Six Sigma for Technical Processes: An Overview for R&D Executives, Technical Leaders, and Engineering Managers (Prentice Hall Six SIGMA for Innovation and Growth)

Use Six Sigma to achieve and sustain excellence in product development and commercialization!   To sustain growth and profitability, companies must tightly align product development and commercialization to fast-changing customer requirements. In this book, Clyde Creveling identifies the four process areas most crucial to doing so–and shows executives and managers how to optimize each of them.   Creveling introduces a Six Sigma-enabled workflow that encompasses strategic product/technology portfolio definition and development, research and technology development (R&TD), tactical design engineering processes for commercialization, and operational production and service support. He presents tools, methods, and best practices for selecting the right projects, prioritizing them, and executing them rapidly, consistently, and successfully.  Integrate all key technical processes so they work together in harmony  Create Phase/Gate control plans for delivering products with minimal risk  Establish scorecards for risk management in technical processes Use Six Sigma tools, such as Monte Carlo and FMEA, to improve project management Bring discipline to your product and technology portfolio renewal processes Systematically optimize your commercialization processes Define stripped-down “Fast Track” processes for commercializing high-risk, high-reward opportunities Provide effective operational support after you launch your product Preview the future of “lean” and Six Sigma in technical processes Use lean techniques to streamline repeatable processes such as R&D, product design, and post-launch production engineering support Learn how to manage the risk of doing a fast track commercialization project when you really must cut corners to get a product out into the market before your opportunity evaporates Foreword by John Boselli  xiii Preface  xv About the Author  xxi   Chapter 1: Introduction to Six Sigma for Technical Processes  1 Chapter 2: Scorecards for Risk Management in Technical Processes  21 Chapter 3: Project Management in Technical Processes  35 Chapter 4: Strategic Product and Technology Portfolio Renewal Process  51 Chapter 5: Strategic Research and Technology Development Process  95 Chapter 6: Tactical Product Commercialization Process  163 Chapter 7: Fast Track Commercialization  275 Chapter 8: Operational Post-Launch Engineering Support Processes  293 Chapter 9: Future Trends in Six Sigma and Technical Processes  317   Glossary 323 Index 351