The design for Six Sigma has been used in business organizations for quality improvements through the design and implementation of new processes. The use of DFSS has gained significant recognition by various companies that have adopted it. Examples of companies that have embraced the use of Six Sigma include Ford Motors, General Motors and Honeywell, and GE (Wankhade, Sunil, and Pankaj 86). DFSS entails the systematic methodology used to design and redesign products or services based on the expectations and requirements of the customers (Patil, Sunil and Izhak 372). However, some companies discredit the effectiveness of DFSS due to its various weaknesses (Ericsson and Joakim 3381).
Design for Six Sigma can be applied in the service sector to enhance various aspects of the industries under this sector. The methodology helps to optimize design processes to facilitate the realization of the performance of Six Sigma and improve customer service. Wankhade, Sunil, and Pankaj (138) found that most industries use DFSS to create new products or processes as well as closing the gap between the capabilities of the current process and customer expectations. . Therefore, the application of DFSS enables business organizations to gain knowledge concerning the business processes involved in the service sector. Additionally, DFSS can be used to detect a particular defect, collect data and design strategies for reducing these defects thereby improving quality in service industries (Chakrabarty and Kay 196). Industries in the service sector can use the DFSS to improve their financial performance by analyzing changes in customers’ needs.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Design for Six Sigma
DFSS approach has various strengths as well as weaknesses. The approach provides a framework that unites various tools such as gage repeatability, failure mode analysis, and statistical process control that are instrumental in support of high-level management. For example, GE (General Electricity), health care organizations and various financial organizations have adopted the use of DFSS to improve their performance (Wankhade, Sunil, and Pankaj 107). The main weakness of the use of Six Sigma in the service sector is that a number of service processes are intangible, unmeasurable, and unseen. Additionally, due to volatile nature of the market for service sector, DFSS may require constant adjustments as customer needs change frequently which may cause interference with service delivery (Ericsson, and Joakim 3381). Besides, it is difficult to collect data ad measure different things that happen during the interaction between customers and service providers.
Works Cited
Chakrabarty, Ayon, and Kay Chuan. "The current state of six sigma application in services." Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 17.2 (2007): 194-208. Web
Ericsson, Evelina, and Joakim Lilliesköld. "Identifying weaknesses in the design for six sigma concept through a pedagogical structure." 2012 Proceedings of PICMET'12: Technology Management for Emerging Technologies. IEEE, 2012.Web
Nakhai, Behnam and Joao Neves. "The challenges of Six Sigma in improving service quality." International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 26.7 (2009): 663-684. Web
Patil, Vipin Sunil Andhale, and Izhak Paul. "A review of DFSS: methodology, implementation and future research." Int J Innov Eng Technol 2.1 (2013): 369-375. Print
Wankhade, Aditya, Sunil Girde, and Pankaj Bandabuche. "An Application of Six Sigma in Service Sector-A Case Study." International Journal of Reaserch in Advent Technology 2.2 (2014): 83-171. Print
