ABSTRACT
The goal of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and value engineering is to save money, improve the bottom line, and improve the chances for survival of our companies. For Six Sigma projects that do not involve design engineering, we have five phases for each project: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. Design for Six Sigma takes a Six Sigma concept into the design arena. One of the “secrets” of successful Six Sigma lies with enterprise-wide deployment. Furthermore, Six Sigma Black Belt teams are often self-directed work teams with highly dedicated members, formally elucidated for management but informally formed in reality. We can cost Six Sigma projects in the same way we would do costing for any other project, including product development. The executive leadership may take on the additional and specific responsibility of being a project champion. When planning during Six Sigma projects, or any other project, we might perform an activity called a gap analysis.
