On some aspects of developing an effective model for the implementation of Six Sigma concept in small and medium sized manufacturing enterprises in India

摘要

About four million industrial undertakings in India are under small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) category and their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the nation is very much significant. However, the ever-increasing influx of foreign goods and services in Indian market, either imported or manufactured by multi-national companies (MNCs) within India has rendered many SMEs unviable to compete, especially in terms of cost. For survival and growth of SMEs it has become highly imperative for enterprises to adapt cost effective manufacturing strategies by eliminating defects from every one of the company's products, process, and business transactions. There is a little focus, in the existing literature, on the issue of implementing Six Sigma in SMEs or on developing an implementation model. An implementation model has been proposed in this paper from the viewpoint of human element which is a major asset of most SMEs in India. The model also incorporates the necessary process aspects such as process capability.