Title: Conceptualisation of Total Six Sigma Function Deployment through literature snapshots

Authors: V. Thirunavukkarasu, S.R. Devadasan, G.V. Prabhushankar, R. Murugesh, K.M. Senthilkumar

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Park College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641659, Tamilnadu, India. ' Production Engineering Department, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore 641004, Tamilnadu, India. ' Production Engineering Department, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore 641004, Tamilnadu, India. ' Oppis Ready Foods, Coimbatore 641014, Tamilnadu, India. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641014, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: This paper presents the snapshots observed by reviewing the literature on Six Sigma. This literature review enabled to study the history of Six Sigma programme and its development phases. This study indicated the flexible and expanding nature of Six Sigma programme. Particularly the efforts made to integrate Six Sigma programme with various other strategies are viewed with interest. It is found that no research on linking quality function deployment with Six Sigma programme has so far been pursued. Hence, the literature snapshots were referred to design a technique named as Total Six Sigma Function Deployment (TSSFD). TSSFD impregnates the development stages of the technique Total Quality Function Deployment with Six Sigma|s well proven improvement methodology called DMAIC (acronym for, define, measure, analyse, improve and control). The paper is concluded by emphasising the need for conducting several case studies on TSSFD for enhancing its practical compatibility.

Keywords: six sigma; quality function deployment; QFD; service industry; DMAIC; literature review.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMS.2008.020042

International Journal of Applied Management Science, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.97 - 122

Published online: 21 Aug 2008 *

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