A Research on improving differential axle housing production process by using six sigma approach

ABSTRACTMaster ThesisA Research On Improving Differential Axle Housing Production ProcessBy Using Six Sigma ApproachNevin CANDokuz Eylul UniversityInstitute of Social SciencesDepartment of Total Quality ManagementDue to the fact that customer expectations increases day after day andcompetition conditions changes continuously, quality concept has been an indispensableelement of organizations for their survival for many years. Firms have adopted manyquality approaches in order to increase their customers? and also their own quality andproductivity performance faster in proportion to their rivals from the past to the presentday.One of these quality approaches, Six Sigma, arises from the requirement ofquality improvement. The main cause of quality problems is variation. Therefore, one ofthe basic purposes of Six Sigma is to reduce and prevent process variation for improvingquality. Customer requirements and expectations compose the basis of Six Sigma. So, inall organization steps process management is put into practice in order to reach highquality level and low defect rate in all operation processes. The most visible benefit ofSix Sigma is the creation of positive financial effect on firms. Providing hard dataanalysis and being a measurable way to monitor performance improvement arealternative features of Six Sigma which differentiates it from other approaches.This study has been performed for the purpose of explaining Six Sigma approachin details, increasing Sigma level of axle housing process in an industrial corporation byusing Six Sigma tools, in other words reducing defective items.In the first part, the meaning of Six Sigma, where and when it began for the fisttime, differences and similarities among Total Quality Management, QualityManagement Systems and Six Sigma and practicability of Six Sigma in Small andMedium-sized Enterprises has been explained. In the second part, DMAIC methodologyand used tools has been discussed in details. In the third and last part, implementationof Six Sigma methodology in a firm which operates in automotive sector has beenanalyzed.Key Words: 1) Six Sigma 2) Process Walkthrough 3) DMAICAppendixes Except Thesis Text Format:File Name: Tables and Graphs Originated in Excel Programme