A DMAIC Six Sigma approach to quality improvement in the anodising stage of the amplifier production process

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the anodising process of a portable amplifier production process to identify and eliminate the sources of variations, in order to improve the process productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) Six Sigma methodology. Within the DMAIC framework various tools of quality management such as SIPOC analysis, cause and effect diagram, current reality tree, etc., are used in different stages.

Findings

High rejection rate was found to be the main problem leading to lower productivity of the process. Four types of defects were identified as main cause of rejections in the baseline process. Pareto analysis resulted in detection of the top defects, which were then analysed in details to find the root cause of the problem. Further study resulted in finding improvement measures that were discussed with the management before implementation. The process is sampled again to check the improvements, and control measures were established.

Practical implications

The study provides a framework for implementation of DMAIC Six Sigma methodology for a manufacturing firm. The results presented are based on the data collected from the shop floor. Results and findings of the study were implemented for quality improvement of the process.

Originality/value

The study is based on an original research conducted with the objective of quality improvement in the anodising process of the production process. Besides presenting an approach to DMAIC Six Sigma methodology, an application of the current reality tree tool for root cause analysis is presented, a tool used limitedly in the Six Sigma studies. The tool finds its uniqueness in its ability to address problems relating multiple factors than isolated factors.

Citation

Sharma, P., Malik, S.C., Gupta, A. and Jha, P.C. (2018), "A DMAIC Six Sigma approach to quality improvement in the anodising stage of the amplifier production process", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 35 No. 9, pp. 1868-1880. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-08-2017-0155