@article { , title = {An integrated approach of Six Sigma and QSAM methodologies for a pharmaceutical company: A shipment improvement process}, abstract = {This paper presents a shipment improvement project in a pharmaceutical company to reduce distribution costs of a set of products shipped to Germany. The project consisted in the diagnosis and improvement of the shipment process through the deployment of Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) as a precursor to Six Sigma implementation. The original sample-shipments process was analysed to improve it and achieve the targets based on optimised sub-processes. The results showed a set of non-value added activities in transportation, motion, waiting, defects and the sub-utilisation of people. Based on the application of quality tools such as VSM, CFD, VOC, CTQ-Three under the Six-Sigma approach, the improvements achieved a 26\% reduction in cycle time, and no complaints from customers were reported since the implementation. A control plan was deployed to track shipments and maintain open and close communication with the customer. The resulting benefits had a significant impact on reducing distribution costs.}, doi = {10.1504/IJLER.2015.071743}, issn = {1754-2294}, issue = {3}, journal = {International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research}, pages = {266-283}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Inderscience}, url = {https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/838658}, volume = {1}, keyword = {Innovation, Operations Management and Supply, VSM, QSAM, Six Sigma, pharmaceutical, shipment, distribution costs}, year = {2015}, author = {Rocha-Lona, Luis and Edith Alvarez-Reyes, Edith and Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo and Kumar, Vikas} }