(219e) Design for Six Sigma in High Value Materials Development

Design for Six Sigma (DfSS) is an off-shot of the very successful Six Sigma methodology implemented by many major corporations to address opportunities in improving existing processes and products via a structured methodology for project management, problem solving and continuous optimization. Following the success of Six Sigma, a number of methodologies for development of new products and processes have been devised under the name of Design for Six Sigma. The overall principles of DfSS are discussed and the use of the methodology and its tool box will be detailed, in particular how it can be applied to high value specialty chemicals and polymers. Several examples will highlight the most useful DfSS tools that can be applied to projects in the chemical or related industries