Case Study: Which Approach is Best?

Mark Berry, Sandra Griffith, and Juan Carlos are seniors at Florida Tech University, majoring in Industrial
Technology with a quality emphasis. The three (3) hope to be quality directors after graduation. Mark
said that he will use the DMAIC Approach when he graduated and land his first job since it is simple,
easy to use, and effective. Sandra argued because she thinks the Six Sigma Approach is better and more
reliable. Juan Carlos joined in their debate and said that he is going to make a master list of
improvement strategies including the Kaizen Approach and he will use whatever is best for a specific
situation.

Answer the following (2 items x 10 points):

1. What approach do you think is best for promoting continual improvement? Explain your answer.

I think the best for promoting continual improvement and the best approach is the Kaizen approach
which Juan Carlos suggests based on the case study. The word itself, from kai, meaning change, and zen,
meaning good, emphasizes the improvement of all things in all situations and thus helps in continuous
improvement. Those responsible must provide the highest quality that should be manufactured for the
market. For example, even CEOs need to think better when making decisions and maintain a good image
with members of the organization. Following subordinates, valuing their role, and emphasizing
continuous improvement is the best way to continuously improve quality. Finally, I think the Kaizen
approach covers the rest, but it's pretty specific. Maximizing customer value while minimizing waste is
one of the tasks each member must accomplish, similar to Lean's approach.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches mentioned in the case study?

The main advantages of the DMAIC method are:

1. The structured approach is useful in any situation where you need to improve a complex
process.
2. The DMAIC method aims to analyze a process before implementation, and this reduces the
chance of fixing the wrong issue.
3. It helps to improve team and organization communications. This leads to improved performance
overall, and ultimately this can filter through to happier customers.

The main disadvantages of the DMAIC method are:

1. A one size fits all approach does not suit an organization that relies on creativity.
2. Without awareness, during the implementation of DMAIC, it is easy to become too focused on
using the tool, rather than finding the right solution.
3. It is cumbersome for simple and obvious problems.

The main advantages of Six Sigma;

While Six Sigma has a tested tune file including fee and making sure first-class to the output of an
enterprise withinside the shape of incremental enhancements to a product or a service. It will also be
used to optimize delivery chain procedures and grow purchaser satisfaction. The advantages of Six
Sigma cross past easy problem-fixing and take into account the whole manufacturing method from the
uncooked substances to the give-up product, in place of the best give-up product.

Six Sigma is a proactive technique that identifies and affords hints for capability troubles earlier than the
enterprise incurs any shape of loss. Six Sigma can be applied in numerous classes inside an enterprise,
immediately impacting profitability and decreasing costs. It is extensive to notice that for B2B
customers, the Six Sigma general for production merchandise is a reputable endorsement.

The main disadvantages of Six Sigma;

Six Sigma inspects the business processes minute-by-minute and generates large amounts of empirical
data, leading to time-consuming and complicated procedures. Also, because it is a quality improvement
process at its root, adoption of its protocols often leads to an increase in overall costs.

Sometimes when a company implements Six Sigma, problems arise as the company focuses on Six
Sigma-endorsed policies only and forgets about its specific mission statement or policies. For small
businesses, it may constrain new ideas favoring creativity and innovation, which require some risk-
taking to implement. Companies have to find certified Six Sigma institutes to train their employees or
conduct in-house training without formal certification. In either case, the cost of Six Sigma adoption by
small businesses is too high to be feasible. Even large companies must provide a lot of training for
employees to grasp the system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Kaizen Method

Advantages

1. Brings a sense of value and purposefulness to employees, which helps boost morale.
2. Creates a gentler approach to change
3. Scrutinizing processes helps to reduce mistakes and waste
4. Bolsters teamwork
5. Puts systems in place for improvements in the short and long term

Disadvantages

1. Short-term Kaizen events may lead to a shallow and short-lived burst of excitement that may be
abandoned
2. Companies with a culture of closed communication and territorialism need to focus on cultural
changes before something like Kaizen would be well-received.