Using Six Sigma Methodology and Technology to Improve Quality Audit Process Cycle Time

Abstract

Currently, at the “Pharmaceutical Company Y”, the cycle for launching a product can take an average of 46.7 days. The proposal for this study seeks to reduce this cycle time to 30 days. This project illustrates the improvements that can be achieved when a company understands and applies Six Sigma tools and methodologies to reduce the cycle time between product manufacturing and product approval for shipment. The company must have quality control that ensures that the final product meets the acceptance parameters, but at the same time that the release time is reduced so that the product is shipped in less time. The application of the Six Sigma concepts, the DMAIC methodology and the development of an electronic checklist optimizes the quality audit process and the final approval, provided that the audits are carried out with the manufacturing process in parallel. Key Terms ⎯ Cycle Time, DMAIC, Improvements, Lean Manufacturing.