Quality management is the cornerstone of every industry. The two most popular techniques for quality management are ISO 9001 and Six Sigma. Implementing these quality systems leads to improved products and services, which meet customer expectations, boost revenues, and create a positive impact on your organisation.
However, there is confusion on whether these two methodologies can replace each other. If you want to implement these standards but are unsure what to expect, this guide provides answers to your questions. Read on to learn more!
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a method of working to attain continual improvement on a product or service. It works to reduce errors and improve the efficiency of the organisation. Sigma methodologies are based on five major principles listed below:
- Improvement of the process to detect and eliminate the problem
- Develop an effective, flexible, and scalable quality management system
- Monitoring of procedures to know the root cause of errors or wastage
- Focus on customers’ needs to improve their experience
- Build a dedicated team to deploy Six Sigma
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is an international standard for the QMS – Quality Management System. It provides a defined measure for various aspects of quality management for companies that want to improve their products and services to achieve customer satisfaction.
To become ISO 9001 certified, an organisation must have a pre-existing control system in place and manage its QMS based on the guidelines outlined in ISO 9001. ISO 9001 certification can help improve the company processes, save costs, and enhance customer experience. Moreover, it proves the following things:
- The products and services meet customer’s expectations
- The organisation meets the set of requirements outlined in ISO 9001 standard
- The organisation is documented
Similarities of Six Sigma and ISO 9001
Six Sigma and ISO 9001 share a couple of similarities. First, both standards emphasise on process approach in deploying their methodologies. Six Sigma focuses on improving a single process using a SIPOD model – Supplier, Input, Process, Output, and Customers. On the other hand, ISO 9001 focuses on a combination of a family of processes. Secondly, both standards focus on process improvement to attain advanced products, reduce errors, and optimise quality.
What Is the Difference Between Six Sigma And ISO?
The major difference between Six Sigma and ISO 9001 lies in the scope. Generally, Six Sigma is a combination of tools and methods that can be added to an organisation to refine processes.
It uses a set of tools to improve existing systems and suggests the required changes to optimise your products’ final quality. This technique does not follow any set of requirements that are recognised internationally.
On the contrary, ISO 9001 is a globally recognised set of rules that help to build an effective QMS for an organisation. It covers all aspects concerned with managing the quality of goods and services for better results.
Contact Best Practice Biz
As a JAS-ANZ-approved certification agency, Best Practice Biz offers tailored training and certification to ISO 9001. Get in touch today to learn more about our ISO certification and how you can integrate it with Six Sigma for better results.
