Title: An application of quality cost analysis as a tool for quality management

Authors: Chansiri Singhtaun; Rungnapa Hattayanon

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand ' Master of Engineering Program in Engineering Management, Department of Industrial Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

Abstract: This research proposes a new method to integrate quality cost analysis with the Six Sigma approach. The method implements quality cost analysis to indicate the quality status and quality cost behaviour of the organisation, and to identify areas of quality improvement and quality cost reduction. To improve product quality and process capability, the Six Sigma approach is executed. The experiment was carried out in three parts. The first part is the decomposition of quality costs based on the P-A-F model, and the identification of the behaviour of quality costs using regression analysis. The second part is quality improvement through the define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) process. In the final part, the proportion of cost according to the P-A-F model after process improvement is calculated and compared with the original P-A-F model. The results show that quality cost analysis can indicate the ineffective quality cost elements and help managers to understand the seriousness of their quality problems. The DMAIC process is found to be effective in reducing defects and improving the process capability.

Keywords: quality cost; quality management; process improvement; six Sigma; P-A-F model; automotive part company; regression analysis; design of experiments; cause and effect diagram; process capability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2017.086359

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2017 Vol.22 No.2, pp.205 - 222

Received: 10 Feb 2016
Accepted: 30 Jun 2016
Published online: 04 Sep 2017 *

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