Using Six Sigma to reduce variation in golfing

Joel Smith is the director of rapid continuous improvement at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. He explains how the the game of golf can be used to illustrate the concept of variation reduction, describing the sport as a “sea of variation” where even top professionals struggle with consistency.

He categorizes these variations into three types:

• noise variables (uncontrollable factors like wind or terrain)
• constant variables (factors kept steady, like using the same club)
• experimental variables (controllable factors that require testing to find the best setting, such as tee height or hand position)

By identifying and classifying these factors, a golfer (or business professional) can begin the process of making outcomes more predictable.

He outlines a specific sequence for improvement, emphasizing that one must first stabilize constants and conduct experiments to optimize controllable variables before attempting to compensate for noise factors.

He calls his approach a “light” version of the DMAIC process (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control), which prioritizes gaining stability and consistency (repeatability) in a chaotic environment first before using more rigorous Six Sigma tools.

You can download the full article written for ASQ’s Lean & Six Sigma Review (LSSR) at https://asq.org/-/media/public/pub/LSSR224full-issuepromo.pdf