An integrated approach of six sigma and QSAM methodologies for a pharmaceutical company: a shipment improvement process.
Journal article
Authors | Rocha-Lona, Luis, Alvarez- Reyes, Silvia Edith, Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo and Kumar, Vikas |
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Abstract | This paper presents a shipment improvement project in a pharmaceutical company to reduce distribution costs of a set of products shipped to Germany. The project consisted in the diagnosis and improvement of the shipment process through the deployment of quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) as a precursor to Six Sigma implementation. The original sample-shipments process was analysed to improve it and achieve the targets based on optimised sub-processes. The results showed a set of non-value added activities in transportation, motion, waiting, defects and the sub-utilisation of people. Based on the application of quality tools such as VSM, CFD, VOC, CTQ-Three under the Six Sigma approach, the improvements achieved a 26% reduction in cycle time, and no complaints from customers were reported since the implementation. A control plan was deployed to track shipments and maintain open and close communication with the customer. The resulting benefits had a significant impact on reducing distribution costs. |
Keywords | Value stream mapping; Quick scan audit methodology; Six sigma; Pharmaceutical manufacturing industry; Shipment; Distribution agreements; Customer communications; Cost reduction |
Year | 2015 |
Journal | International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research |
Publisher | Inderscience Publishers |
ISSN | 17542294 |
17542308 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1504/IJLER.2015.071743 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622830 |
hdl:10545/622830 | |
Publication dates | 17 Sep 2015 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 19 Jul 2018, 08:01 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research |
Contributors | National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, University of Derby and University of the West of England |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/92zy8/an-integrated-approach-of-six-sigma-and-qsam-methodologies-for-a-pharmaceutical-company-a-shipment-improvement-process
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