Title: Study and analysis of implementation of Six-Sigma: a case study of an automobile industry

Authors: N. Venkatesh; M.C. Gowrishankar; C. Sumangala

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Canara College of Engineering, Benjanapadavu, Mangalore 574 219, Karnataka, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Udupi 576 104, Karnataka, India ' Department of Business Management, University of Mysore, Mysore 570005, Karnataka, India

Abstract: Six-Sigma is one of the strategic tools used by leading organisations to achieve accuracy and speed and at the same time reduce cost and increase customer satisfaction and profits. Six-Sigma has become a synonym for improving quality, reducing cost, improving customer loyalty, and achieving bottom-line results. This paper explores the implementation procedure at one of the automobile industries at Mysore, India and the benefits reaped by the company on account of adopting Six-Sigma. This also involves the various modifications incorporated during the implementation process, comparison and analysis of the results before and after the implementation of Six-Sigma process.

Keywords: six sigma implementation; DMAIC; rocker arms; cross heads; PONC; price of non-conformance; wear out; equipment breakdown; hardness number; modifications; benefits; automobile industry; India; automotive manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2014.057958

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2014 Vol.13 No.1, pp.19 - 38

Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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