A Conceptual Study on Application of Six Sigma [DMAIC] Approach for Managing Road Traffic Accidents (RTAS) with a focus on Indian Scenario

摘要

India is the country with maximum number of fatalities about 140000 due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) in the world. Though there are many causes for road accidents, from many studies, it is clear that human errors are the main cause for about 70 % of RTAs. The World Health Organization had declared this decade as Decade of action on Road Safety. Six Sigma methodologies provide the techniques and tools to improve the capability and reduce the defects in any process. Six Sigma is a fact-based and data-driven philosophy [1] of improvement that values defect prevention over defect detection. The philosophical perspective views all works as processes that can be defined, measured, analyzed, improved and controlled[2] (DMAIC). Processes require inputs & produce outputs. If the inputs are controlled, the outputs are then controlled. This is generally expressed as the y = f (ⅹ) concept. Though Six Sigma is a management technique which is suitable for a controlled environment, this paper examines the possibility of applying Six Sigma approach (DMAIC) in managing Road Traffic Accidents, knowing well and fully aware that it has so many constraints as the RTAs are very dynamic in nature, occur in an uncontrolled system of real world traffic where people from all walks of life involve.