An integrated approach of Six Sigma and QSAM methodologies for a pharmaceutical company: A shipment improvement process

Rocha-Lona, Luis; Edith Alvarez-Reyes, Edith; Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo; Kumar, Vikas

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.

Citation

Rocha-Lona, L., Edith Alvarez-Reyes, E., Garza-Reyes, J. A., & Kumar, V. (2015). An integrated approach of Six Sigma and QSAM methodologies for a pharmaceutical company: A shipment improvement process. International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research, 1(3), 266-283. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJLER.2015.071743

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 7, 2015
• Publication Date: Feb 7, 2015
• Journal: International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research
• Print ISSN: 1754-2294
• Publisher: Inderscience
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 266-283
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJLER.2015.071743
• Keywords: VSM, QSAM, Six Sigma, pharmaceutical, shipment, distribution costs
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJLER.2015.071743