Question

Choose one of the following and write a paper per the requirements below:

Japanese Approach to Quality

Deming's 14 points

Lean Systems

Six Sigma

Assignment Requirements:

Cover page

800-1000 words

Minimum of two references (cited)

APA formatting

Times-New Roman 12 point font

1 inch margins

Double-spaced

Cover page

Reference page

Answer 1

SIX SIGMA- CONCEPT AND METHODOLOGY

Six sigma is a quality management tool introduced by American engineer Bill Smith when he was working with Motorola in the year 1989. Six sigma was accepted as a central business strategy by General electric in the year 1980. Six sigma is a process which ensures that 99.9966% of the products manufactured as free of defects.

Six sigma identifies the variability and defects in quality and tries to minimize them to the lowest. Six sigma is a combination of statistical processes and quality management tools that creates a special infrastructure of personnel responsible for the production and manufacturing. The personnel involved in production management through concept of six sigma are experts in their respective technical domains. Every six sigma production process has its own sequence of steps with specified targets. These targets may be eco-friendly production process, customer satisfaction, optimum cycle time, increased efficiency, increased profits etc.

Six sigma has specific measurable and quantifiable process and focused on financial returns from a project. The concept of six sigma derives its strong features from the emphasis that top management must fully support it. Six sigma differs from previous quality management systems on the basis that it has clear statistical methods that can be subjected to verification; it does not depends on mere assumptions or intuitions.

Six sigma is based on three broad objectives:

1. Continuous and sustained efforts to achieve stable production process and predictable results that are of paramount importance to business processes.

2. Business processes must be such that they can be defined, measured, analyzed, improved and controlled.

3. Quality and defect free production process must have full support and dedication from top management.

Methodology of six sigma:

The methodology of six sigma is based on five phases.

1. Define: In this step the systems, processes, specifications, limits etc are defined.

2. Measure: In this step measurement of all the defined processes, specifications etc are taken.

3. Analyze: An analysis of measured processes is conducted to check variability, defects, cause and effect relationships etc.

4. Improve: This step refers to improvement of business processes through statistical tools and other quality improvement techniques.

5. Control: Control systems refer to observation of any deviation from the planned processes and taking corrective action to improve them.

Quality management tools:

Quality management through six sigma includes a variety of statistical processes and other quality improvement techniques.

Some of them are listed below:

1. Analysis of variance

2. Chi square.

3. Correlation.

4. Regression.

5. Squatter diagram.

6. Axiomatic design.

7. Control charts.

8. Root cause analysis.

9. Quality function deployment.

10. Cost benefit analysis.

Applications: The methodology of six sigma can be applied to many industries. Few examples are illustrated below:

1. Finance: Six sigma can be used in finance to check credit defects, automatic payments, improve accuracy, reduce collection defects etc.

2. Manufacturing: Six sigma can be used in manufacturing for wide variety of purposes ranging from defect free production systems to enhancing the efficiency of production systems.

3. Supply chain: Six sigma in supply chains can be applied to ensure passage of goods and services in the entire chain as efficiently as possible.

4. Healthcare: The application of six sigma in health care has improved efficiency of health care services. The critical element in the manufacturing and delivery of health care services with zero defects is taken care by sex sigma methodology.

5. Engineering and construction: Like manufacturing industries, six sigma has wide applications in engineering and manufacturing industries from ranging from efficient designs to defect free production process.

Limitations:

1. Six sigma has been often criticized as not being original quality concept. Quality experts hold that concept of six sigma has been gathered from many older versions and presented as a different concepts.

2. Six sigma has its limitations when complex manufacturing problems are needed to be made defects free.

3. Six sigma is criticized for being highly dependent on statistical tools. It is said that statistical tools may sometimes not provide accurate results and over reliance of six sigma on statistical tools is a major limitation.

References:

1. Linderman, K., Schroeder, R. G., Zaheer, S., & Choo, A. S. (2003). Six Sigma: a goal‐theoretic perspective. Journal of Operations management, 21(2), 193-203.

2. Schroeder, R. G., Linderman, K., Liedtke, C., & Choo, A. S. (2008). Six Sigma: Definition and underlying theory. Journal of operations Management, 26(4), 536-554.