Innovation | Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Certification

Siemens is a German multinational company that operates in several industries, including energy, healthcare, and transportation. One of Siemens’ major businesses is its Digital Industries division, which provides software solutions for manufacturing companies. In 2017, Siemens began implementing Industry 4.0 technologies in its own factories to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity.

Siemens’ Amberg factory in Germany is a prime example of how Industry 4.0 has transformed the manufacturing process. The factory produces automation systems, and before the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies, it relied on a traditional assembly line process. Workers would manually assemble the products, which was time-consuming and prone to errors.

With the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies, Siemens was able to automate many of the processes in the factory. The factory uses over 1,000 autonomous robots that work alongside human workers to assemble the products. The robots are equipped with sensors that allow them to navigate the factory floor and avoid collisions with other robots and humans.

In addition to the use of robots, Siemens has also implemented other Industry 4.0 technologies in the Amberg factory. For example, the factory uses real-time data analytics to monitor the performance of the machines and identify potential issues before they become major problems. The factory also uses augmented reality (AR) to train workers and help them perform complex tasks more efficiently.

As a result of these Industry 4.0 technologies, the Amberg factory has seen significant improvements in efficiency, quality, and productivity. The factory can produce a wider range of products in smaller batches, which has enabled Siemens to respond more quickly to customer demand. The factory has also seen a reduction in errors and defects, which has improved the quality of the products.

Overall, Siemens’ experience demonstrates how Industry 4.0 technologies can transform the manufacturing industry by improving efficiency, quality, and productivity. By embracing these technologies, manufacturing companies can stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

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Six Sigma is a combination of the best elements of various quality improvement methodologies and a rigorous statistic-driven approach to performance improvement. The term “Six Sigma” was coined by Bill Smith, an engineer at Motorola. Six Sigma, in the present form, originated in the early 1980s at Motorola as a tool for reducing product-failure levels by 10 times in five years. General Electric (GE) implemented Six Sigma in 1995 after Motorola, and Allied Signal followed the Six Sigma trail after GE.

Six Sigma methodology evolved by combining the best elements of earlier quality improvement innovations.

Innovation	Description
Uniformity system	Introduced by Eli Whitney in 1798 Created a necessity for measuring dimensions Evolved into specifications
Moving assembly line	Introduced by Henry Ford in 1913 Highlighted the importance of part consistency Led to the sampling method, replacing 100% inspection
Control charts	Introduced by Walter Shewhart in 1924 Signaled the age of statistical quality control
Quality movement	Introduced by the Japanese in 1945 Pioneered the usage of data to quantify variation Ensures integration of quality across all levels of an organization
Customer Centric Products	Japanese focused on eliminating defects and reducing cycle time Resulted in production of high-quality, efficient, and customer-centric products
.Zero defects	Was introduced by Philip Crosby in 1980 Led to perfection in a product, process, or service is attainable.
Quality standards	Introduced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1987 Led to uniformity in quality practices across countries
Six Sigma	Motorola wins the first Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1987 Led to the present Six Sigma methodology