Improving the Six Sigma Total Quality Management Program.

This project proposal aims at facilitating and improving the Measure phase and the Improve phase of theDMAIC strategy. The Measure phase deals with the quality of the measurement equipment. This is importantbecause it is impossible to collect high quality data without a proper measurement system. We will seek novelmethods for carrying out measurement studies (also known as gauge R&R studies) that will improve the dataquality while reducing the cost in the Measure phase. We will also develop methodology for conducting betterexperiments in the Improve phase. The focus will be on cost-efficient data collection by means of nestedexperimental designs. Our work on the Measure and the Improve phases of the DMAIC strategy is of utmostimportance for the success of Six Sigma quality improvement projects because, without adequate measurementsand high-quality data, it is impossible to take well-informed decisions to improve quality. A common feature ofthe research problems in the Measure phase and the Improve phase is that they require an optimal datacollection approach or experimental design. More specifically, it is important that the collected data allow aprecise quantification of variability.

Keywords:MANAGEMENT

Disciplines:Applied economics, Economic history, Macroeconomics and monetary economics, Microeconomics, Tourism