Title: Process improvement using Six Sigma – a case study in small scale industry

Authors: G.P. Prasada Reddy, V. Venugopal Reddy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science, Shaikpet, Hyderabad – 500 008, Andhra Pradesh, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTU College of Engineering, Pulivendala, Kadapa (Dist.) – 516390, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: Nowadays most of the organisations are showing keen interest in using Six Sigma approach to improve their operations performance. Motorola coined the concept of Six Sigma and General Electric popularised it. This case study was conducted at bearing manufacturing facility located at Hyderabad. One of the important steps in bearing manufacturing is inner ring and outer ring processing to tight tolerances. Improvement in the rejection rate of bearing rings was taken up as Six Sigma project. One of the basic aims of Six Sigma is to reduce variation by statistical thinking. Various statistical tools and techniques were employed in this study to improve the operations. Rejection rate of bearing rings has been reduced from 2.7% to 0.65% and sigma level of process increased from 4.04 to 4.44.

Keywords: six sigma; define measure analyse improve control; DMAIC; defects per million opportunities; DPMO; small scale industry; statistical thinking; bearing rings; bearing manufacturing; tight tolerances.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2010.034853

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2010 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.1 - 11

Published online: 25 Aug 2010 *

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