Six sigma methodology and a case study in the turkish automotive industry

The concept of quality has become an important element for the enterprises wishing to increase their competitiveness. In order to gain competitive advantages, companies should not only manufacture quality products but also pay attention that these products satisfy the needs, wants and requirements of the customer. Six Sigma, by reducing the variability in the manufacturing processes, is one of the major methodologies developed to help manufacture products which are compliant with customers? needs, wants and requirements. The main goal of this study is to emphasize the importance of the Six Sigma methodology and to state the benefits of the methodology so as to guide the companies considering applying Six Sigma. In this regard, we focus in the first chapter on the definition, concepts and general features of Six Sigma. In the second chapter, we mention about the process used in applying the Six Sigma methodology and the statistical methods benefited. In the third chapter which is also the application section of the study, we examine how the methodology is applied in a company which operates in an automotive side industry. This examination revealed that the application of Six Sigma have reduced errors in a process which is important for the company and in which many errors used to occur. Reducing the errors in the process brought significant gains to the company and that improvement along with the theoretical reasoning in the thesis confirms the overall importance of Six Sigma methodology.