Title: Implementation of DMAIC methodology in supply chains to reduce customer end-rejections: a case study in an Indian SME

Authors: T. Senthilkumar; S. Karthi; S.R. Devadasan; N.M. Sivaram; C.G. Sreenivasa; R. Murugesh

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology Coimbatore – 641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology Coimbatore – 641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology Coimbatore – 641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology Coimbatore – 641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, University BDT College of Engineering, Davangere 577 004, Karnataka, India. ' Darshan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Rajkot – 363 650, Gujarat, India

Abstract: In recent times, the integration of managerial models is envisaged in manufacturing of products and offering of services to face intense global competition. In this scenario, the establishment of supply chain management (SCM) becomes vital, as the manufacturing of sub-components are scattered geographically. Few of the researchers and practitioners have slowly started to integrate the Six Sigma concepts with SCM to achieve high quality of products and offering of services in the supply chain. In order to project the importance of integration of Six Sigma with SCM, the literature arena is reviewed in this direction. Following the literature review, a managerial model named 'Six Sigma SCM' and a roadmap to implement the same is contributed in this research paper. In order to validate the prowess of 'Six Sigma SCM' managerial model, a case study has been carried out in a supply chain involving an Indian small/medium enterprise. The customer end rejections have been improved from a sigma level of 3.75 to 5 through the implementation of this 'Six Sigma SCM' managerial model in the reported case study.

Keywords: Six Sigma; supply chain management; SCM; Poka-Yoke; fail-safing; mistake-proofing; DMAIC; define measure analyse improve control; India; customer end-rejections; managerial models; global competition; manufacturing industry; sub-components; roadmaps; gear housing; fail-safe procedures; productivity management; quality management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2012.048755

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2012 Vol.10 No.3, pp.388 - 409

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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