Past posts here talk about how Six Sigma initiatives can successfully help design measures to determine the voice of external customers. This is where CTQs, DMAIC, DFSS, or DOE come in handy.
Recently, GE made a major breakthrough in the field of material science. It developed the VaporStar* IMC evaporation boats, which according to GE officials can “give manufacturers critical advantages including higher-quality end products, higher productivity, faster cycle times, and greater value.”
GE used Design for Six Sigma process. Throughout the development of the VaporStar boats, it was working with a number of key customers. The company extensively got validation with customers to ensure that the benefits of the boats were significant and that they would work in real-world operating conditions.
The company built a laboratory chamber to replicate customers’ process environments and developed special tests to quantify wetting and corrosion characteristics. Quantitative field testing was conducted at more than 10 customer sites.
GE’s VaporStar* IMC Evaporation Boats
