In a continuous process manufacturing facility, nearly 80 percent of downtime on high-speed packaging lines comes from minor stoppages which are generally caused by inconsistency of physical characteristics in the products being produced on the line. These minor stoppages can significantly affect product quality and negatively affect profit margin. By effectively following the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) process and Six Sigma tools, manufacturers can satisfy customers’ quality standards while boosting profitability targets with improved raw material utilization. In his article, Chong, advocates the use of both lean and six sigma tools to expedite the “define and measure” phase into one short week of focused activity. Learn about Chong’s approach and see how several companies are using the DMAIC process to take thousands of dollars back to the bottom line.
