Emhart Glass Six Sigma Quality Initiative

What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a rigorous and disciplined methodology that uses data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company's operational performance by identifying and eliminating "defects" in manufacturing, business and customer service related processes. A Six Sigma process has such little variation that only 3.4 defects per million opportunities would be produced.

The Six Sigma DMAIC process (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and targeted for incremental improvement.

Define: Identify, prioritize and select the right project for improvement

Measure: Determine key product characteristics and process parameters

Analyze: Identify the key process determinants through statistical testing

Improve: Optimize process performance, implement improvements

Control: Create control plans and operating procedures to hold the improvement gains

While we continue with Six Sigma improvement projects across our company, we look forward to expanding this initiative in 2003. We will conduct more training, involve additional employees, introduce Six Sigma methodologies in product design and assist customers with consultancy.