Research objectives and methodology
As revealed from the literature survey that application of
Six Sigma improvement methodology appears rare among
the large-scale food-processing sectors in India. Thus, the
basic objective of this study is to implement Six Sigma at
one of the leading food-processing units and illustrate the
benefits drawn out of the same. The DMAIC methodology
was applied to one of the chronic problems having considerable
impact on the quality and productivity of the unit
in question.
The methodology adopted was case-study-based
research. A single well-designed case study can provide a
major challenge to a theory and provide a source of new
hypotheses and constructs simultaneously (Cooper and
Schinddler 2005). The paper discusses one complete
implementation case of Six Sigma pilot project. The case
study place more emphasis on a full contextual analysis of
fewer events or conditions and their interrelations. A case
study is an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary
phenomenon within its real-life context, when the
boundaries between phenomenon and context are not
clearly evident, and in which multiple sources of evidence
are used (Yin 2003). The case-study method allows an
investigator to retain the holistic and meaningful characteristics
of real-life events. Further, As per Simon (1969),
case study is a method of choice when the researcher wants
to obtain a wealth of information about the subject.
Following text demonstrates complete phase wiz
implementation of DMAIC methodology at a large-scale
food-processing unit resulting in improvement in productivity
and quality.