The Six Sigma is the innovative corporate management strategy for renovating the quality of goods and enhancing the level of costumers’ satisfaction. The name come from the fact that a fraction defective is below 3.4 parts per million (PPM) or the number of a fault generations is below 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO) by achieving the level of quality by six sigma. Six Sigma is the innovative quality movement started from Motorola (an American multinational telecommunications company) in 1980. After that, it became a crucial strategy of the excellent companies, such as General Electric (GE), Texas Instruments (TI), Samsung, and POSCO.
POSCO improved the Six Sigma and developed the Quick Six Sigma (QSS), an innovative management system. As it is suitable for POSCO, it has been in process since 2005. QSS consists of the following movements: the 5S movement (improving the working environment), the My Machine movement (restoring machines to the default state after using), and the enterprise culture movement (raising the productivity and working with smile). Through the QSS, we can construct a global NO.1 manufacturing framework by improving the performance of equipment, creating added values, inspecting a facility system, and minimizing losses.
POSTECH has implemented this movement in accordance with innovative activity since Jul. 2012. The purposes of the QSS are providing the environment that can increase research and business efficiency as well as promote a clean campus for the members of POSTECH by ensuring a safe campus, smart administration, and convenient living accommodations. In addition, the mutual cooperation in QSS can foster the spirit of team work, communication skill, leadership, and problem-solving ability. In other words, QSS contributes to enhancing the value of POSTECH. In Jun. 2012, 10 laboratories and one administrational office introduced the QSS, through which they have discovered innovative possibilities. In 2013, 45 laboratories, 17 administrational offices, and the cafeteria have carried out the QSS. All laboratories, living facilities, and administrational offices will complete the QSS by 2020.
The QSS is meaningful when all members participate in it and cooperate. The first stage of the QSS is the 5S movement, which is the most important one. The 5S is based on the Japanese writing system. It means five S initial letters: SEIRI (Arrangement), SEIDON (Order), SEISO (cleaning), SEIEKTZ (Cleanliness), and SITSUKE (Habituation). Through the 5S movement, POSTECH can make the clean and safe working environment and site. As it is the basis of other movements, the QSS will become a real innovative movement when all of members in POSTECH are required to participate in it. For its success, they set the time of communal activity together. Generally, it is appropriate that they spend from one to two hours a week. In this time, they make sure experimental equipment is ready to be used again. In addition, they arrange products in laboratories, considering the frequency of their use, properties, and size.
Improving the efficiency of working is the next stage. It proceeds according to the DEAIC method. DEAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. In detail, it means the order for problem solution. First, find the problem and grasp of the present situation. Second, analyze the cause of this problem. Third, make improvements and establish a management plan. Through this process, members can develop their problem-solving abilities and carry out smart administration.
In the process of implementing the QSS, an advanced culture will emerge as illogical and unnecessary wastes are resolved. The ultimate purpose of the QSS in POSTECH is to create an organization culture through an improvement in environment and a change in working style. It is expected to promote awareness and passion among students and faculty.