Julie Works At Gentry Flower Shoppe ✓ Solved
Julie Works At Gentry Flower Shoppe Which Operates At The 4 Sigma Lev
Julie works at Gentry Flower Shoppe, which operates at the 4 sigma level, with about 6,000 DPMO, which was determined recently. At that time, Gentry was found to have 1,500 total defects. They want to improve to the 5 sigma level, or about 500 DPMO. Assuming nothing else changes, what would their new total defect level have to be? Please clearly show your calculations in either MS Excel or Word file. You may also submit your handwritten paper after you scan and save it in a PDF format. No points will be given for those who do not show each step of the calculations.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
To determine the new total defect level for Gentry Flower Shoppe as it improves from a 4 sigma to a 5 sigma level, we need to understand the relationship between sigma levels and defect rates (DPMO). The process involves converting the current sigma level to DPMO, calculating the current total defects, and then determining the total defects needed at the higher sigma level, assuming the number of units processed remains constant.
Step 1: Understanding Sigma Levels and DPMO
Sigma levels are a measure of process capability, where a higher sigma level signifies fewer defects per million opportunities. Commonly, the Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO) is used to quantify defect rates, with the relationship between sigma level and DPMO being well-established through the Six Sigma methodology.
Step 2: Current DPMO at 4 Sigma
Gentry operates at approximately 6,000 DPMO at the 4 sigma level, with a total of 1,500 defects. To verify consistency, we connect the DPMO to total units processed. The formula linking DPMO, total defects, and total opportunities (units processed, assuming one opportunity per unit) is:
DPMO = (Number of Defects / Total Opportunities) * 1,000,000
Given that the total defects are 1,500, and DPMO is 6,000, we can find the total number of units processed:
Total Units Processed = Total Defects / (DPMO / 1,000,000) = 1,500 / (6,000 / 1,000,000) = 1,500 / 0.006 = 250,000 units
Step 3: DPMO at 5 Sigma Level
At the desired 5 sigma level, the DPMO is approximately 500. To find the maximum number of defects allowable while maintaining this defect rate, we multiply the total units processed by the new DPMO (per unit opportunity):
Maximum Defects at 5 Sigma = Total Units Processed (DPMO / 1,000,000) = 250,000 (500 / 1,000,000) = 250,000 * 0.0005 = 125 defects
Step 4: Final Calculation
The total defect level needs to be reduced from 1,500 to approximately 125 defects to achieve a 5 sigma process level. This indicates significant process improvements are necessary, but the new total defect level must be near 125 to meet the 5 sigma defect rate guidelines.
Conclusion
Therefore, assuming the number of units processed remains constant at 250,000, the new total defect level for Gentry Flower Shoppe must be approximately 125 defects to reach the 5 sigma level, compared to the current 1,500 defects at the 4 sigma level.
References
- Antony, J. (2002). Six Sigma in Manufacturing and Services: How to Capitalize on the Benefits of Statistical Thinking. Quality Progress, 35(6), 53–58.
- Evans, J. R., & Lindsay, W. M. (2014). The Management and Control of Quality (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Pande, P. S., Neuman, R. P., & Cavanagh, R. R. (2000). The Six Sigma Way: How to Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Most Important Improvement Effort. McGraw-Hill.
- Pyzdek, T., & Keller, P. A. (2014). The Six Sigma Handbook: A Complete Guide for Green Belts, Black Belts, and Managers at All Levels (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
- Gaertner, K. (2003). Six Sigma: The Next Generation. Quality Progress, 36(5), 54–60.
- George, M. L. (2002). Lean Six Sigma: Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed. McGraw-Hill.
- Harry, M., & Schroeder, R. (2000). Six Sigma: The Breakthrough Management System. Doubleday.
- McManus, K. (2004). Making Sense of Six Sigma: A Guide for Training, Consulting and Business Improvement. Routledge.
- Harrison, D. (2003). Practical Problem Solving: A Systematic Approach. Routledge.
- Pyzdek, T. (2003). The Six Sigma Practitioner's Guide to Data Analysis. McGraw-Hill Education.