In recent years, the companies and organizations around the world are showing great interests in quality. Six Sigma approach is a structured quantitative method which is invented by Motorola in 1986 for improving the product quality.
Abstract
Modern society has a higher demand for quality than it had before. There is a Plethora of quality improvement techniques available which makes it harder for companies to decide which one to apply. They need support in this decision and in knowing how to apply the chosen techniques, if they want to improve their business and stay competitive. Six Sigma approach is a very successful manufacturing quality improvement tool. In the last two decades, it has helped many companies to success. Some software companies have been trying to adapt Six Sigma for their business and development processes. In this thesis we take a first step towards such a solution. The thesis starts from Six Sigma concept identification and manufacturing investigation. After conducting interviews, a case study and several case studies reviews, we detail our method. We expect thesis result to be useful for software companies when applying Six Sigma in their company for process…
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 MOTIVATION
1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.5 OUTLINE
2 INTRODUCTION TO QUALITY AND SIX SIGMA
2.1.1 Definition
2.1.2 Why Quality Improvement
2.1.3 Software Quality
2.1.4 Software Process Improvement
2.2 SIX SIGMA
2.2.1 History
2.2.2 Definition
2.2.3 As a Metric
2.2.4 As a Methodology
2.2.5 As a Management System
2.3 SUMMARY
3 TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES IN SIX SIGMA
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 SEVEN QUALITY CONTROL TOOLS
3.2.1 Check Sheet
3.2.2 Histogram
3.2.3 Pareto Chart
3.2.4 Cause and Effect Diagram
3.2.5 Stratification
3.2.6 Scatter plot
3.2.7 Control chart
3.3 SPECIAL TOOLS
3.3.1 Brainstorming
3.3.2 Affinity Diagram
3.3.3 High-Level Process Map (SIPOC Diagram)
3.3.4 Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
3.3.5 Voice of the Customer (VOC) Method
3.3.6 Kano Analysis
3.3.7 The Others
3.4 SUMMARY
4 SIX SIGMA IN MANUFACTURING
4.1 MANUFACTURING CORPORATE FRAMEWORK
4.1.1 Top Management Commitment
4.1.2 Stakeholder Involvement
4.1.3 Training Scheme
4.1.4 Measurement System
4.2 IMPROVEMENT METHODOLOGY
4.2.1 Define
4.2.2 Measure
4.2.3 Analyze
4.2.4 Improve
4.2.5 Control
4.3 TEN TIPS FROM ABB
4.4 SUMMARY
5 THE ACCEPTANCE AND MOTIVATION OF SIX SIGMA IN SOFTWARE COMPANIES
5.1 DIFFERENT VIEWS ON APPLYING SIX SIGMA IN SOFTWARE COMPANIES
5.1.1 Binder’s View
5.1.2 Two Misconceptions Debunked by Tayntor
5.1.3 Cost Misunderstanding
5.2 SOFTWARE VERSUS MANUFACTURING
5.2.1 The Differences between Software and Manufacturing
5.3 WHY SOFTWARE COMPANIES CHOOSE SIX SIGMA APPROACH?
5.4 SUMMARY
6 INTERVIEWS CASE STUDY AND CASES STUDY REVIEWS
6.1 INTERVIEW 1
6.1.1 Introduction of Company
6.1.2 Introduction of Interviewee
6.1.3 Interview Execution
6.1.4 Interview Analysis
6.1.5 A Real Six Sigma Case Study
6.1.6 Case Summary
6.2 INTERVIEW 2
6.2.1 Introduction to Company
6.2.2 Introduction of Interviewee
6.2.3 Interview Execution
6.2.4 Interview Analysis
6.2.5 Organization structure
6.2.6 DMAIC Phases
6.3 CASE STUDY REVIEW A
6.3.1 Introduction
6.3.2 DMAIC Model
6.3.3 Case Summary
6.4 CASE STUDY REVIEW B
6.4.1 Introduction
6.4.2 DMAIC Method
6.4.3 Case Summary
6.5 CASE STUDY REVIEW C
6.5.1 Introduction
6.5.2 DMAIC Method
6.5.3 Case Summary
6.6 SUMMARY
7 STEPS TOWARDS APPLYING SIX SIGMA IN SOFTWARE COMPANIES
7.1 ENVIRONMENT ESTABLISHMENT
7.1.1 Reform Superstructure
7.1.2 Establish Six Sigma Education System
7.1.3 Continuous Improvement
7.2 AN ENHANCED METHODOLOGY
7.2.1 Methodology Selection
7.2.2 Enhancing DMAIC Model
7.3 SUMMARY
8 DISCUSSION AND VALIDITY THREATS
8.1 DISCUSSION
8.1.1 The Cost of Six Sigma
8.2 THREATS TO VALIDITY
8.2.1 Internal Validity
8.2.2 Construct Validity
8.2.3 Conclusion Validity
8.2.4 External Validity
9 EPILOGUE
9.1 RESEARCH CONCLUSION
9.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS REVISITED
9.2.1 What are the definitions of Six Sigma?
9.2.2 What is the condition of Six Sigma in manufacturing?
9.2.3 The applicability of Six Sigma in software’s and why software companies choose Six Sigma?
9.2.4 What kind of tools and techniques are used in Six Sigma? Which of them are suitable for process improvement in software companies?
9.2.5 What is the state-of-art for the implementation of Six Sigma in software?
9.2.6 Steps towards applying Six Sigma in software companies for process improvement?
9.2.7 What is the further work for Six Sigma in software?
9.3 CONTRIBUTIONS
9.4 SIX SIGMA AND AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
9.4.1 Agile principles align with Six Sigma
9.4.2 Requirements understanding
9.4.3 Agile software project and Six Sigma tools
9.5 FURTHER WORKS IN SIX SIGMA
9.5.1 Comparing Six Sigma with other Quality Techniques
9.5.2 Blending Six Sigma with CMMI
9.5.3 Six Sigma for Small Sized Companies
9.5.4 Lean Six Sigma
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
Author: Long Zhang, Adnan Rafiq Khan
Source: Blekinge Institute of Technology
Reference URL 1: Visit Now