Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma

Robert F. Jordan, PE

DFSS Black Belt

Bob Jordan and his business partner and close friend Damon Stoddard have developed a website that takes the tools of Design for Six Sigma and condenses them into easy-to-understand training modules (10 PowerPoint slides is our goal, give or take...) with user templates.

These tools are arranged intelligently into an order intended for rapid new product development. The goal of the eNPI Process is to go as quickly as possible from idea to release to production with a product that makes business sense, is exactly what the customer wanted, is producible to six-sigma quality, and can be maintained in a production environment for as long as the product is in production.

Their website, www.enpiprocess.com, has been used to train 50 college students from various industries to be certified DFSS Green Belts. The site was developed by Bob and Damon and is co-owned by the two. Additionally, both Bob and Damon have incorporated this site into their work and have trained and are training their colleagues. Their biographies below add a bit to their work with Six Sigma.

• Bob's Six Sigma Bio

• Damon's Six Sigma Bio

• How eNPI Works

• Transitioning New Products to Production

• Project Management Proposal

• DFSS Projects Mentored

• Bob's Green Belt Project

• DFSS Book Summary

• Implementing DFSS - Lessons Learned

• Analysis Hierarchy

• About Metrics

• Improving Productivity

• DOE and JMP Software

• eNPI Website Fee Schedule

The eNPI Training has been refined and proven at Henry Cogswell College. For three separate trimesters Bob and Damon have taught the eNPI Process to the Sophomore Engineering Design students. The course has become the foundation for the students' eventual path to their Senior Project.

The Senior Projects focus on the "product." This is appropriate, as it showcases the student's technical and engineering knowledge gained during their degree pursuits. But to best showcase their knowledge of designing a product, the Sophomore Engineering Design course emphasizes the "process" of product development. In this course Damon and I teach the DFSS tools, arranged according to usefulness and taught within the eNPI Process framework. The eNPI Process will allow the Senior to focus effectively on their product and have a very successful academic conclusion. It will also serve as a springboard into industry where they'll be assuming project responsibilities.

Henry Cogswell students who earn an "A" grade in the course earn a DFSS Green Belt. The first trimester 16 of 20 earned a Green Belt. In the second trimester 25 of 27 earned their Green Belts, and the third trimester 17 of 18 received Green Belts. (Additionally, Bob has privately mentored other DFSS Green Belts.)