Introduction
At the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, quality assurance (QA) and the related procedures are taken with great seriousness to reduce the risk of an accident to a minimum (Kubiak & Benbow, 2009b). Although not all elements of the iSix Sigma framework are currently introduced in the organization, the existing quality standards are followed closely. Despite the uniqueness of the stages that the QA process involves, the essential steps can be described with the help of rather commonplace control charts. Specifically, Shewhart Type X and RN charts should be applied to measure the efficacy of the QA-related processes and identify whether the percentage of defects omitted by each team tends to rise, drop, or remain consistent.
Analysis
Measuring the quality of products either admitted as passable or dismissed as those of low quality by the corresponding team is crucial for coordinating both the product evaluation process and the performance of each QA team. Thus, once the slightest changes in the staff’s performance occur, they can be located easily and addressed in a timely and appropriate manner (Kubiak & Benbow, 2009a).
The Shewhart control charts, in their turn, serve to measure quality rates on a specific time slot within a specific team: “A Stewhart type control chart is a graphical display of a process or a product quality characteristic that has been measured or computed from a sample versus the sample number of time” (Scordaki & Psarakis, 2005, p. 523). As a result, the percentage of the defects can be calculated for each team, with the corresponding identification of the mean and the standard deviation in the quality rates. In other words, the tool in question can be viewed as a perfect addition to the overall quality control process, as well as a foundation to build the following ANOVA tests (Kubiak & Benbow, 2009d).
In other words, the multiple control chart suggested by Scordaki and Psarakis (2005) can be viewed as essential devices for maintaining the quality rates at the required level. Not only do they provide a chance at spotting the problem as it emerges but also indicate the current trends. Consequently, a forecast can be created for a specific time period, with the following assessment of the situation and the design of the appropriate tools that will be used for QA-related purposes (Kubiak & Benbow, 2009c).
One might argue that the charts under analysis do not permit taking into account the essential factors that may have affected the rises and drops in the number of defects omitted. While being admittedly true, the specified argument does not invalidate the concept of the charts in the context of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation as the charts still help locate the point of low efficacy. Checking the changes that occurred to entrepreneurship at a certain point in time, in its turn, is a comparatively easy, though quite time-consuming, procedure.
Although the QA-related processes at the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation imply carrying out a range of unique tasks, measuring the quality of the outcomes and determining the trends in defects omission can be conducted with the help of Shewhart charts described by Scordaki and Psarakis (2005).
The application of the charts to the QA analysis will allow determining the current rates of defects omission. More importantly, the general tendencies for the omission of defects to increase, reduce, or remain at a particular level, can be determined. As a result, prerequisites for a more detailed assessment of the factors that contribute to the emergence of the tendencies mentioned above can be created. Consequently, the tools for either addressing the problems or maintaining the quality of the services at the current rate can be designed and applied successfully.
Reference List
Kubiak, T. M., & Benbow, D. W. (2009a). Chapter 35: Statistical process control. In The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt handbook (pp. 358-399). Milwaukee, WI: ASQ.
Kubiak, T. M., & Benbow, D. W. (2009b). Chapter 36: Other control tools. In The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt handbook (pp. 400-402). Milwaukee, WI: ASQ.
Kubiak, T. M., & Benbow, D. W. (2009c). Chapter 37: Maintain controls. In The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt handbook (pp. 403-407). Milwaukee, WI: ASQ.
Kubiak, T. M., & Benbow, D. W. (2009d). Chapter 38: Sustained improvements. In The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt handbook (pp. 408-412). Milwaukee, WI: ASQ.
Scordaki, A., & Psarakis, S. (2005). Statistical process control in service industry: An application with real data in a commercial company. International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 5(5), 522-531.