Conceptual Reference Model for the Product Development Process Oriented by Design for Six Sigma

Abstract

Changes in the world market and consumer expectations have changed the way organizations develop new products. Meeting these challenges means doing better from early stages of design, avoiding possible failures and adjustments at a late stage in the development process. Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) has been successfully applied in the product development process (PDP), with the purpose of ensuring convergence to customer specifications, ensuring reliability in product development, reducing or eliminating operational vulnerabilities and increasing product robustness with use of appropriate techniques and tools. This study showed that there is no systematic DFSS structure integrated with a reference model for the product development process that encompasses the entire process, from observing the consumer's need to discontinuing the product in the market. This paper proposes a conceptual model for the product development process oriented to DFSS, based on a systematic study of existing DFSS methods with the integration of a PDP reference model. The research strategy of this study sought to understand the phases of the existing DFSS methods, as well as to identify the factors that determine or contribute to the application of these methods in the product development process. The investigation of the theme showed a lack of standardization of a DFSS method integrated with a reference model for the product development process, which allowed the identification of 11 activities from each phase of the DFSS methods, which were aligned with the 14 activities proposed by the reference model for the MOP & D product development process. This study led to a consensus in the construction of an integrated conceptual model oriented to DFSS concepts with a friendly characteristic for application in the product development process of durable goods.