Six Sigma: A Break through Business Improvement Strategy for Achieving Competitive Advantage A Case Study

Quality has become a prerequisite for success of any organization. Nothing short of zero defects will do in todaypsilas extremely competitive business environment. The issues can be well addressed by implementing Six Sigma, a break through business improvement strategy for achieving competitive advantage & a paradigm shift in management quality strategy. Six Sigma is an organized & systematic method for strategic process improvement that relies on statistical & scientific method to make dramatic reductions in defect rates by measuring, analyzing, improving & then controlling processes. This paper presents a case study which analyzes an application of Six Sigma using DMAIC viz. Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve & Control model for the defect reduction at a manufacturing concern based at Surat, Gujarat, India. It focuses on the best possible way to define & measure variations with the intent of discovering its causes & to develop efficient operational means to control & reduce or eliminate these variations/defects. The study shows that performance of the company is improved from Sigma rating of 3.1 to nearly Sigma level of 4.8 The significant gains achieved by the companies which implemented Six Sigma programme clearly provide the signal that Six Sigma programme adoption would lead today´s organization to attain core competence.