Six sigma process improvement technique and a practice in industry

In this study, basic quality concept and six sigma process improvementtechnique have been introduced. The aim of the study is representingthe six sigma technique and to give the practice which makes easier tounderstand this technique. Total quality management and continuousimprovement are common points which are used by many industriesfor developing of product and service quality. In the last decade aprocess improvement technique, known as Six Sigma, is implementedby many pioneers of the industry (Motorola, General Electric, AlliedSignal etc.). In Six Sigma philosophy which is composed of 5 generalsteps, effective usage of quality and statistical techniques is veryimportant. Therefore it is only possible to reach Six Sigma target withthe harmony between these techniques and process knowledge. TheSix Sigma philosophy for improving product and service quality isbased upon existing principles established by other well-recognizedquality experts (Deming, Juran, Ishikawa etc.). Any six sigmaimprovement effort is to reduce a long term defect rate of 3,4 defectiveproducts (services) among 1 million products (services). The objectiveof the case study section of this thesis is to define negative factorswhich are affecting on product quality and to increase the sigma levelof the investigated processes by means of using Six Sigma technique.To realization this target, a project team was assigned and qualitytechniques (cause and effect matrices, process mapping etc.) andstatistical techniques (hypotheses testing, design of experiment etc.)were used.Science Code : 906.1.070Key Words : Six Sigma, process improvement, statistical techniquesPage Number : 104Adviser : Prof. Dr. Fevzi KUTAY