From the course: Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Join today to access over 25,300 courses taught by industry experts.
Common cause and special cause variation
From the course: Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Common cause and special cause variation
- Ever wonder why things don't always go as planned, even when you follow the process perfectly? That's where the study of variation comes in. And to really understand variation, we need to start with the insights of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Deming introduced what he called the "theory of profound knowledge", a framework he believed was essential for any organization that wants to stay competitive. It's made up of four key areas of knowledge: knowledge of systems, knowledge of statistics, knowledge of psychology, and knowledge of knowledge. Let's break these down. The knowledge of systems. A system is basically a group of interdependent parts working together towards a common goal. It's management's job to make sure the whole system is optimized, not just individual parts. That means thinking long-term and making decisions that benefit the entire process, not just one department or team. Knowledge of statistics. This is where variation comes into play. Deming taught us that variation is…
Download courses and learn on the go
Watch courses on your mobile device without an internet connection. Download courses using your iOS or Android LinkedIn Learning app.