Utilizing Six Sigma DMAIC Tools and Processes to Identify and Reduce Delamination and Scratch Defects on Privacy Filters

Abstract

Companies are continually seeking to improve their manufacturing processes in order to reduce waste and increase capacity. These improvements allow the company to increase their profitability and generate greater returns for investors. Waste generated by manufacturing processes is a key source of lost profitability for a company. Company XYZ had identified two issues being generated in their die converting department that were areas of concern that needed to be addressed. The areas of focus of the project was the reduction of waste caused by delamination and scratching of privacy filters. The project team identified the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) process as an appropriate tool to help identify problems and generate corrective actions. The DMAIC process guided the team through the problem solving process and allowed the team to generate verifiable corrective action plans to address the root causes that were identified. By following the DMAIC process the team was able to provide direction to the process owners on how to reduce or eliminate sources of waste for the company.