A variation management system supporting six sigma
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 12 June 2007
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe new methods to manage variation in complex manufacturing process chains and to show synergies between the variation risk management (VRM) and six‐sigma approaches.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology was experimental prototyping conducted in collaboration with industry partners. A prototype IT system was developed and tested to implement the approach. A quality cost‐based system was used to assess variation at each operation stage, for every product characteristic.
Findings
A comprehensive approach to the management of manufacturing variation is introduced, based on a new process risk matrix which can be used to specify an individual variation risk for every manufactured characteristic, throughout a manufacturing process chain. The approach has been implemented in a prototype software system and is aimed at the complex products such as those manufactured by the aerospace industry.
Research limitations/implications
The IT approach described was developed during the research and is not commercially available.
Practical implications
Manufacturing industry should be able to use this approach, in particular the process risk matrix concept, to develop more effective management of product variation and resultant cost, in complex process chains.
Originality/value
The paper describes a novel approach to combine VRM and six‐sigma concepts, and introduces the process risk matrix as a structure to understand process variation.
Keywords
Citation
Tannock, J.D.T., Balogun, O. and Hawisa, H. (2007), "A variation management system supporting six sigma", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 18 No. 5, pp. 561-575. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410380710752662
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited