Six Sigma and organisational performance: a knowledge creation perspective

Abstract

This study focuses on how Six Sigma practices can lead to organisational knowledge creation capability and how this capability can lead to the improvement of organisational performance. A survey was conducted to test the model linking knowledge creation process in Six Sigma practices to organisational performance through organisational knowledge creation. Out of the total 349 possible survey participants, 187 (53.6%) surveys were returned and received. The results indicate that Six Sigma practices allow knowledge to be created through knowledge creation processes (socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation). In turn, the knowledge created has positive impact on four different measures of organisation performance (customer, internal business process, employee learning and growth and financial). Specifically, knowledge creation has direct positive impact on customer, internal business process, employee learning and growth and indirect positive impact on financial. Overall, the study's results show that process improvement through Six Sigma projects involves the creation of knowledge. Thus, the underlying basis for practices employed in Six Sigma projects is knowledge creation through the transformation of knowledge from tacit to explicit and vice versa and through the transfer of both types of knowledge from individuals to teams.

An empirical investigation of the role of lean six sigma practices on quality performance in medical device manufacturing industry

“…Six Sigma is centered on identifying the base problems to prioritize projects (define); performing data collection (measure) to identify process performance, determining the roots of problems (check); adopting improvement actions (action); and maintaining (control) the process (Pacheco et al, 2015). Six Sigma structured procedures play a significant role in guiding the teams to solve complicated problems by simplifying the tasks complexity subsequently enhancing the teams' productivity (Linderman et al, 2003(Linderman et al, , 2006Sin et al, 2010). Last of all, Six Sigma FOM seeks to establish a baseline that defines an explicit quality goal in guiding the process improvement activities via tracking and providing feedback on product quality and process variability throughout its entire life cycle (Sin et al, 2010).…”

Application of Six Sigma methodology in an Indian chemical company

“…SS helps in the development of suppliers through different projects carried over the period of time. SS projects do not only equip firms with tools and enhance the capability of problem solving, but also develop the mangers to drive the insights from the data and take logical decisions for day to day operations (Sin et al , 2010; Laux et al , 2017). In a nutshell, SS helps in identifying the root cause of the problem through analytical tools and keep it in control.…”

Reducing failure rate at high voltage (HV) testing of insulator using Six Sigma methodology

“…Six Sigma principles can be used to shift the process average, help create robust products and processes and reduce excessive variation in processes, which lead to poor quality. The study by Sin et al (2010) focuses on how Six Sigma practices can lead to organizational knowledge creation capability and how this capability can lead to the improvement of organizational performance. Six Sigma is widely applied in the manufacturing sector by using structured problem-solving approach for continual improvement (Chattopadhyay and Varma, 2009).…”