Title: Implementation of Six Sigma approach to quality improvement in a multinational automotive parts manufacturer in India: a case study

Authors: Radha Krishna, Govind Sharan Dangayach, Jaideep Motwani, Asli Y. Akbulut

Addresses: Hewlett Packard, Global e: Business Operations Pvt Ltd, HP Tower 3, 1st Floor, Golf view Campus, Wind Tunnel Road, Murugesh palya, Bangalore 560 017, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India. ' Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University, 401 West Fulton, Suite 409C, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USA. ' Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University, 401 West Fulton, Suite 409C, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USA

Abstract: Manufacturing managers in Indian companies are faced with fierce global competitive strategies by the shift of many multinational companies to India. They are forced to excel in all the domains of manufacturing including quality, cost, delivery, and flexibility. In this paper, by means of a case study, we illustrate how a multinational Indian corporation was able to successfully implement Six Sigma principles to improve its operations. The objective for presenting the case study is to assess the importance of Six Sigma strategy in Indian manufacturing companies.

Keywords: six sigma organisation; quality cost; critical to quality; CTQ; parts per million; PPM; failure mode and effects analysis; FMEA; statistical process control; SPC; process capability; six sigma level; quality improvement; automotive parts manufacturing; India; automobile industry; automotive components.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2008.016614

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2008 Vol.4 No.2, pp.264 - 276

Published online: 11 Jan 2008 *

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