Title: Exploring Design for Six Sigma from the viewpoint of Robust Design Methodology

Authors: Ida Gremyr

Addresses: Department of Quality Sciences, School of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) has arisen as an initiative that takes Six Sigma activities to the design area. DFSS is explored in this paper from the viewpoint of Robust Design Methodology by means of a literature study and an empirical study. The empirical study reveals that the industrial perception of DFSS is diversified and that DFSS does not yet constitute a well-defined framework. Despite its name, it is shown that DFSS activities often target effects of variation that can be handled in production rather than those that must be handled at the design stages. One reason might be that most DFSS programmes start by realising limitations of Six Sigma activities in production. In other words, reasons for implementing DFSS are, in most companies, found in production.

Keywords: design for six sigma; six sigma; robust design methodology; variation; offline quality control; online quality control; empirical study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2005.008093

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2005 Vol.1 No.3, pp.295 - 306

Published online: 16 Nov 2005 *

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