Educating The Business Process Managers Of The Future: The Six Sigma Techniques

Patricio Torres; Matthew Stephens

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Conference: 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Publication Date: June 18, 2006
Start Date: June 18, 2006
End Date: June 21, 2006
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Lean Manufacturing Education
Tagged Division: Manufacturing
Page Count: 20
Page Numbers: 11.508.1 - 11.508.20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--983
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/983
Download Count: 463

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Paper Authors

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Patricio Torres Purdue University

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Mr. PATRICIO TORRES, M.B.A. earned a double major: Business Administration and Law in his native country, Ecuador, S.A. In 2003, he obtained an M.B.A. degree with a major in Operations in Purdue University, Indiana. His professional experience includes Finance, Marketing and Operations. He was a Mathematics teacher in the Catholic University of Ecuador (1991-1995). He published an article in the journal "The Progressive," (Ecuador, 1998) and in the "American Society of Engineering Education," where he also presented a conference (U.S.A. 2005). A publication in the "International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Systems" is in press at this time. Currently, Mr. Patricio Torres is working on his Ph.D. in Industrial Technology in Purdue University where he has been a teacher assistant and a research assistant.

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Matthew Stephens Purdue University

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Prof. MATTHEW P. STEPHENS, Ph.D. is a professor and a University Faculty Scholar in the department of Industrial Technology at Purdue University. Dr. Stephens holds graduate degrees from University of Arkansas and Southern Illinois University. He is the author of a textbook on TPM, Productivity and Reliability-Based Maintenance Management (2004, Prentice Hall) and the co-author of a lean Facilities Planning textbook, Manufacturing Facilities Design and Material Handling, 3rd. ed. (2005, Prentice Hall). He is the author or co-author of numerous journal articles in the areas of productivity and quality improvement.

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Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

EDUCATING THE BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGERS OF THE FUTURE: THE SIX SIGMA TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Six Sigma is a strategy designed to improve efficiency in manufacturing and business

processes. Its basic focus is to decrease defect, improve overall quality, reduce cost and increase

profit in production. Modern operations managers recognize the tremendous advantage of

applying innovative and advanced techniques that would increase productivity and customer

satisfaction. Tomorrow’s managers are being educated at universities today. Implementing

business processes analysis and improvement methodologies should be considered an important

component of this education. Six Sigma methodology offers a comprehensive body of

knowledge to aid with such process improvements.

This paper suggests a road map for implementation of a graduate course in Six Sigma.

Students would start by acquiring the basic cognitive skills and mastering the necessary

underlying concepts and theories. These theories are then put into practice through a project

selection and execution. Finally, students would be prepared to offer recommendations and

suggestions for the selected business on manufacturing processes.

As with any instructional and curriculum material, a course in Six Sigma methodology

should also provide a means of assessing outcomes and student learning. This paper will

present and discuss these issues and should be of great interest to those educators who wish to

offer instructions on this topic.

Citation
Format

Torres, P., & Stephens, M. (2006, June), Educating The Business Process Managers Of The Future: The Six Sigma Techniques Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--983