What Is Design
For Six Sigma
What is Design
For Six Sigma (DFSS)? DFSS is the acronym for Design For Six Sigma.
Unlike the DMAIC methodology, the phases or steps of Design For Six
Sigma are not universally recognized or defined—almost every company
or training organization will define Design For Six Sigma
differently. Many times a company will implement Design For Six
Sigma to suit their business, industry and culture; other times they
will implement the version of Design For Six Sigma used by the
consulting company assisting in the deployment. Because of this,
Design For Six Sigma is more of an approach than a defined
methodology.
Let’s see some
more details about What is Design For Six Sigma. Design For Six
Sigma is used to design or re-design a product or service from the
ground up. The expected process Sigma level for a Design For Six
Sigma product or service is at least 4.5 (no more than approximately
1 defect per thousand opportunities), but can be 6 Sigma or higher
depending the product. Producing such a low defect level from
product or service launch means that customer expectations and needs
(CTQs) must be completely understood before a design can be
completed and implemented.
What is Design
for Six Sigma? It is a revolutionary methodology for new product and
service development.
Design For Six Sigma starts with a careful examination of
market requirements, then translating these requirements effectively
into product technical requirements. Design For Six Sigma drives
the team to achieve a clear focus on those requirements that will
truly make a difference in the marketplace. Once “critical to the
customer” requirements have been identified, they are driven to
successively lower levels.
Linkage from each requirement level is obtained through the
use of transfer functions.
Simultaneously, capability data is ascertained at each design
level. The linkage of
requirements and capability data allows the team to predict design
quality before launch.
Predictable quality produces timely, glitch-free new product
launches.
Design For Six
Sigma is a business process focused on improving profitability.
Properly applied, it generates the right product or service at the
right time at the right cost. Through its use of product and team
scorecards, it’s a powerful program management technique. DFSS is an
enhancement to your new product development process, not a
replacement for it. A documented, well-under-stood, and useful new
product development process is fundamental to a successful DFSS
program. Your new product development process provides the roadmap
to success. DFSS provides tools and teamwork to get the job done
efficiently and effectively. By rigorously applying the tools of
DFSS, you can be assured of predictable product
quality.
Design For Six
Sigma has its roots in systems engineering. In turn, much of the
learning that underpins systems engineering evolved under the
guidance of the Department of Defense and NASA. To control the
lifecycle process, they developed a management approach that uses
performance specifications, as opposed to volumes of product,
subsystem, assembly, part, and process
specifications.
DFSS provides a
systematic integration of tools, methods, processes, and team
members throughout product and process design. Initiatives vary
dramatically from company to company, but typically start with a
charter (linked to the organization’s strategic plan), an assessment
of customer needs, a functional analysis, an identification of
critical-to-quality characteristics (CTQs), concept selection, a
detailed design of products and processes, and control
plans.
One common
misconception about DFSS is that it’s a replacement for your current
new product development process. If no formal process exists within
your company, it could be used to guide the development process, but
typically DFSS provides the tools, teamwork, and data to supplement
the new product development process already in place in an
organization. Another misconception is that DFSS is just Six Sigma
in design. The truth, simply put, is that DFSS is a complex
methodology of systems engineering analysis that uses statistical
methods.
What is Design
For Six Sigma misconception. Misconception is that DFSS involves
just the core product design team and has no impact on marketing,
research, and manufacturing. Because of tools recently added to
DFSS, this is no longer true. The most effective product development
teams are cross-functional, with strong project management
leadership and management support. Marketing, research, design, and
advanced manufacturing engineering are typical representatives in a
DFSS wave. The team works together to scope customer requirements,
select design concepts, detail the product and process design,
selects suppliers, and ensures that supplier capability meets or
exceeds customer-driven engineering
needs.
