It's an oft-held refrain by employees- that HR takes all the suggestions given by employees but subsequently when and how they are implemented is not known. To change this popular employee perception,SAp India Pvt. Ltd. has rolled out a practice termed 'e-suggestion at SAP'.

As per theinitiative,there is a technological system that is created by the organisation. Every employee from across functions can post suggestions that. relate to improvement in key business process or even enhancing the existing organisational capabilities.

The jargon of management has entered class rooms in diverse schools across India as teachers grapple with the intricacies of TQM or total quality management. At the same time, many corporates that had waxed eloquent about TQM have given up trying and moved up to the more esoteric concept of Six Sigma. But the schools are paying big moneyto get TQM into their blood, and making a success out of it in the bargain.

Product-based companies have always been proactive in deploying Six Sigma. But implementing this technique is becoming equally crucial for service businesses so as to improve business performance. "Before reducing the defects, which is the primary objective of Six Sigma, companies need to first define them based on customer feedback. This is often not the case with many companies which implement this technique," says Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd. Managing Director NC Narayanan. In an interview with Financial Express, Mr. Narayanan shares the other business functions apart from manufacturing, where companies can implement Six Sigma to leverage win win results.

“For those of you who think Six Sigma is some kind of magic mantra for business success , forget it. Six Sigma works only for companies that are willing to work hard at it. Organisations like ICICI Bank , has found success in key projects – like the payments group, which takes care of payments to suppliers and also internal dole-outs for things like employee reimbursements, etc. – but are still debating how wide & deep the Six Sigma initiative should go.”
“Says NC Narayanan, managing director of Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd., a Mumbai based consulting firm: ‘No other system gives an integrated approach to what a company must do in order to satisfy the customer. It focuses on both top line and bottom line. The Six Sigma methodology provides a complete structured framework for implementation, with a cookbook style step-by-step approach.”

“ Bombay Dyeing ‘s implementation of Six Sigma in its DMT division has helped it reduce its annual losses of Rs.40 Crore by Rs.10Crore. This was done by reducing methanol consumption in the manufacture of DMT. They have not only brought down methanol consumption to international benchmark levels , but even exceeded them, says Narayanan . He also says “ Many companies think Six Sigma is some kind of certification process – like ISO 9000. You spend a few lakhs, get the certificate and then it’s all over . But Six Sigma is about achieving breakthrough results – you don’t get any paper you can frame and keep on your table. It involves committing resources to important projects that are critical to quality as defined by customers.”

“ICICI Bank has also used Six Sigma successfully in patches. The payments group- which pays suppliers and also internal people (for things like employee reimbursements ,etc.)- improved its bill processing time from five days earlier to just one day after using the Six Sigma processes. And the number of people and resources needed to process the payments has been cut to half.”

Wipro has shown that Six Sigma is workable in India, but what should Indian companies look out for? N C Narayanan, managing director of Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd, a management consultancy that provides solutions to industries and service organisations, sets out the challenges.

A one-day Workshop on Six Sigma was organized by HR & Personnel of Diversified Business Division IV at EWAC INSTITUTE, Powai, organized a one-day workshop on Six Sigma on April 17, 2003. The objective of the workshop was to increase awareness of Six Sigma-its concept and applicability- in marketing and service fields.

A workshop was held to kick off the Self-reliance campaign taken up by Deendayal Research Institute at Chitrakoot. In this workshop, General Secretary of DRI, Mr. Bharath Pathak highlighted the main features of the workshop. Mr. NC Narayanan, Dr.K Murugan along with other members of Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd., Mumbai delivered the training. Noted social activist and Rajya Sabha member Mr. Nanaji Deshmukh was also present and suggested people to impart a better culture to the rural children.

The main point of discussion in this workshop was self-reliance campaign for 500 villages in zilla Satna in Chitrakoot. ‘Education for all Health for all’ through which Deen Dayal Research Institute has plans to make all these villages self-reliant.

Consultants of Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd., felt that DRI should concentrate more on the basic needs of the village. General Secretary of DRI, Mr. Bharat Pathak told people that the results of the survey conducted was almost ready.

The participants in the workshop were divided into four groups. The team leaders discussed on various issues of the villages. An action plan to make 80 villages Self Reliant from 26th January 2003 to 26th January 2004 with respect to the education, agriculture and employment was prepared during the discussion.

After reviewing the action plan for ‘Samaj Shilpi Dampati’ , Nanaji told the people to give special attention to the education of the children. He also added that a child learns from his parents, and teacher. Hence three of them should should work in accordance towards a child’ s growth.

Nanaji told that accoding to child psychology, when a child attains 5 years, growth of his brain is 80% completed i.e five years are adequate for the child’s brain to grow. Keeping this in mind the parents & teachers should work toward’s a child’s growth before 5 years.

The whole work shop of four days , was facilitated by Mr.NC Narayanan & Dr.Murugan of Six Sigma Alchemy (P) Ltd. , Mumbai.

Excerpts from the article

The breakthrough philosophy of ‘Six Sigma’, which is fast emerging as the ruling currency for the survival & growth of our enterprises in this era of globalization, came under scanner at NITIE, on Saturday 15th of March, 2003. The students of PGDIE, the flagship programme of NITIE, organized "INSERTECH", a panel discussion, which saw some of the top brains from industry came together to delve on ‘Six Sigma’ as a concept and its implementation issues shattering the myths surrounding the magic word. The distinguished panelists, who are leaders in their own right and have been driving the quality initiatives in their respective organizations, included.