SIX SIGMA SERVICES
Reltronics Technologies provides Six Sigma consultancy due to resident Six Sigma Blackbelts on the team. Reltronics Technologies encourages the Design for Six Sigma or DFSS philosophy which is part of a design/development approach (DEx or Design Excellence) that seeks to increase the probability that customer and business expectations are consistently met. It may be noted that DFSS implementation has a potential of increasing the system robustness by identifying what is important first followed by implementing a cost-effective design which has a high probability of consistently meeting system requirements.
The DMAIC process has the following elements:
- Define (definition of the optimization)
- Measure (measuring the variation or drift)
- Analyze (analyzing the data to pinpoint the areas of concentration)
- Innovative Improvement (improve the product or process)
- Control (develop a control plan that would be revisited on a periodic basis to assure product and process stability)
The DMADVV process has the following elements:
- Define (definition of the development)
- Measure (measuring the variation, drift, or the new process attributes)
- Analyze (analyzing the data to pinpoint the areas of concentration)
- Develop (develop a new process or product)
- Verify & Validate (perform formal verification and validation prior to release)
In terms of DFSS, there are many elements that should make up a good design and development process:
- Project selection and project management techniques
- Product and process knowledge
- Leadership Qualities/ Attitude
- Engineering theory
- Statistical thinking and methods
DFSS and Process Excellence or PEx are very complimentary. Note that DFSS and DMADVV are focused on design/development and PEx or DMAIIC is focused on operations but have many common tools. Some representative DEx/DFSS methods and tools which may already be in use at the customer’s environment are as follows:
Six Sigma philosophy is two pronged based upon whether the product or process needs to be optimized (DMAIC) or developed from the ground up (DMADV). Six Sigma is a philosophy, a strong tool that Reltronics Technologies utilizes for transactional, manufacturing and design purposes.
Voice of Customer or VOC/Quality Function Deployment or QFD;
- Requirements analysis and flow down;
- Hazard analysis and Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analyses (FMECAs);
- Physical principles modeling (e.g. structural, thermal, and kinematic modeling)
- Geometric and electrical circuit modeling (MCAD and ECAD);
- Design of experiments or DOEs;
- Tolerance studies and allocation
In addition, DFSS provides the following:
- Integrated approach incorporating what is already in use,
- System level modeling, block diagrams, module interface diagrams
- PEx elements (e.g., manufacturing capability studies, process-oriented DOEs, process-oriented FMEAs,
- Statistical emphasis & use of statistically-base approaches; and,
- Simplified methods to identify, track and manage critical system elements or parameters, i.e., use of DFSS Scorecards
Implementation of Six Sigma, Process Excellence, Design Excellence, and Design for Six Sigma principles has always been beneficial to the corporations. Although they appear to be a burden in the short term, these are must haves for large product development and optimization initiatives. |