior and buying patterns revealed that the problem originated from the production department as the quality of the clothes was not consistent. It was found that the company's merchandise varied in terms of standard sizes, material quality, positioning of fasteners, and other fashion accessories varied from one garment to the other.
The realization that the company's design, quality, and consistency were compromised presented a headache for the top management because many products were already in the market while the rest were in the finishing processes. As a result of the varying quality of the materials, wrong placement of fasteners and fashion accessories on the clothes, the company had to deal with hundreds to thousands of customer complaints, with some threatening to take legal action. This prompted the need for action,