Using 6σ to supervise product innovation process based on knowledge management - a case introduction of an LCD cooperation in Taiwan

It is necessary to take advantage of the product development experience and design data in the past for the current product innovation and production renovation. In other words, the time used for new product development will be greatly shortened and the cost for the new product production largely reduced if the past product R&D knowledge can be stored and mined. This case report describes the application of the knowledge management (KM) philosophy to the new product R&D process supervised by the 6 Sigma (6σ) quality supervision mechanism. Both KM and 6σ are complementary in the process and thus the new product can quickly respond to the local and global markets. The framework of the complementary functions is carried out in a large-scale LCD firm in Taiwan and presented here.