CONCURRING MUTATED SIX SIGMA PARADIGM WITH HEI’S CAPACITY BUILDING & SUSTAINABILITY

Shaswat Padalia

Authors

Shaswat Padalia SAL Institute of Technology & Engineering Research (INDIA)

Keywords:

Mutated Six Sigma Paradigm (MSSP), Higher Education, Capacity Building, Quality, Sustainability

Abstract

Capacity building & quality in higher education has evolved as an imperative issue due to ever increasingly competitive environment, monotonous and flawed education system. Although six sigma paradigms have been effectively used in product and service improvement in the business environment, the concept has not been tailored in HEIs. To improvise use of MSSP (Mutated Six Sigma Paradigm) for higher education process improvement toward achievement of quality, a number of models are proposed. Six sigma principles such as process improvement, reducing waste and continuous improvement aligns closely with the mission of higher HEIs and accreditation agencies. A process map with SIPOC (supplier, input, process, output and control), cause and effect analysis, FMEA (failure mode and effects analysis) for higher education is foreseen. These tools can be used by higher education institutions to better understand the higher education process and how it can be improved to meet the desired quality goals. The paper also surfaces challenges and barriers to be encountered during the introduction of MSSP in the higher education sector, most useful tools and techniques for process improvement problems, success factors which are essential for the implementation and sustainability of MSSP. This paper makes an attempt to confiscate the myth that six sigma is confined to manufacturing only.

References

. Antony, J. (2004), “Six sigma in the UK service organisations: results from a pilot survey”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 19 No. 8, pp. 1007-12.

. Antony, J. and Snee, R. (2010), “Leading role”, Six Sigma Forum, ASQ, May, pp. 7-12.

. Bessant, J., Caffyn, S. and Glallagher, M. (2001), “An evolutionary model of continuous improvement behaviour”, Technovation, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 67-77.

. Crom, S. (2010), “Six sigma culture: better process and problem-solving”, February, available at: www.isixsigma.com

. Dale, B.G. and Smith, M. (1997), “Spectrum of quality management grid: development and use”, Managing Service Quality, Vol. 7 No. 6, pp. 308-12.

. Dale, B.G., van der Wiele, T. and Iwaarden, J.V. (2007), Managing Quality, 5th ed., Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.

. Dewhurst, F., Lorente, A.R.M. and Dale, B.G. (1999), “Total quality management and information technologies: an exploration of the issues”, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 392-404.

. Douglas, A.R. and Conger, J. (2007), “Make your company a talented company”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 85 No. 6, pp. 68-75.

. George, M (2002), Lean Six Sigma: Combining Six Sigma Quality With Lean Speed, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, pp. 107-119.

.Harry, M.J., Mann, P.S. and De Hodgins, O.C. (2010), Practitioner’s Guide to Statistics and Lean Six Sigma for Process Improvements, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ.

.Kumar, M., Antony, J. and Cho, B.R. (2009), “Project selection and its impact on the successful deployment of six sigma”, Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 669-86.

.Mathaisel, D. and Comm, C.L. (2000), “Developing, implementing and transferring lean quality initiatives from the aerospace industry to all industries”, Managing Service Quality, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 248-56.

.Pande, P.S., Neuman, R.P. and Cavanagh, R.R. (2001), The Six Sigma Way – How GE, Motorola and Other Top Companies are Honing their Performance, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

.Rockart, J.F. (1979), “Chief executives define their own data needs”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 57 No. 2, pp. 81-93.

.Snee, R.D. (2010), “Lean Six Sigma – getting better all the time”, International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 9-29.

.Womack, J. and Jones, D. (2005), Lean Solutions: How Companies and Customers can Create Value and Wealth Together, Free Press, New York, NY.