As the rise of globalisation continues to pressurise companies to improve performance, there is a lot of hype surrounding Six Sigma’s abilities to do so. After all, for managerial techniques to be credible, they need to improve profit. It is therefore concerning that to date only one empirical study examines the role of Six Sigma on performance and it finds mixed empirical results. This study aims to replicate the preceding study over a more recent time period and include the impact of sector on performance. This study examined 43 Six Sigma firms listed in the United States and their financial results for a four year period from 2004 to 2007, compared to 43 homogenous firms that formed a control group. The results for five operational and five financial measures were tested using analysis of covariance to see whether, given equal initial levels of the measure, the Six Sigma firm would outperform the control firm after four years. The main contribution of this study is to show how little Six Sigma contributes to financial and operational performance overall. Companies looking to implement a Six Sigma initiative should be cognisant of this before investing in high initial investment costs. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The focal point of this master thesis is Lean Six Sigma methodology and its application on project from practice. Company Doosan Bobcat that has its principles implemented provides this real background. Bobcat still improve and educate itself in this area. Company offered a project from its logistics department that should optimize parts preparation for their transport from one warehouse to another, for this thesis. The project is solved within DMAIC cycle that is firstly described theoretically and then applied on. Then, the tools that are used in individual cycle phases are described as well. The results of the thesis are improvement suggestions, their implementation plan and control plan.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / In the Peruvian market there is a great demand for the improvement of the service and quality of the products, that is why many SMEs look for low-cost alternatives that allow them to optimize their activities and thus be able to assure the quality of the service. The problem is that there are many difficulties when implementing tools or techniques due to high costs or lack of knowledge, therefore a productivity model is proposed focused on six sigma and lean manufacturing methodologies in order to adapt the needs of SMEs with 4 phases can analyze, design, implement and monitor requirements in order to reduce mismanagement of service quality, cost savings and decrease product returns.

There have been numerous studies on measuring protein-protein interactions in solution using a variety of techniques including membrane osmometry, sedimentation, and static light scattering. Most of these techniques yield an osmotic second virial coefficient. The osmotic second virial coefficient has been shown to be an important parameter for protein crystallization. To date, there have been few fundamental theoretical studies of estimating second virial coefficient values using conventional models because of the diverse and complex nature of the potential of mean force. In the present study, the variation of equine serum albumin interactions was measured with respect to pH and sodium chloride salt concentration by static light scattering to determine the second virial coefficient and electrophoretic light scattering to determine the electrophoretic mobility. The main aim is to show the effect of the solution conditions such as pH and ionic strength on ESA interactions. In this thesis, I will focus on the classical theory of Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO). The experimental data from electrophoretic and static light scattering measurements for equine serum albumin are compared with the DLVO model.

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El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / The present research work has as objective the application of Six Sigma DMAIC methodology in the production’s processes, the results will be manifested in increasing the efficiency of the production system and in reducing the delay in order delivery. In a metal mechanic company dedicated to the manufacture of electrical boards which focus is the terraced boards there was presented a fulfillment rate failure to deliver on time 46%. On the other hand, the delivery delay is generated because the current productivity does not supply what is required by the customer, therefore a minimum 394 units per month is needed to meet the requirements but currently only produce 226 units per month. For solve this problem it was proposed that Production model that merges the painting and baking areas and that generates an impact on the entire painting operation.

<p>Aim: This study investigates the degree of Six Sigma implementation in the aviation industry where it has been successful and is widely spread. Six Sigma is a quality measurement and improvement program and provides businesses with the tools to improve the capability of their business processes. The paper scrutinizes the possible consequences of implementing Six Sigma in a strictly controlled environment and how the defined success factors for implementation could be interpreted in this context. The concept of Six Sigma is examined with the objective to define recommendations for implementation at Saab Avitronics, a company within the aviation industry.</p><p>Method: The theoretical background presents what theories for Six Sigma successful implementation that are present and seeks to give the topic depth and perspective to establish a basis on which the analysis later is built on. Phases for implementation of improvement programs and success factors for Six Sigma are investigated. To establish the environment in which the theory is adapted the empirical part of the study presents a marketing audit and a SWOT analysis of Saab Avitronics. An internal survey is also performed to examine Saab Avitronics’ view on its own knowledge in the area of Six Sigma, improvement methodology, statistics, and the attitudes towards implementing a methodology based on Six Sigma. The analysis is performed by applying the theoretical background in the light of the reality of Saab Avitronics. The possibility of a successful implementation is discussed.</p><p>Result & Conclusions:Continuous improvements are a general prerequisite for survival and success and the study shows that this has also become a requirement imposed on companies within the aviation industry. Although special conditions apply to the aviation industry and Saab Avitronics there is nothing preventing from implementing the improvement concept in general, but special criteria have to be considered when choosing suitable projects. The study concludes with recommendations for Saab Avitronics on five phases for implementation; Plan, Pilot, Implement, Expand and Integrate, and main activities within these phases are defined. Finally the most important success factors for implementation at Saab Avitronics are defined and also how these should be interpreted for continuous improvement and future success.</p><p>Suggestions for future research: The investigation is limited to the aviation industry and to Saab Avitronics. Future research projects could further study the consequences at Saab Avitronics after implementation of Six Sigma, case studies of implementing best practise theories like these recommendations, and studying selection criteria for success factors.</p><p>Contribution of the thesis: The study contributes with recommendations to Saab Avitronics when implementing Six Sigma and also to the know-how and knows-what, to others than Saab Avitronics, when studying the same topic or when planning their own implementation of Six Sigma.</p>

Aim: This study investigates the degree of Six Sigma implementation in the aviation industry where it has been successful and is widely spread. Six Sigma is a quality measurement and improvement program and provides businesses with the tools to improve the capability of their business processes. The paper scrutinizes the possible consequences of implementing Six Sigma in a strictly controlled environment and how the defined success factors for implementation could be interpreted in this context. The concept of Six Sigma is examined with the objective to define recommendations for implementation at Saab Avitronics, a company within the aviation industry. Method: The theoretical background presents what theories for Six Sigma successful implementation that are present and seeks to give the topic depth and perspective to establish a basis on which the analysis later is built on. Phases for implementation of improvement programs and success factors for Six Sigma are investigated. To establish the environment in which the theory is adapted the empirical part of the study presents a marketing audit and a SWOT analysis of Saab Avitronics. An internal survey is also performed to examine Saab Avitronics’ view on its own knowledge in the area of Six Sigma, improvement methodology, statistics, and the attitudes towards implementing a methodology based on Six Sigma. The analysis is performed by applying the theoretical background in the light of the reality of Saab Avitronics. The possibility of a successful implementation is discussed. Result &amp; Conclusions:Continuous improvements are a general prerequisite for survival and success and the study shows that this has also become a requirement imposed on companies within the aviation industry. Although special conditions apply to the aviation industry and Saab Avitronics there is nothing preventing from implementing the improvement concept in general, but special criteria have to be considered when choosing suitable projects. The study concludes with recommendations for Saab Avitronics on five phases for implementation; Plan, Pilot, Implement, Expand and Integrate, and main activities within these phases are defined. Finally the most important success factors for implementation at Saab Avitronics are defined and also how these should be interpreted for continuous improvement and future success. Suggestions for future research: The investigation is limited to the aviation industry and to Saab Avitronics. Future research projects could further study the consequences at Saab Avitronics after implementation of Six Sigma, case studies of implementing best practise theories like these recommendations, and studying selection criteria for success factors. Contribution of the thesis: The study contributes with recommendations to Saab Avitronics when implementing Six Sigma and also to the know-how and knows-what, to others than Saab Avitronics, when studying the same topic or when planning their own implementation of Six Sigma.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-144). Also available online.