Title: The stock service improvement by the deployment of Six Sigma

Authors: P. Malliga, S.P. Srinivasan

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai 602105, India

Abstract: There will be many consumer challenges presented to suppliers in the 21st century. Consumers want to buy products and services when they want them at an affordable price, representing value for money. This might mean that the supplier is ethical, environmentally conscientious and engaged with global communities being served by its products and services. The evolution of statistical thinking improves service performance which ultimately increases the customer satisfaction level. Six Sigma is used to increase the stock service level of the distribution centre. The Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma movements have been utilised for the effective management. This article describes how a global distributor of automobile components applied Six Sigma rigours to its service setting process for one product line.

Keywords: distribution centres; economic order quantity; EOQ; inventory management; process capability analysis; six sigma; stock levels; stock service; service improvement; service performance; automobile industry; automotive components.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2007.015011

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2007 Vol.3 No.2, pp.103 - 119

Published online: 04 Sep 2007 *

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