Fortification of Six Sigma: expanding the DMAIC toolset

Abstract

Six Sigma as a quality improvement framework cannot remain static if it is to sustain its value for businesses beyond the first waves of applications. This paper explores the possibilities of enhancing the usefulness and effectiveness of Six Sigma by the integration of established Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS) techniques. In this paper, we elucidate the needs for OR/MS techniques to enhance Six Sigma deployment in operational and transactional environments and propose a new training roadmap for core Six Sigma professionals (Six Sigma Black Belts) which incorporates these techniques. A matrix relating the components of the proposed training curriculum to the actual deliverables during implementation for a hybrid of operational and transactional environments is also presented. A practical case study is also presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the OR/MS tools in a typical transactional environment.

Process Capability and Six Sigma Methodology Including Fuzzy and Lean Approaches

“…In order to enhance the effectiveness of Six Sigma, additional tools and techniques should be integrated. There is a recent technical development in the fields of management science as well as statistics and engineering which provide more effective tools for enhancing the efficiency and the productivity of organizations such as queuing systems, heuristics, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) (Tang et al, 2007). Six Sigma builds on improvement methods that have been proved to be effective and integrates the human and process elements of process improvement.…”

Curbing variations in packaging process through Six Sigma way in a large-scale food-processing industry

“…Six Sigma is a systematic, highly disciplined, customer-centric, and profit-driven organization-wide strategic business improvement initiative that is based on a rigorous process focused and data-driven methodology (Tang et al 2007). As per Voelkel (2002) the business-oriented definition of Six Sigma states that it blends correct management, financial, and methodological elements to make improvement to process and products in ways that surpass other approaches.…”

A fuzzy MADM approach for project selection: a six sigma case study

“…It can be considered as a business strategy with an aim to reduce production costs and make considerable improvements in processes and savings through combined attempts of statistical and management approaches in an integrated manner (Hensley & Dobie, 2005). It is a breakthrough strategy used for process improvement by using a set of prearranged tools and statistical techniques to evaluate process performances (Tang et al, 2007). It makes a deep analysis and an efficient decision making which aims for the optimal solution rather than a merely good one.…”