A Study on Defining Improvement Opportunities for Value Creating Six Sigma

Six sigma has been evolved into three generations. The first generation focused on eliminating or reducing defects as Motorola originally developed and applied. The second generation focused on reducing costs and improving process efficiency as GE extended the first generation. The next generation of six sigma such as D2MAIC(Discovery, Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and ICRA(Innovate, Configure, Realize, Attenuate) has been discussed since the beginning of the 21st century. Although the third generation of six sigma emphasizes value creation, but there are few specific tools for its implementation. In this thesis, some tools for finding opportunities for value creation are suggested. It is explained and discussed with examples how the tools can be applied.