International Journal For Quality Research 71

International Journal for Quality Research 7(1) 127–140
ISSN 1800-6450

Ripon Kumar
Chakrabortty1
Tarun Kumar Biswas
Iraj Ahmed

Article info:
Received 15 November 2012
Accepted 26 February 2013
UDC – 65.018

REDUCING PROCESS VARIABILITY BY
USING DMAIC MODEL: A CASE STUDY IN
BANGLADESH
Abstract: Now-a-day’s many leading manufacturing industry have started to practice Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing concepts to boost up their productivity as well as quality of products. In this paper, the Six Sigma approach has been used to reduce process variability of a food processing industry in Bangladesh. DMAIC (Define,
Measure, Analyze, Improve, & Control) model has been used to implement the Six Sigma Philosophy. Five phases of the model have been structured step by step respectively.
Different tools of Total Quality Management, Statistical
Quality Control and Lean Manufacturing concepts likely
Quality function deployment, P Control chart, Fish-bone diagram, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Pareto analysis have been used in different phases of the DMAIC model.
The process variability have been tried to reduce by identify the root cause of defects and reducing it. The ultimate goal of this study is to make the process lean and increase the level of sigma.
Keywords: Six Sigma management, DMAIC model,
Variation reduction, Lean management

1. Introduction1
Six Sigma management is the philosophy of reducing variation in all critical process to achieve continuous and breakthrough improvements. Lean manufacturing seeks to provide optimal quality by eliminating waste. Lean Six Sigma is the combination of both. Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma are powerful philosophies baked by several tools for improving quality, productivity, profitability and market competitiveness for any corporation in a holistic manner
(Cudney et al., 2006). In the competitive environment, the fundamental goals of the company are to survive in the market and for the long term. Productivity should be
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