Title: Achieving Six Sigma rating in a system simulation model

Authors: Raid Al-Aomar, Mohamed A. Youssef

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Industrial Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. ' Department of Management and Marketing, College of Industrial Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This paper describes an approach for achieving Six Sigma rating in Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) criteria measured through a system Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model. Lean manufacturing techniques are utilised at the Improve (I) phase of DMAIC to reduce manufacturing lead time. DES provides a flexible platform for applying DMAIC analyses as well as lean manufacturing techniques. An example of a simple manufacturing process is used to clarify the application of the proposed approach. Results showed that while achieving Six Sigma rating may not be always practically attainable at system level, significant relative improvement can still be achieved.

Keywords: six sigma; Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control; DMAIC process; discrete event simulation; DES; lean manufacturing; critical-to-quality; CTQ criteria; lead time reduction; quality improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2006.010109

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2006 Vol.2 No.2, pp.190 - 206

Published online: 19 Jun 2006 *

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