Implementing DFSS to increase the performance level of an extrusion process

A company that wants to compete in the market must operate deploying flexibility, minimising production costs, speeding up processes and assuring a high-quality level of output. For these reasons it is necessary to apply innovative and structured methodologies able to suggest techniques and methods to design, organise and manage industrial processes. Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) represents one of the most effective methods to attain increases in business performance and customer satisfaction using a smart problem-solving method (DMADV). This paper shows an implementation of a DFSS project in a SME to improve the performance level of the extrusion process. The authors demonstrate an effective approach that is able to design and reach Six Sigma level process, by applying project management, brainstorming and statistical (ANOVA, DOE) tools. The economical analysis justifies the application of this method in order to improve the performance level of a manufacturing process.