Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN 0976-7916 Research Article USE OF SHAININ TOOLS FOR SIMPLIFYING SIX SIGMA IMPLEMENTATION IN QMS/ISO CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENT– AN INDIAN SME CASE STUDY Anand K. Bewoor*, Maruti S. Pawar Address for Correspondence *1Mechanical Engineering Dept.,Vishwakarama Institute of Information Tech.,Kondhwa (Bk), Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India 2Professor and Vice-Principal, B. M. I. T., Solapur University, Solapur Maharashtra, India. E-mail:
[email protected],
[email protected] ABSTRACT Six sigma for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is an emerging topic among many academics and Six Sigma practitioners over the last two to three years. Very few studies have been reported about the successful applications of Six Sigma in SMEs. Main objective of this paper is to examine the extent of usefulness of a simpler but not very frequently used methodology known as the Shainin methodology for simplifying the implementing Six Sigma. To confirm whether Six Sigma implementation is simplified, this paper highlights the comparison of three DOE approaches viz. Classical, Taguchi and Shainin methodology. A case study based research work done in ISO certified Indian SME, concludes that, Six Sigma implementation process can be simplified by using Shainin tools and proper use company’s ISO/QMS. KEYWORDS Six Sigma, Shainin Tools, QMS, Indian SMEs. 1. INTRODUCTION and new product and service development. In recent past, academicians, practitioners Six Sigma relies on statistical methods and and organizational researchers have the scientific method to make dramatic recognized that the Quality Management reductions in customer defined defect System (QMS) process and the Six-Sigma rates’’ (Linderman et al., 2003).