Conference On Emerging Trends In Mechanical -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Conference On Emerging Trends In Mechanical? Answer: Introduction Six Sigma programs is a process of improvement in the organizational performance. The main aim of the implementing six sigma tool is to bring improvement in the quality process by detecting and reducing the causes of defects. This also minimizes the variability in the manufacturing process (Furterer, 2016). A set of quality management methods and statistical methods is included in six sigma tool. An organization is able to create a special infrastructure in an organization by applying six sigma tool. However, this tool reduces the process cycle time, pollution and operating cost. Apart from this, it helps the organization to increase the customer satisfaction and profit in the context of a business. This study deals with the implementation of six sigma tool in the context of 3M, Inc. Action plan According to the given scenario, 3M, Inc has decided to implement six sigma programs to enhance their financial performance and the customer satisfaction level. 3M, Inc is a leading organization of electronics, healthcare products, safety, industrial products and office products. This company has diversified technology (Arthur Linderman, 2007). This company was facing flat financial performance and need to bring improvement in this area. For this reason, they have implemented six sigma programs. The following steps are followed to implement the six sigma program: Steps Action plan Outcomes Step 1 (2 week) Introduction of the six sigma programs Enhances the overall organizational performance Step 2 (12 weeks) Select the people and trained them Improve the performance level of the individuals Step 3 (6 weeks) Development and implement the improvement plan Identify the loopholes of the existing system Step 4 (2 weeks) Monitor and evaluate the implemented plan Measures the effectiveness of the implemented plan Step 5 (2 weeks) Sustain the gains Maintains the continuous improvement Table 1: Action plan for the implementation of six sigma programs (Source: Author) Benefits, cost and risks of the six sigma program Six Sigma programs have various benefits in enhancing the organizational performance. It also involves in increasing the quality as well as financial performance of the organization. According to the given scenario, 3M, Inc has implemented the six sigma programs to improve their financial performance (Arthur Linderman, 2007). However, six sigma program is a methodology that allows a business to reduce inefficiencies and operating cost by identifying the wasteful processes from the operating process (Ozkan et al., 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc implementation of six sigma program was beneficial to bring a greater return from the research and development in the context of this operations. On the other hand it had increased the quality of the service, operating process and customer satisfaction. The sales revenue of 3M, Inc had been increased by the implementation of the six sigma program as this program includes a training program for the middle managers in this organization. The fi nancial departments were able to tackle the all projects as a result savings had done in a proper way. Such financial departments had to use a tracking system in the Six Sigma program, which reduced the defects and calculate the savings. 3M, Inc had changed their working process by this program and had observed the significant result. Product design is another benefit of the six sigma program. In the context of 3M, Inc they were able to specify the product along with the reduction of risks from product portfolio. Computer simulations of design and quality function deployment were the major tools that had been used in six sigma programs to improve the product. Employment training is a big part of the six sigma programs (Callahan Roberts, 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc almost 1700 employees were trained under the six sigma programs and there were 600 projects in this organization in which almost 3000 people are involved. Many projects were in control phase that ensures that the improvements were taking place. The team of six sigma measured that significant outcomes were accounted and the achieved results were sustained. In the context of 3M, Inc after the implementation of the six sigma program their sales had been increased. In the year 2003, their sales were less than $10 billion which increased up to $20 billion that is 65% increased by the year 2012. One of the major risks of sigma programs is the blockage of creativity, innovation and the development of new products (Martin, de Camargo Zambelo, 2016). 3M, Inc also suffered innovation challenges by the implementation of six sigma programs. Apart from this complexity of the program and difficulties in measuring the outcomes of the business are the others risks of six sigma programs. Therefore, six sigma is a complex process and consists of many statistics. Therefore, the training program for a full time black belt to improve the quality is too costly. Six Sigma programs is a costly process and 3M, Inc expended $100,000 to implement this program. Various functional areas in 3M, Inc be included in six sigma initiatives and the role of the seniors and middle management According to the current scenario, various functional areas of 3M, Inc were included in the six sigma programs. Hence, the activities are taken to improve the performance of the organization rather than the quality of the products. It is important for 3M, Inc to include each and every area of their business operation in the six sigma initiatives. The productivity of the organization is a crucial area that needs to be improved to enhance the profitability (Al-Aomar Chaudhry, 2018). 3M, Inc should enhance their productivity by identifying the manufacturing issues in their organization as productivity is related to the manufacturing process. By the implementation of new technology in the manufacturing process will be helpful to increase the productivity (Nadeau, 2017). Incorporation of the modern technology will be beneficial to change the traditional way of manufacturing and to bring rapid growth in the business. However, 3M, Inc had the low yield in their manufacturing process, which has been identified by the six sigma programs. Thus, by incorporating the productivity area into six sigma initiatives this organization can identify other loopholes in their manufacturing process. In order to improve the financial performance cost reduction is necessary for a business (He et al., 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc they should incorporate the supply chain management process in the six sigma initiatives. This will help such organization to purchase their raw materials in a smarter way, which saves the business cost. However, if the organization can reduce the raw materials cost then they will be able to provide the customers cost-effective and beneficial products. Financial planning should be taken under the six sigma program. However, it is important for a business to make a financial planning properly to reduce the cost. For this reason, cost management is crucial (Albliwi et al., 2017). By following the six sigma initiatives 3M, Inc will be able to manage the indirect cost reduction in their operating process. This will help them to bring significant growth in their financial performance. Apart from this innovation should be incorporated into the six sigma prog ram. Hence, it is important for 3M, Inc to put their innovation as well as product designing process under the six sigma programs as it will help this organization to improve their product design process by quality function deployment tool and computer simulation tool. Seniors and middle managers have to carry out huge responsibilities in the implementation of the six sigma programs in an organization as they are the major managerial heads of an organization (Hwang, Lee Seo, 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc the middle managers and senior managers play the role of the trainer and the senior executives take the training from them. However, the salaried executives also receive green belt training in the six sigma program. Role of six sigma programs in corporate strategy Six Sigma brings changes in a business. However, an organization incorporates six sigma tool in their business to refine their business process and to improve the value of an organization (Albliwi et al., 2017). Six Sigma program includes the concept of to enhance the existing business process and by saving the cost and increasing the customer satisfaction. Six Sigma program consists of two models that are the DMAIC improvement model, which focuses on the process definition, analysis, measurement, improvement and the control. Another model is DFSS model, which highlights the needs of the customers and product specification based on the customer demand (Mahato, Rai Dixit Agrawal, 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc their financial performance is not significant. Customer dissatisfaction is one of the major causes of such issues, which is also related to the low financial growth in this organization. However, application of the six sigma program is helpful for the corporate strategy as it is beneficial for an organization to improve the skill of the employees (Kaushik Kumar, 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc six sigma program includes the training program, which is associated with the improvement of the employee performance. Employee training is the part of the corporate strategy that is fulfilled by the six sigma training program. Sis sigma program involves in the enhancement of the productivity by product specification. Productivity improvement is another part of the corporate strategy. Hence, six sigma programs contribute more in meeting the goal of such corporate strategy in the context of 3M, Inc. However, the establishment of a customer-centric business by satisfying the customers is a vital goal of the corporate strategy. According to the current scenario, 3M, Inc can give more concentration on the customer needs by the implementation of six sigma methodology as it helps to improve the product feature by making changes in the product design process. Growth, cost reduction, and cash savings are the main three corporate strategies that can be fulfilled by the application of six sigma program (Patel,2017). According to the case scenario, 3M, Inc has implemented six sigma methodologies in their business to improve their financial performance. To enhance the growth they need to satisfy their customers. By applying this six sigma program the customers can see a financially healthy company along with solid investment. On the other hand, six sigma program helps this organization to improve their leadership skill and offer more competitive product and leadership skill. Cost reduction can be done in the operating process of 3M, Inc by identifying the defects from the existing system, which enhances the productivity (Roger et al., 2013). This is another positive outcome of six sigma program. DMAIC model of six sigma program defines the blueprints of the business strategy (Chen, Chen Chang, 2017). In the context of 3M, Inc this model ident ifies the current economic situation or current market. The next step is the measured phase where the baseline of operation is measured in 3M, Inc. In this phase, the data is collected to understand how the company is racking. In the analyze phase 3M, Inc can identify their strength, weakness, threat, and opportunities. In the improvement phase, this organization is able to implement their business strategy and to take necessary actions to reduce the loopholes from their business performance. Finally, in the control phase 3M, Inc is able to measure the company performance against their strategy by conducting the monitoring process. Hence, to complete such steps 3M, Inc should include six sigma program to enhance their corporate strategy. Human resource implication for deploying six sigma An organization needs to allocate right human resources for the deployment of six sigma programs. 3M, Inc needs to manage the human resource implication to deploy the six sigma programs in their organization. However, six sigma programs include many steps, which require specific human resources. Such selected human resources need to have multiple skills and a clear understanding about the end to end operation in an organization (Mefford et al., 2017). The resources should have business knowledge, product knowledge, and technical knowledge to reduce the technical complication from the business process. 3M, Inc has implemented six sigma programs and the middle and senior managers are provided training to the senior executives to enhance their technical as well as other skills. On the other hand, a large number of workforces is required to give shape the six sigma programs as it includes many steps. In the context of 3M, Inc about 1,700 employees are given the training to improve their skills. This ensures that strong human resources are involved in managing the six sigma programs. This organization has 600 projects and more than 3,000 people are associated with these projects. To deploy a six sigma program coordination between each stage of the resources is required (Ben Romdhane, Badreddine Sansa, 2017). However, lack of coordination between the resources causes poor outcomes from this methodology and the entire process can be less effective. In the context of 3M, Inc they have provided training to their employees but there should be a good coordination between employees to give shape the plan. However, if the team or an employee is not compatible with the six sigma project due to lack of knowledge and skill need to be changed in another project. In the context of 3M, Inc to get a better outcome they need to use a different set of knowledge and skill for their every project. This organization has improved the knowledge of the employees first then allows them to involve in their six sigma project. Six Sigma project affects the innovative culture Six Sigma program is effective for the continuous improvement of the quality in an organization but it hinders the innovative culture in an organization. Application of six sigma methodology often blocks the creativity, innovation and the product development process (Nupur, Gandhi, Solanki Jha,, 2018). 3M, Inc has faced challenges in measuring their organizational outcomes due to the implementation of the six sigma programs. Six Sigma programs reduce the inefficiencies of the system (Mefford et al., 2017). According to the scenario, 3M, Inc has followed the rules of six sigma program, as a result, the strong restriction on the error resists this organization to develop a creative product. However, to make something new this organization need to take the risk. As per the given scenario, six sigma resists the 3M, Inc to do something creative in RD. Hence, six sigma programs do not allow the organization to take a risk; as a result, they are forced to avoid innovation and creativity. On the other hand, training cost is another loophole of six sigma as maximum business organizations cannot afford such cost. In order to complete this phase of six sigma creativity of an organization is hampered due to the lack of financial resources. There has been huge argumentative discussion regarding the effectiveness of six sigma programs over the media. Based on the findings it can be said that six sigma is not enough as a balance should be made between the creativity of the organization and the implementation of six sigma. As per the case study, it has been observed that application of six sigma methodology in 3M, Inc inhibits the product development in this organization in terms of R D (Research and Development) innovation. For an organization, it is important to bring innovation in their business and research to develop something new to enhance the customer satisfaction. Following the six sigma programs, an organization is not able to incorporate new ideas as new ideas always include risk and six sigma methodologies always focuson the reduction of risk to secure an organization financially (Hwang, Lee Seo, 2017). Based on this principle of six sigma program, the innovation of 3M, Inc is affected. Thus, six sigma programs are not enough for an organization to enhance the complete growth. Conclusion The entire study gives a brief account of the application of six sigma programs in the context of 3M, Inc. It has been found that six sigma programs affect the innovation in an organization as 3M, Inc has suffered to innovate something new in their RD. Therefore, the financial performance of 3M, Inc is stagnant thus to improve this condition they have implemented the six sigma programs. It has been observed that six sigma program is beneficial to reduce cost and save the cash flow. Skilled employees are the major requirement of six sigma program. 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