What Is Six Sigma for Technical Processes? (Digital Short Cut)

This is the eBook version of the printed book. This document discusses how technical leaders and management professionals can implement Six Sigma for the processes they oversee. It explores a relatively new kind of Six Sigma and its associated lean principles that prevent problems in well-designed, structured technical processes in product and technology portfolio definition, research and technology development, product commercialization, and production and service support engineering. This form of Six Sigma focuses on four process arenas that enable a business to attain a state of sustainable growth. Strategic Portfolio Renewal Process: Product and technology portfolio definition and development Strategic R&TD Process: Basic research and technology development Tactical Design Engineering Process: Product commercialization Operational Production and Service Support Engineering Process: Post-launch technical support for production and service engineering This document is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to all technical tasks across an enterprise; instead, it covers those tasks that can be enhanced by Six Sigma and lean discipline. It focuses on what to do (major tasks enhanced by tool sets) and when to do it (major phases within your processes) as leaders—not how as doers. The “how” part for “doers” is a very detailed body of knowledge that can be found in Creveling, Slutsky, and Antis, Design for Six Sigma in Technology and Product Development (Prentice Hall, 2003; www.prenhallprofessional.com/title/0130092231). To learn more about using Six Sigma for technical processes, please consult the forthcoming book Six Sigma for Technical Processes (Prentice Hall, 2007; www.prenhallprofessional.com/title/0132382326). The last section of this document, What’s in the Book Six Sigma for Technical Processes?, has more information about the book. Contents What This Short Cut Covers 3 Introduction 3 An Introduction to Phases and Gates 12 Summary 19 What’s in the Book Six Sigma for Technical Processes? 21 About the Author 25 About the Prentice Hall Six Sigma for Innovation and Growth Series 27

Table of Contents:
What This Shortcut Covers 3 Introduction 3 An Introduction to Phases and Gates 12 Summary 19 What’s in the Book Six Sigma for Technical Processes? 21 About the Author 25 About the Prentice Hall Six Sigma for Innovation and Growth Series 27

About the Author :
Clyde “Skip” Creveling is president and founder of PDSS Inc. (www.pdssinc.com). Since its founding in 2002, Mr. Creveling has led the DFSS initiatives at Merck, Motorola, Carrier Corporation, StorageTek, Cummins Engine, Becton-Dickinson, Mine Safety Appliances, and Callaway Golf. Prior to founding PDSS, Mr. Creveling was an independent consultant, DFSS product manager, and DFSS project manager with Sigma Breakthrough Technologies Inc. (SBTI). During his tenure at SBTI, he served as the DFSS project manager for 3M, Samsung SDI, Sequa Corp., and Universal Instruments. Previously, Mr. Creveling worked for Eastman Kodak for seventeen years as a product development engineer within the Office Imaging Division. He also spent one-and-a-half years as a systems engineer for Heidelberg Digital as a member of the System Engineering Group. During that time, he worked in R&D, Product Development/Design/System Engineering, and Manufacturing. Mr. Creveling holds five U.S. Patents. He was an assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology for four years, developing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical engineering design, product and production system development, concept design, robust design, and tolerance design. Mr. Creveling is also a certified expert in Taguchi Methods. He has lectured, conducted training, and consulted on Product Development Process improvement, Design for Six Sigma Methods, Technology Development for Six Sigma, Critical Parameter Management, Robust Design, and Tolerance Design theory and applications in numerous U.S., European, and Asian locations. He has been a guest lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he assisted in the start-up of a graduate course in robust design within the M.S. program in System Development and Management. Mr. Creveling has authored or coauthored several books on product design, developing tolerances for products and manufacturing processes, and Six Sigma processes. He is the editorial advisor for the Prentice Hall Six Sigma for Innovation and Growth Series (www.prenhallprofessional.com/sixsigmaforgrowth). Mr. Creveling holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering technology and an M.S. from Rochester Institute of Technology.