Leveraging Six Sigma Tools and Methodology to Improve Student English Language Performance at Elementary School

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the Six Sigma (SS) methodology can be used to improve the performance of students in English as a second language and enhance the teaching process by utilizing quality tools in an educational environment. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper uses the different quality improvement tools within the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) phases to improve student performance in an English language class at a private school. Findings: Quality tools, such as cause and effect diagrams and quality function deployment, have been successfully applied within the Six Sigma DMAIC framework in the educational sector to improve the performance of students and enhance the teaching process. Practical Implications: This paper helps school administrations to analyze student performance and implement improvement actions to improve their performance. Originality/Value: The principal objective of this paper is to demonstrate how quality improvement tools can be introduced and successfully applied in an elementary school to improve student performance and communication between the school administration, teachers and parents.

Delphi methodology in healthcare research:How to decide its appropriateness

The Delphi technique is a systematic process of forecasting using the collective opinion of panel members.The structured method of developing consensus among panel members using Delphi methodology has gained acceptance in diverse fields of medicine.The Delphi methods assumed a pivotal role in the last few decades to develop best practice guidance using collective intelligence where research is limited,ethically/logistically difficult or evidence is conflicting.However,the attempts to assess the quality standard of Delphi studies have reported significant variance,and details of the process followed are usually unclear.We recommend systematic quality tools for evaluation of Delphi methodology;identification of problem area of research,selection of panel,anonymity of panelists,controlled feedback,iterative Delphi rounds,consensus criteria,analysis of consensus,closing criteria,and stability of the results.Based on these nine qualitative evaluation points,we assessed the quality of Delphi studies in the medical field related to coronavirus disease 2019.There was inconsistency in reporting vital elements of Delphi methods such as identification of panel members,defining consensus,closing criteria for rounds,and presenting the results.We propose our evaluation points for researchers,medical journal editorial boards,and reviewers to evaluate the quality of the Delphi methods in healthcare research.

Development of the Documentation and Appraisal Review Tool for systematic reviews

AIM:To develop a tool to more explicitly assess and document the quality of systematic reviews.METHODS:We developed the Documentation and Appraisal Review Tool(DART)using epidemiologic principles of study design and the following resources:the modified Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire(modified OQAQ),Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews(AMSTAR),the Cochrane Handbook,and the standards promoted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,and the Institutes of Medicine(IOM).We designed the DART tool to include the following:more detail to provide guidance and improve standardization of use,an approach to assess quality of systematic reviews addressing a variety of research designs,and additional space for recording notes to facilitate recall.DART underwent multiple rounds of testing with methodologists of varying levels of training and experience.Based on the results of six phases of pilot testing,we revised DART to improve performance,clarity and consistency.Pilot testing also included comparisons between DART,and the two most commonly used tools to evaluate the quality of systematic reviews,the modified OQAQ and AMSTAR.RESULTS:Compared to AMSTAR and modified OQAQ,DART includes two unique questions and several questions covered by modified OQAQ or AMSTAR but not both.Modified OQAQ and DART had the highest reporting consistency.Four AMSTAR questions were unclear and elicited inconsistent responses.Identifying reviewer rationale was most difficult using the modified OQAQ tool,and easiest using DART.DART allowsfor documentation of reviewer rationale,facilitating reconciliation between reviewers and documentation for future updates.DART also provides a comprehensive,systematic approach for reviewers with limited experience with systematic review methodology,to critically analyze systematic reviews.In addition,DART is the only one of the three tools to explicitly include quality review for biases specific to observational studies.This is now more widely recognized as important for assessing risk in order to generate recommendations that balance benefit to harm.The tool also includes the assessment of standards recommended by the March 2011 IOM Standards for Systematic Review.CONCLUSION:This comprehensive tool improves upon existing tools for assessing the quality of systematic reviews and guides reviewers through critically analyzing a systematic review.

Combining the People Power and the Process Power to Achieve Six Sigma Process Capability——A Case Study

Achieving Six-Sigma process capability starts with l istening to the Voice of the Customers, and it becomes a reality by combining th e People Power and the Process Power of the organisation. This paper presents a Six-Sigma implementation case study carried out in a magnet manufacturing compa ny, which produces bearing magnets to be used in energy meters. If the thickness of the produced bearing magnets is between 2.35 mm and 2.50 mm, they will be ac cepted by the customers. All the time the company could not produce the bearing magnets within the specified thickness range, as their process distribution was flat with 2.20 mm as lower control limit and 2.60 mm as upper control limit. This resulted in a huge loss in the form of non-conformities, loss of time and goodwill. The process capability of the company then was around 0.40. Organisat ion restructuring was carried out to reap the benefit of the People Power of the organisation. Statistically designed experiments (Taguchi Method based Design o f Experiments), Online quality control tools (Statistical Process Control To ols) were effectively used to complete the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Impr ove and Control) cycle to reap the benefit of the Process Power of the organisat ion. Presently the company enjoys a process capability of 1.75, a way towards Si x-Sigma Process Capability.

Waste Reduction in a Manufacturing Process： A Case Study of Ceramics Factory in Thailand

The objective of this research is to reduce waste in the production ceramics of Ceramics Factory in Thailand. The 7 Quality Control Tools （7 QC Tools） were implemented including Check sheet, Graph, Pareto diagram and Fishbone diagram, which were used to analyze and solve the problems. It was found that most of the wastes come from burning ceramics process. The kilns and trolleys has been used for a long time. Furthermore, the equipment and parts were damaged from lack of maintenance. The non-standard of product arrangement method into the kilns were the cause of waste. Thus, the researcher improved trolleys into the kilns and designed a fixture to help worker to product arrangement. The results of the research gathered data from quality inspection department. Then comparing data before the improvement （between September 2013 to December 2013） and after the improvement （between November 2014 to February 2015）, the wastes are reduced from 8.97% to 0.29%. The result of improving is very efficiency because it can reduce the wastes by 8.68%.

Milling Research and Tool Selection Design of SiC14Cu4Mg0.5Si based on Aluminium Matrix 2A14

The selection of milling tools for Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si based on Aluminium matrix 2A14 was analyzed, and the factors that affect the efficiency of the milling were discussed. The Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si was designed for use on the moon landing vehicle or missile wings, but the hardness of aluminium-silicon carbide composite material was very high, much higher than the general hardness of cemented carbide, which will bring many difficulties in the aluminium-silicon carbide composite material processing. The chemical compositions of Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si were analyzed. A new selected indexable cutter was designed to mill Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si. The structure design of milling cutter was different from the conventional milling cutter, breaking the previous limitations to a certain extent, pioneering the idea. The tool material wear was detected by experiments. The mechanical and physical properties of Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si were also tested. Si C14Cu4Mg0.5Si exhibited different surface quality characteristics under different milling tools.

How PDCA cycle implementation improved surgical time-out compliance rate

Objective： To explore the effect of PDCA-cycle in improving time-out compliance rate and improvement in quality and safety management of surgery. Methods： We improved time-out compliance rate by using PDCA-cycle （a quality improvement tools）. Data were collected before and after the implementation of PDCA-cycle. The results were analyzed. Results： After implementation of PDCA-cycle, over all time-out compliance rate was increased from 80% to 99.8% （P=0.000）. The compliance rate of identifying patient, performing site marking before surgery, verification of correct-site and correct procedure were increased from 85.1%, 79.2%, 89.7% and 89.1% to 99.8%, 99.9%, 100% and 100% （P〈0.05） respectively. Conclusion： Our study validated the PDCA-cycle methodology improves time-out compliance rate, and it is one of the most effective quality improvement tools for hospital management.

QUALITY CONTROL OF HERBAL MATERIAL:ALTERNATIVE AND/OR COMPLEMENTARY TOOLS BASED ON BIOSENSORS, DNA PROFILING, NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Phar.Eur.Herbal Drug(HD)monographs state which aspects have to be considered for quality assurance through the relevant chapters'Definition'.'Characters','Identification','Tests',and'Assay'.Identification of botanical material is achieved by macroscopic and microscopic morphology,generally examined by a trained expert.Content or assay is the most difficult area of

Evolution of process capability in a manufacturing process

Before mass production of individual components industries may assess its capability to produce it according to specifications.This capability assessment is a common requirement in the automotive sector.This work shows a case study,providing an in-depth analysis,on a critical component and finds evidence of process degradation over two years of production,quantified through capability analysis.At pre-production,it was concluded that the process was capable and,thus,no statistical process control was done during its production.Over the months no defective units were detected but then its level began to increase and it was apparent that process variability had increased and the process was no longer capable.Process improvement activities were developed using known quality tools and methodologies.This work shows how the control plan initially defined became obsolete and discusses the need to periodically review quality control mechanisms.