Title: Six Sigma and its implementation in medium/small sized organisations – a case study

Authors: Parag Rao, Lokesh Bajpai, P.L. Verma

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha, MP 464001, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha, MP 464001, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha, MP 464001, India

Abstract: In the present era of globalisation, where the competition to survive in the market gets tougher, there is much pressure on manufacturing organisation to become more productive and efficient. Manufacturing organisations need to improve quality, while reducing cost and boosting productivity with limited resources. |Six Sigma (6σ) approach can directly fulfil these requirements, if implemented judiciously|. DMAIC methodology improves any existing business process by constantly reviewing and retuning the process, whereas DFSS methodology is used to initiate a brand new business process. For implementing this programme successfully, larger financial investment along with longer time duration is required, which can be taken up by fewer large-scale organisations. That is why experts are suspicious regarding successful implementation of the programme for medium/small sized organisations. In this case study, the authors have tried partial implementation for medium sized manufacturing organisation adopting few DMAIC approaches.

Keywords: six sigma implementation; DMAIC approach; define measure analyse improve control; DFSS; design for six sigma; manufacturing SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2009.029913

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2009 Vol.5 No.4, pp.325 - 339

Published online: 02 Dec 2009 *

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