Improving Production Authority Release Process in Product Development Using Consumer Driven Six-Sigma Methodology – Case Study

One of the main aspects in the system engineering is to manage interfaces, especially when using a modular vehicle partitioning. The use of Computer Aided Design has greatly optimized the product development process, mainly regarding higher precision and quality of first prototypes, which means that products must get to market faster, carrying less risk of failure.

To achieve that, it is important to have a multifunctional engineering team discussing all interfaces since early stages of a project by performing Compatibility Reviews between all parts and subsystems before starting Production Authority Release, which means that design should be frozen and ready for production.

This paper describes the results of a Six-sigma Green Belt Project conducted during EcoSport 4WD development. This Six-sigma methodology was used to optimize the Mechanical Package approval process in order to achieve a robust analytical sign-off, reducing timing and penalty cost risks.