Title: Comparing the performance of serial and parallel production systems through Six Sigma metrics

Authors: Tomás José Fontalvo Herrera; Leidy Perez Coronell; Katerin Garcia Benavides

Addresses: Faculty of Economics Sciences, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia ' Faculty of Engineering, University Simón Bolivar, Barranquilla, Colombia ' Faculty of Economics Sciences, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia

Abstract: This investigation compares the performance of the two production systems, in series and in parallel, for which it uses the operating curves associated with the Six Sigma metrics and determines which is more efficient when carrying out various processes. Parallel articulates the concepts of parallel and serial systems, and Six Sigma metrics. For the above, through a quantitative investigation, basic Six Sigma metrics were measured in each system, thus evaluating, and comparing their performance in a consistent manner. The results reveal that as the sigma level increases in both systems, the level of defects per million opportunities decreases considerably and the rates increase to levels close to the main target value of Six Sigma, which is a high quality of 99.9999%. Furthermore, the serial system exhibits better results in terms of performance levels generated while the parallel system exhibits greater efficiency over time.

Keywords: Six Sigma; serial production system; parallel production system; quality; performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2025.145574

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2025 Vol.44 No.4, pp.440 - 462

Received: 26 Feb 2023
Accepted: 08 Mar 2023
Published online: 07 Apr 2025 *

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