Title: Introducing Design for Six Sigma at SKF

Authors: Torben Hasenkamp, Annika Olme

Addresses: Division of Quality Sciences, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden. ' SKF Industrial Division, Product Development and Engineering Platforms, SE-415 50 Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Many companies are struggling with the implementation of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). Most of the support in the literature is given on a tool-based level; while some articles treat organisational aspects, very little has been published on implementing DFSS from the initial steps and how to proceed with the implementation in a structured manner. This study presents how Svenska Kullagerfabriken (SKF) – the knowledge engineering company that offers solutions related to bearings and sealing – implements DFSS by shaping a Product Development Process (PDP) that reflects the most central DFSS aspects. In other words, DFSS gets integrated into the PDP, with the long-term vision of making it the common way to develop products. For this purpose, a new PDP has been created. The reasons for the implementation of DFSS and how it has been accomplished are presented in this study. The decision to integrate DFSS into the development process (as opposed to driving it via Six Sigma-like improvement projects) is discussed.

Keywords: design for six sigma; DFSS implementation; product development process; PDP; integration; Svenska Kullagerfabriken; SKF; six sigma; knowledge engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2008.020281

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2008 Vol.4 No.2, pp.172 - 189

Published online: 14 Sep 2008 *

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