Total Operations Solutions
A holistic approach to Operations Management, this book focuses on value chain management, addresses new and current issues, and covers an implementation program to demonstrate how to put the methodology into practice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Total Operations Solutions
Chapter 14: Case Studies
Overview
The bitterness of low quality is not forgotten
Nor can it be sweetened with low price
Marquis de Lavant (1734)
The following case examples provide insights for organizations that are achieving success in their business performance through the use of Six Sigma or related operational excellence programmes. The objective of including these case examples is to offer a set of proven practices through which an insight into the application of tools and techniques is given.
The case examples are taken from a large selection of real life experiences of many organizations around the world. We have not made any effort to make them tidy to suit any format or subject area. It is hoped that these cases provide a useful resource to stimulate discussions and training of self-assessment and help the implementation of an operational excellence programme. The cases may also be useful for analysis and discussion in learning programmes of an organization.
Case study 1: Six Sigma in Dow Chemical
Nature of the Problem
The Dow Chemical Company, at just over 100 years old, is widely recognized as a technology-based manufacturing business. The company's ambition is to grow better and bigger by re-defining itself as a solutions-oriented science and technology company. Six Sigma is a key accelerator of that transformation.
With annual sales of US$28 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building...
Copyright Ron Basu and J. Nevan Wright 2005 under license agreement with Books24x7
