Track: Quality Engineering, Control and Management

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the adoption of Six Sigma can improve quality in a cable manufacturing company, ABC Electric (pseudonym). The study followed a qualitative research approach utilising interviews, observations, and document review. The study focused on shop floor employees, supervisors and production managers and was constrained to ten participants to elicit in-depth information. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents felt that there is lack of support by management for quality within the organisation. Negative attitude towards quality cascading from management to shop floor workers, was the second most frequent theme that surfaced, followed by lack of communication and feedback. The majority of respondents however, showed understanding of quality concepts. Based on the findings, the study concluded that lack of management support, norms and values that are not aligned to a quality culture, and leadership that did not infuse corporation with employees, were the causes of poor quality at ABC Electric. It was recommended that a vigorous training program, provision of resources by management, a change of attitude, teamwork were important antecedents to successful six sigma implementation. A paradigm shift to a quality centred culture for the entire organization through leadership commitment is necessary.