Authors : Tony Fouweather, Shirley Coleman and Andrew Thomas
This paper shows how SMEs were able to improve key processes by using the six sigma approach during a training programme organised by ISRU and partly funded by the European Social Fund. Six sigma training can be of great benefit as it gives opportunities for any company to become more efficient and competitive. The cost of this training is often too much for SMEs however, leaving them at a severe disadvantage to their larger competitors. ISRU were able to address this problem directly by offering hugely discounted six sigma training to local SMEs.
This paper describes, 2 case studies, showing how statistical techniques can be applied to facilitate improvements in efficiency, reduction in waste and rejects and the general improvement of processes and how this in turn can improve the competitiveness of a SME1. A small local bakery sent a delegate on a training course to learn six sigma techniques. “The Six Sigma training gave us a set of tools which allowed us to improve the efficiency of our packing line for one of our most difficult products.”
Another case study shows how a local chemical company used modelling techniques to increase their profitability. The delegate was able to model their drying process with the tools learnt on the training course and through this predictive model the company was able to produce an extra batch each week representing £6,000 profit for the company and so this had the potential to dramatically increase revenue and improve profitability by £300,000 pa. The need for assistance to SMEs is well documented and in regions such as Cardiff (UK) where heavy industry has declined in recent years similar to what has happened in Newcastle there is a growing need for SMEs to be offered assistance to become more competitive in order to survive. European funding has been obtained by MEC in Cardiff and adapting the programme set up in Newcastle to improve the prospects of Cardiff local SMEs is to be implemented via the IPROMS network of excellence.
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Hello. As co-chairman, I would like to start the session with a question to your paper. Correct me if I am wrong, I noted your scatter plot and your initial equation for the second case study is DT = 431 - 60 %W + 0.08 W - 3.9T indicated that when the percentage of water (%W) is high, the drying time is less. I would appreciate if you would elaborate on that i.e. did you find why the drying time is working against normal physics. I would also appreciate very much if you would elaborate how your initial equation DT = 431 - 60 %W + 0.08 W - 3.9T is transform into DT = 114 + 0.07W when T = 85C and percentage of water (%W) = 0.2.
Thank you.