Name of Course

Course Code
Credit Value
Prerequisite
Semester Offered
Learning Outcomes

Six Sigma
SMSS5204
4 Credit (160 learning hours per semester)
None
Every semester
At the end of the course, students would be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Synopsis

Course Outline

TOPIC 1

Understand Six Sigma and the DMAIC methodology.

Apply six sigma for the success of projects.
Identify the skills necessary to scope and define Six Sigma projects.
Effectively manage and complete Six Sigma projects within an organization.

The course introduces the student to the principle of Six Sigma as a proven set
of analytical tools, project management techniques, reporting methods and
management techniques combined to form a powerful problem solving and
business improvement methodology. Six Sigma is a quality improvement
approach to enhancing organizations performance by using statistical analytic
techniques. It aims to eliminate the variability and defects which interfere with
customer satisfaction and cost reduction. Six Sigma is a highly disciplined
approach to decision making that helps students focus on improving processes
to make them as near perfect as possible as well as ensures that internal
processes are running at optimum efficiency.
Learning
Topic
Hours
IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING OF CUSTOMER
16
REQUIREMENTS
Cost Benefit Ratio
Critical Flow Down matrices
Alignment to KPI
DETERMINE PERFORMANCE STANDARD AND SCOPE

16

TOPIC 3

Looking at Big Picture Process View

Business Process Flow
Prioritizing
Voice of Customer and Processes
MEASUREMENT OUTPUT AND VALIDATION

16

TOPIC 4

The meaning and usage of data

Operational Definition
Validate the measurement system
QUANTIFY PERFORMANCE AND TARGET

16

TOPIC 5

Performance Trend
Process Capability
Process Entitlement
KEY PROCESS INPUT VARIABLES

16

TOPIC 2

Cause and Effect Matrices

Evaluating Risk on Failure Mode

TOPIC 6

TOPIC 7

TOPIC 8

TOPIC 9

TOPIC 10

DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES

The meaning of Hypothesis Testing
Correlation and Regression of Performance
Analysis of Variance evidence
SOLUTIONS AND OPTIMIZE OPERATING LEVELS AND
TOLERANCE
Brainstorm Techniques and Selecting solutions
Design of Experiments
Respond Surface Methodology
Respond Optimizer
INSTALL SOLUTIONS AND PROVIDE STATISTICALLY
EVIDENCE
Statistical Tolerance
Evaluating Solution risks on Failure Mode
PLACE CONTROLS TO SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENT OVER
TIME
Control Plan
Control Chart
Visual Workplace
Error Proofing
Total Productive Maintenance
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE THAT IMPROVEMENT IS
SUSTAINED

Main References
supporting the course

16

16

16

16

16

Process Capability
Calculating benefits
Transferring Knowledge
Project Closure

TOTAL
Michael C. Thomsett, Getting started in Six sigma, Wiley, 2005.

160

Thomas McCarty, Michael Bremer, Lorraine Daniels and Praveen Gupta, The
Six sigma black belt handbook, Motorola Universiti, 2004.
Additional References
supporting the course

Peter S. Pande, Robert P. Neuman, Roland R. Cavanagh, The Six sigma way,
McGraw-Hill, 2000.