Process Improvement Through Six-Sigma DMAIC: A Case Study in Label Printing Firm

Abstract

.This article offers a thorough method for reducing defects in a Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) that specialises in label printing using the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control) framework. Delivering high-quality goods while preserving productivity and efficiency becomes crucial in emerging economies where global industry leaders pose substantial challenges to local MSMEs. This study makes use of a variety of cutting-edge tools, such as Pareto analysis, cause and effect diagrams, affinity diagrams, and interrelationship diagrams, among others, to accomplish these goals. The analysis determines misregistration, irregular ink application, and cutting errors as the most serious flaws, accounting for an astounding 84% of all rejection cases, by applying the classic 80-20 rule.The fishbone diagram, affinity diagram, and interrelationship diagram, among other tools, enable a more thorough analysis of these faults, revealing that the main root causes are changes in printing parameters, maintenance problems, and human errors. The company's quality control initiatives have reached a critical turning point with the adoption of the suggested corrective measures. It is interesting that the sigma level, which is a crucial gauge of process quality, significantly increased. For example, in the printing and die-cutting step of the flexographic label printing process, the sigma level increased from the starting baseline of 3.6 to an astonishing 4.5, further increasing to 4.8 in the slitting stage