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Understanding Six Sigma Tools in Six Minutes (6in6)
    ** Free six sigma educational materials **

6in6 presentations are short presentations (2 PowerPoint slides) on a specific Six Sigma, or Lean Six Sigma, method or tool.
The goal is to give a basic understanding of what a method or tool does.
For example, the presentations for Fault Tree Analysis and Control Charts are below. Each presentation includes an IPO (input-process-output) chart and an example.


6in6 example presentation - FTA         6in6 example presentation - Control Chart


# Six Sigma Tool Name ↑ Acronym ↑ Problem addressed ↑ Problem type ↑ Tool difficulty ↑ Free 6in6 presentations Six Sigma Tool Name ↑
1 5 Whys / Root Cause Analysis RCA How to find a problem’s root cause? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   MP4   5 Whys / Root Cause Analysis
2 5S Process of Lean 5S How to remove distracting clutter? Changing/Implementing easy to use PPT   PDF   5S Process of Lean
3 6 Thinking Hats How to obtain multiple perspectives of an issue? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   MP4   6 Thinking Hats
4 7 Wastes How to determine what types of waste are present? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   7 Wastes
5 8D Problem Solving 8D How to solve a special cause problem? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   8D Problem Solving
6 9 windows How to improve a product or process? Creating Ideas use SME PPT   PDF   9 windows
7 A3 report A3 How to document a project? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   A3 report
8 Analytical Hierarchy Process AHP How to choose among multiple alternatives? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Analytical Hierarchy Process
9 Balanced Scorecard BSC How to manage an organization's strategy? Creating Ideas use SME PPT   PDF   Balanced Scorecard
10 Benchmarking How to achieve world class performance? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Benchmarking
11 Body Storming How to improve early thinking about a product or process? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   Body Storming
12 Brainstorming How to identify ideas to solve a problem? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   Brainstorming
13 Check Sheet How to capture data for analysis? Evaluating/Selecting easy to use PPT   PDF   Check Sheet
14 Competitive analysis How do you compare to the competition? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   MP4   Competitive analysis
15 Constructive Cost Model COCOMO How to determine the effort to create software? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Constructive Cost Model
16 Control Chart How to monitor defects? Analyzing/Trending obtain training PPT   PDF   Control Chart
17 Cost as An Independent Variable CAIV How to identify best value? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Cost as An Independent Variable
18 Cost Benefit Analysis CBA How to financially evaluate a plan? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   Cost Benefit Analysis
19 Cost of Quality COPQ How to minimize the cost of quality? Analyzing/Trending obtain training PPT   PDF   Cost of Quality
20 Critical Chain Project Management CCPM How to shorten a project schedule? Changing/Implementing use SME PPT   PDF   Critical Chain Project Management
21 Critical Parameter Management CPM How to identify and manage critical to quality parameters? Evaluating/Selecting use SME PPT   PDF   Critical Parameter Management
22 Customer Segmentation How to improve marketing and sales? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Customer Segmentation
23 Dashboard How to monitor performance? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Dashboard
24 Design for Manufacture and Assembly DFMA How to make products easy to construct? Changing/Implementing use SME PPT   PDF   Design for Manufacture and Assembly
25 Design for Six Sigma DFSS How to create a new process? Changing/Implementing use SME PPT   PDF   Design for Six Sigma
26 Design of Experiments DOE How to determine the factors controlling an output? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Design of Experiments
27 Design Thinking How to address an ill-defined problem? Creating Ideas use SME PPT   PDF   Design Thinking
28 Design Verification Plan and Report DVP & R How to document that a product is acceptable? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Design Verification Plan and Report
29 Enterprise Architecture How to fully describe a project? Planning/Presenting use SME PPT   PDF   Enterprise Architecture
30 Failure Modes and Effects Analysis FMEA How to anticipate and mitigate potential problems? Making Decisions obtain training PPT   PDF   Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
31 Fault Tree Analysis FTA How to quantify a specific type of failure? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Fault Tree Analysis
32 Fishbone Diagram / Cause-and-effect Diagram / Ishikawa Diagram How to find a problem’s root cause? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Fishbone Diagram / Cause-and-effect Diagram / Ishikawa Diagram
33 Force Field Analysis FFA How to implement a desired change? Changing/Implementing easy to use PPT   PDF   Force Field Analysis
34 Future Back How to create a strategy? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Future Back
35 Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility Gage R&R How to assess a measurement system? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility
36 Gap Analysis How to determine the needed improvement? Analyzing/Trending obtain training PPT   PDF   Gap Analysis
37 Getting Things Done GTD How to manage day-to-day activities? Evaluating/Selecting easy to use PPT   PDF   Getting Things Done
38 Hidden Factory How to identify waste due to unnecessary work? Analyzing/Trending obtain training PPT   PDF   Hidden Factory
39 Hoshin Planning How to align employees with corporate goals? Changing/Implementing use SME PPT   PDF   Hoshin Planning
40 Impact-Effort Matrix / PICK Chart PICK How to choose among multiple alternatives? Making Decisions easy to use PPT   PDF   Impact-Effort Matrix / PICK Chart
41 Individual Development Plan IDP How to encourage employee growth? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Individual Development Plan
42 Integrated Definition Modeling IDEF How to graphically model a process? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Integrated Definition Modeling
43 Interrelationship Diagram How to determine the most important problem factors? Evaluating/Selecting easy to use PPT   PDF   Interrelationship Diagram
44 Kaizen How to improve a product or process? Changing/Implementing use SME PPT   PDF   Kaizen
45 Kanban How to manage a process workflow? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Kanban
46 Key Performance Indicators KPI How to assess performance? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   Key Performance Indicators
47 Mind Maps How to add detail to a concept? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   Mind Maps
48 Mistake Proofing (Poka-Yoke) How to mitigate potential mistakes? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   Mistake Proofing (Poka-Yoke)
49 Nominal Group Technique / Multivoting NGT How to crowd source a response to options? Making Decisions easy to use PPT   PDF   Nominal Group Technique / Multivoting
50 PEST Analysis PEST How to use external factors to update business strategy? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   PEST Analysis
51 Process Capability Cp & Cpk How to statistically assess a process? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Process Capability
52 Process Decision Program Chart PDPC How to anticipate and mitigate potential problems? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   Process Decision Program Chart
53 Project Charter How to create a project charter? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   Project Charter
54 Pugh Matrix How to choose among multiple alternatives? Making Decisions obtain training PPT   PDF   Pugh Matrix
55 Quality Functional Deployment QFD How to select hows to meet a want? Evaluating/Selecting obtain training PPT   PDF   Quality Functional Deployment
56 Responsible - Accountable - Support - Consulted - Informed RASCI How to represent task roles? Changing/Implementing easy to use PPT   PDF   Responsible - Accountable - Support - Consulted - Informed
57 Reverse Brainstorming How to identify ideas to solve a problem? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   Reverse Brainstorming
58 Reverse Planning How to create a plan to reach a goal? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Reverse Planning
59 Risk Assessment and Management How to address project risk? Making Decisions easy to use PPT   PDF   Risk Assessment and Management
60 SCAMPER SCAMPER How to create an improved product or process? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   SCAMPER
61 SPACER SPACER How to run a meeting? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   SPACER
62 Stakeholder Analysis How to obtain stakeholder alignment? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Stakeholder Analysis
63 Starbursting How to create appropriate brainstorming questions? Creating Ideas easy to use PPT   PDF   Starbursting
64 Statistical Process Control SPC How to ensure process quality? Analyzing/Trending use SME PPT   PDF   Statistical Process Control
65 Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats SWOT How to assess a project or organization? Planning/Presenting easy to use PPT   PDF   Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats
66 Suppliers - Inputs - Process - Outputs - Customers SIPOC & IPO How to explain a business process? Planning/Presenting obtain training PPT   PDF   Suppliers - Inputs - Process - Outputs - Customers
67 Survey How to obtain knowledge from people? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Survey
68 Theory of Constraints ToC How to identify and remove bottlenecks? Evaluating/Selecting use SME PPT   PDF   Theory of Constraints
69 Theory of Inventive Problem Solving TRIZ How to be inventive when solving a problem? Creating Ideas use SME PPT   PDF   Theory of Inventive Problem Solving
70 Thumb Voting How to quickly assess team alignment? Making Decisions easy to use PPT   PDF   Thumb Voting
71 Times: cycle, lead, takt How to determine if a process is fast enough? Analyzing/Trending easy to use PPT   PDF   Times: cycle, lead, takt
72 Value Chain Analysis VCA How to identify customer care abouts? Evaluating/Selecting use SME PPT   PDF   Value Chain Analysis
73 Value Stream Mapping VSM How to add value for your customers? Evaluating/Selecting use SME PPT   PDF   Value Stream Mapping
74 Voice of the Customer VOC How to delight a customer? Creating Ideas obtain training PPT   PDF   Voice of the Customer

6in6 Information

6in6 Motivation While "Six Sigma" means different things to different people, everyone agrees that there are many useful Six Sigma tools; each is also a useful business tool. Knowing which tools are available, what they do, and how to use them is needed to be a successful Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma practitioner.
6in6 Description The "Six Sigma in Six Minutes" (6in6) concept is that basic understanding of a Six Sigma tool's capabilities can be described in 6 minutes, using only two PowerPoint slides. The first slide shows the concept and the second slide gives an example. Each 6in6 presentation is designed to deliver basic familiarity with a tool; enough information to determine if a tool might be useful for a specific purpose.
6in6 Vision Encourage use of Six Sigma tools.
6in6 Mission Distribute free Six Sigma tool information.
6in6 Goal Illustrate common Six Sigma tools using the "Six Sigma in Six Minutes" (6in6) paradigm.
6in6 Success If someone obtains a basic idea of what a specific Six Sigma tool does, from a 6in6 presentation, then we have success!
Why To spread the joy of Six Sigma   😊

6in6 Data

There are currently 74 presentations.
In 2024, there were 5 new presentations: Competitive Analysis / Cost of Quality (COQ) / Customer Segmentation / Kaizen / Times: cycle, lead, takt
In 2023, there were 6 new presentations: Benchmarking / Dashboard / Future Back / Individual Development Plan (IDP) / Key Performance Indicators / Project Charter / Survey

The types and difficulties of the presentations are distributed as follows:

6in6 image showing types     6in6 image showing difficulty

6in6 FAQ

  1. Where did the two slide 6in6 presentation concept originate?
  2. Why was this website created?
  3. Who created this website?
  4. Are more 6in6 presentations being created?
  5. Can I request a 6in6 presentation for a Six Sigma tool not already on the website?
  6. Can I send comments on the existing 6in6 presentations?
  7. Is there a mailing list that sends me an email when a new 6in6 presentation is added?
  8. Can my Quality meeting, or other professional meeting, get some 6in6 presentations?
  9. Is it safe to visit this site?
  10. How many different Six Sigma tools are there?
  11. Why aren't there videos for each 6in6 method?
  12. Why aren't statistical tools included here?
  13. I love this site! How can I help?

6in6 References

  1. Dan Zwillinger, Brian Foley, and Kurt Mittelstaedt, "Six Sigma Tools in Six Minutes," Six Sigma Forum Magazine, Volume 15, Number 2, Feb 2016.
  2. Dan Zwillinger, Six Sigma Tools in Six Minutes, presentation to the Merrimack Valley section of the ASQ (American Society for Quality), 7 April 2016.
  3. Dan Zwillinger, Six Sigma Tools in Six Minutes, presentation to the Granite State section of the ASQ (American Society for Quality), 17 May 2016.

Site last updated   October 2024