(344a) Incorporating Six Sigma Methodology Training into Chemical Engineering Education

Six Sigma is a buzz term in today's technology and business world and the Six Sigma methodology has been successfully applied to manufacturing (especially chemical and related manufacturing), to research and development, and to business and financial services. There has been an increasing interest to initiate Six Sigma training in college education. We have successfully incorporated Six Sigma methodology training into a traditional chemical engineering course, Engineering Experimentation, at Texas Tech University. The course is structured along the Six Sigma D.M.A.I.C. process (refer to the process of define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) and different technical and non-technical tools have been discussed in each stage of the process. Some of the non-traditional aspects in this course include industrial need, special homework assignments, the catapult project, the JMP In statistical software training, emphasis on creativity, etc. In addition, the students have also obtained hands-on experience to practice the Six Sigma methodology and a unique and integrative experience to practice engineering and business concepts simultaneously.