Blending CMM and Six Sigma to meet business goals

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) blended Six Sigma concepts with the various SW CMM key process areas, thereby creating a quality management system. This helped TCS improve its customer focus and sustain process improvement initiatives by explicitly linking them to business goals. The TCS team implemented the QMS on the lines of Level 2 and 3 requirements of SW CMM, using Six Sigma concepts to reinforce quantitative process and product measurements and analysis, process improvements for defect prevention, and process optimization. This article describes TCS's approach, highlighting the benefits gained by blending Six Sigma and CMM to provide quality deliverables to its customers.     

Six sigma as a business process management method in services: analysis of the key application problems

Apart from being applied in production, Six Sigma has grown considerably in importance as a business process management (BPM) method in services. The transfer of the method from production to service applications does, however, pose problems which affect the success of implementing Six Sigma as a BPM method in services. For a successful application of the Six Sigma method in services it is helpful to know these possible problems in order to be able to avoid them and to achieve the goals of Six Sigma improvement projects. In addition from a theoretical view knowing the problems is a first step for further development of the Six Sigma method. Therefore, the present article deals with the following questions: which key problems regarding the application of Six Sigma in services are mentioned in the literature and which phases of the Six Sigma cycle can they be assigned to? The existing literature on this subject is reviewed and a qualitative content analysis of its contents is presented. Additionally, a survey based on the problems found in the literature is conducted to compare theory and practice. The evaluation of the results shows, on the one hand, that to date the problems of the application of Six Sigma in services have little been dealt with. On the other hand the evaluation provides a survey of the problems structured in accordance to the phases of the Six Sigma cycle. Thus, the present paper offers new findings as regards the state-of-the-art of the Six Sigma method.     

六西格玛方法在过程改造中的应用简介

介绍了六西格玛(6σ)的概念、基本评价指标及其开发的DMAIC流程的含义与主要分析工具,并介绍了六西格玛法在过程优化中的应用。该过程是一生产己内酰胺的连续过程,6σ利用统计学工具如量规分析、方差分析对过程的各个生产单元进行分析,找出各个生产单元的关键输入变量和输出变量及其关系,确定影响产品产量的瓶颈,包括操作条件和低效或陈旧的仪表与设备,并用实验设计验证以上分析结果,最后消除瓶颈,达到提高产量的目的。     

A systematic methodology for the creation of Six Sigma projects: A case study of semiconductor foundry

Nowadays, Six Sigma has been widely adopted in a variety of industries in the world and it has become one of the most important subjects of debate in quality management. Six Sigma is a well-structured methodology that can help a company achieve expected goal through continuous project improvement. Some challenges, however, have emerged with the execution of the Six Sigma. For examples, how are feasible projects generated? How are critical Six Sigma projects selected given the finite resources of the organization? This study aims to develop a novel approach to create critical Six Sigma projects and identify the priority of these projects. Firstly, the projects are created from two aspects, namely, organization’s business strategic policies and voice of customer. Secondly, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model is implemented to evaluate the benefits of each project and; a hierarchical failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) is also developed to evaluate the risk of each project; and from which the priority of Six Sigma projects can be determined. Finally, based on the project benefits and risk, projects can be defined as Green Belt, Black Belt, or others types of projects. An empirical case study of semiconductor foundry will be utilized to explore the effectiveness of our proposed approach.     

Intelligent integrated plant operation system for Six Sigma

Six Sigma has been widely adopted in a variety of industries as a proven management innovation methodology to produce high-quality products and reduce the cost at all the levels of an enterprise. This paper proposes a plant operation system which can guide plant engineers and operators to pursue Six Sigma activities by providing supports for key elements of Six Sigma: measurement, analysis, improvement and control. Multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) techniques have been employed as key technologies for the system, along with the plant information systems. This paper also discusses the future research issues that should be addressed to implement the described system.     

The Retraining Churn Data Mining Model in DMAIC Phases

Six Sigma is a rigorous, focused, and highly effective implementation of proven quality principles and techniques. A company＇s performance is measured by the sigma level of their business processes. Traditionally companies accepted three or four sigma performance levels as the norm. The Six Sigma standard of 3.4 problems-per-million opportunities is a response to the increasing expectations of customers. DMAIC is an acronym for five phases of Six Sigma methodology： Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. This paper describes possibility of using Bayesian Network for retraining data mining model. Concrete application of this proposal is in the field of the chum. Chum is a derivation from change and turn. It can be defined as a discontinuation of a contract. Data mining methods and algorithms can predict behavior of customers. We can get better results using Six Sigma methodology. The goal of this paper is proposal of implementation chum （with Bayesian network） to the phases of Six Sigma methodology.     

A Follow-Up Reflection on Software Process Improvement ROI

The software engineering discipline's continuing growth urges a shift toward value-based software engineering, to prove its contributions to the bottom line. However, the number of studies containing return-on-investment (ROI) data on software process improvement (SPI) hasn't grown much in the five years following the 2004 IEEE Software article "Measuring the ROI of Software Process Improvement." Because software engineering is so strongly related to the success and failure of business, we must find a way to measure value. The adoption of Six Sigma might just be the catalyst needed for the software engineering discipline. Software companies that embrace Six Sigma to structure their improvements will outclass competitors because of their skill in having their improvement efforts contribute directly to the financial bottom line.     

Design for Six Sigma through collaborative multiobjective optimization

This paper presents a global methodology for designing product for Six Sigma. First, we combine a feasibility-modeling technique with an interactive multiobjective algorithm taking into account the decision maker’s preferences (IMOP) to generate several Pareto-optimal solutions that maintain a probability of constraint satisfaction. These solutions are called reliable Pareto-optimal solutions.The solutions found by the algorithm fulfill as much as possible the decision makers’ requirements. Second, we develop a procedure for choosing a solution for implementation from among the reliable Pareto-optimal solutions generated by the algorithm. This procedure is based on the robust design and philosophy of Six Sigma. Finally, the critical characteristics are identified to help the managers develop the manufacturing system and its related control plans in order to achieve quality products. The proposed methodology is applied to vehicle crash-worthiness design optimization for side impact with structural weight and front door velocity under side impact as objectives.     

六西格玛和软件开发(一)

为了提升所交付软件产品的质量和项目的成功率,众多软件开发公司都在力图使用各种质量控制方法,六西格玛就是其中一种。但是它真能达到目的吗？     

在实施CMM时如何应用6 Sigma方法

介绍了CMM和6 Sigma,以及两者之间的异同;指出在CMM中应用6 Sigma是可行的,并给出了一些在CMM中应用6 Sigma的方法,包括应用6 Sigma工具在CMM各KPA以及在CMM全局和流程中的应用;最后指出软件机构在应用6 Sigma的同时还需要用CMM来改进软件过程。     

The Integration of TRIZ with Other Ideation Tools and Processes as well as with Psychological Assessment Tools

When TRIZ is introduced into an organization setting, it invariably encounters a host of processes and tools already in place. These can include enterprise tools such as Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), QFD and Lean Manufacturing. It is fairly easy to combine TRIZ problem‐solving and technological forecasting with these processes and tools, because most of these enterprise tools are problem‐identifying processes that couple easily with the strong problem‐solving capabilities of TRIZ. What is more difficult is to integrate TRIZ thinking with other psychologically based creativity and assessment tools. Users and trainers for these various tools tend to be very protective about each process and do not spend sufficient time thinking about ways to integrate the best of all tools. Organizations also frequently use psychological assessment tools to assist employees in career development, but they are seldom used in a proactive way to improve group problem‐solving. These assessments can be used proactively within the use and implementation of TRIZ. This paper will review suggested ways to effectively integrate TRIZ innovation and problem‐solving principles with these other tools.     

Industrializing software development: a Japanese approach

An overview is given of Japan's Sigma (Software Industrialized Generator and Maintenance Aids), and of the Sigma system itself. Sigma provides a rich, standardized environment. It consists of the Sigma Center, Sigma network, and Sigma user sites. The Sigma Center will help users who are constructing development environments of programs using those environments. It will provide database services, demonstration services, and part of the network service. The Sigma network is a Unix-based network that connects the Sigma Center to the Sigma user sites, the Sigma Center to external networks. A typical Sigma user site includes Sigma workstations running Sigma OS, a local area network, and the Sigma gateway, which is a communications server and protocol-conversion system. The Sigma development tools are discussed     

Image-processing procedures for quality estimation in production of elastic foamy materials

We present a system for estimating the quality of polyurethane foam, which is able to measure the apparent density and mean size of the cell. The system consists of a flatbed scanner of high resolution, an electronic balance, and a personal computer. We present the new way for measuring the sample volume using six nonorthogonal projections and adapt the marker dividing line algorithm for cell segmentation in the scanned image. We examine an approach for determining the efficiency of the image-processing system operating as a measuring system on the basis of the Six Sigma method.     

Trace monoids with idempotent generators and measure-only quantum automata

In this paper, we analyze a model of 1-way quantum automaton where only measurements are allowed ( MON -1qfa). The automaton works on a compatibility alphabet (S, E)(\Sigma, E) of observables and its probabilistic behavior is a formal series on the free partially commutative monoid FI(S, E)\hbox{FI}(\Sigma, E) with idempotent generators. We prove some properties of this class of formal series and we apply the results to analyze the class LMO(S, E){\bf LMO}(\Sigma, E) of languages recognized by MON -1qfa’s with isolated cut point. In particular, we prove that LMO(S, E){\bf LMO}(\Sigma, E) is a boolean algebra of recognizable languages with finite variation, and that LMO(S, E){\bf LMO}(\Sigma, E) is properly contained in the recognizable languages, with the exception of the trivial case of complete commutativity.     

基于Verilog-A的Sigma Delta系统行为级建模

介绍Verilog-A设计语言的特点,基于Sigma Delta系统介绍分级设计思想.分析开关电容型Sigma Delta调制器的非理想特性,主要包括时钟抖动、开关热噪声、运放增益、摆率等.在建立各自噪声模型的基础上,基于Verilog-A对二阶Sigma Delta系统行为级完整建模,通过仿真结果的比对,验证Verilog-A建模,总结其可准确预测指标并在一定程度上有效地削减仿真时间的优点.     

6 Sigma 管理在敏捷软件开发中的应用

6 Sigma是过程量化与控制、过程改进的有力工具和有效方法,针对敏捷软件开发方法现阶段在质量管理和过程控制上可能存在的问题,分析了6Sigma在敏捷软件开发方法中应用的可行性和价值,提出了基于6Sigma的敏捷软件开发方法的YfX黑盒模型和白盒模型,并进行DMAIC分析,实现敏捷开发方法的持续改进。     

DM与6Sigma模式在软件过程改进中的应用

分析了数据挖掘技术和六西格玛模式的特点,以数据挖掘的输出作为六西格玛项目管理正馈和反馈数据的输入,建立改进产品或服务的过程循环,提出了"数据挖掘与六西格玛模式在软件过程改进中应用模型",为软件企业的过程能力提供一个阶梯式的改进框架.     

Behavioral modeling of clock feed-through and channel charge injection non-ideal effects in SIMULINK for switched-capacitor integrator

Sigma–Delta modulator ADCs used in signal processing applications usually, are implemented by switched-capacitor (SC) circuits and CMOS transmission gates due to its simplicity for implementation. Channel charge injection (CCI) and clock feed-through (CFT) are two major non-ideal effects existing in TG switches and SC integrators reducing modulator total SNR, its linearity and its total gain. This paper presents a precise model for SC integrator including CCI and CFT non-ideal effects in MATLAB SIMULINK environment which allows designers to perform time-domain behavioral simulations of switched-capacitor (SC) Sigma–Delta modulators. Evaluation and validation of extracted models were performed via behavioral and transistor-level simulations for modeled SC integrator, second and third order modulators using SIMULINK and Agilent ADS environments with a generic 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Non-idealities and nonlinearities effects are apparently observed by comparing the ideal modulator in behavioral analysis and actual modulator in circuit-level environment.     

嵌入式高清媒体播放机的设计与实现

随着高清节目的流行,高清媒体播放机也逐渐成为新一代的媒体播放设备。介绍了一种基于Sigma Designs公司SMP8634芯片为核心、采用嵌入式LINUX操作系统设计的高清媒体播放机。     

六西格玛在软件过程度量中应用研究综述

现有软件过程度量的标准模型一般只提出如何进行软件过程管理以及应该达到什么样的标准,但没有对客户怎样做,使用哪些方法可以达到这些标准进行具体的阐述。而六西格玛改进提供了一套持续改进现有过程的流程、方法和工具;六西格玛设计是控制产品设计质量突破“五西格玛墙”的有力工具,它更接近于企业的底层经营流程。因而,针对软件企业的自身特点,结合六西格玛,解决软件质量的控制问题,生产出高质量的产品,获得竞争优势,具有十分重要的意义。为此进行了相关文献的综述研究。