Using Process Capability Indices to Develop the Execution Models of DMAIC Process

Abstract

The method of six-sigma and the index of process capability are both commonly used tools in the industrial community. Process engineers can follow five improvement steps of the six-sigma method, including “define”, “measure”, “analyze”, “improve”, and “control” (DMAIC), aiming to improve and enhance the process quality. However, none of these five improvement steps have a clear corresponding approach. This paper considered process capability indices not only a process quality evaluation tool widely used in the industrial community but also a process quality evaluation and analysis tool adopted by internal engineers. Therefore, this paper applied the method integrating process capability indices and statistical testing to develop execution models for the five improvement steps, DMAIC, of the six-sigma method. First, this paper, based on the concept of yield, not only deduced the relationship between the required value of the process capability index for the product and the process capability index value of the individual quality characteristic but also discussed the definition of the quality level of six-sigma as well as its relationship with the process capability index. Next, according to these results, five improvement execution models of the six-sigma method were developed and served as a reference for the process engineers in the industry to promote the performance of the six-sigma project. The proposed method in this paper applied various normal processes and combined the six-sigma method and process capability indices, both of which are tools commonly used in the industrial community. It also has taken into account the advantages of theoretical contribution and industrial acceptance.