Six Sigma Methodology
• Structured approach -- DMAIC (Define,
Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control)
• Your research problem must be though of in
terms of a process
• Objective is usually quantified in terms of
dollars (cost savings, increased revenue,
etc.)
Define
• State your objective.
• State your research question and the process
involved.
• Identify where data may be collected in the
process and describe how the data relates to
the objective.
• Helpful tools: Flow chart, fishbone diagram,
and benefit analysis.
Proposal -- Part B
 Use the phrase selected by the team in Part
A to title the proposal.
 Complete the "Define" step above including
(1) motivation,
(2) an objective statement,
(3) a process flow diagram,
(4) a statement of the data collection method, &
(5) a brief statement as to how the data relates
to the objective.
Proposal -- Part B
 Proposal should be concise and fit on one
page.
 Part A materials are attached to the Part B
page and turned in as one bundle.
Example -- Garcia’s
Convenience Store
• Title from Part A: “Profit Comparisons of
Tropicana Orange Juice and a FreshSqueezed Orange Juice Machine”
• Motivation:
– Garcia’s is considering the purchase of a freshsqueezed orange juice machine. They have a
machine for a one month trial. Currently,
Tropicana orange juice is sold at the store and is
frequently replenished to ensure freshness.
Should the machine be purchased?
Example -- Garcia’s
Convenience Store
• Objective Statement
– To determine if the fresh-squeezed orange juice
machine is more profitable than selling
Tropicana and whether just one or both types of
orange juice should be sold.
Garcia’s Convenience
Store (Continued)
• Define
– Process Flow Diagram for Fresh-Squeezed:
Forecast Weekly
Sales of Fresh
-Squeezed O.J.
Compute
Weekly
Sales
Purchase
Boxes of
Oranges
Clean/Maintain
Machine
Purchase
Cups (If
Necessary)
Supply Machine
with Oranges
Garcia’s Convenience
Store (Continued)
• Define
– Process Flow Diagram for Tropicana:
Store
Maintains
Self Space
Tropicana
Representative
Visits Store
Weekly
Representative
Replaces
Out-of-Date
Orange Juice
Garcia’s Convenience
Store (Continued)
• Define
– Statement of data collection method:
• We plan to collect daily sales data from accounting
records for fresh-squeezed and Tropicana orange
juice during the last month. We also will collect
Tropicana orange juice sales for the same month a
year ago before the fresh-squeezed machine existed.
Garcia’s Convenience
Store (Continued)
• Define
– Statement of how the data relates to the
objective:
• From the daily sales data, we can calculate profits
on a daily basis. This will allow us to compare the
profitability of the fresh-squeezed orange juice
machine to the profitability of Tropicana juice. Sales
for Tropicana prior to and during the existence of
the fresh-squeezed machine.
• Signatures