An Application Study of Six Sigma in Clinical Chemistry

6 시그마의 적용에 대한 연구

  • Chang, Sang Wu (Tech Infor & QA Div, Green Cross Reference Laboratories) ;
  • Kim, Nam Yong (Tech Infor & QA Div, Green Cross Reference Laboratories) ;
  • Choi, Ho Sung (Div. of Operation Management, Green Cross Reference Laboratories) ;
  • Park, Yong Won (Clinical Chemistry Dept., Green Cross Reference Laboratories) ;
  • Chu, Kyung Bok (Clinical Chemistry Dept., Green Cross Reference Laboratories) ;
  • Yun, Kyeun Young (Clinical Chemistry Dept., Green Cross Reference Laboratories)
  • 장상우 (녹십자의료재단, 고객지원 및 QA부) ;
  • 김남용 (녹십자의료재단, 고객지원 및 QA부) ;
  • 최호성 (녹십자의료재단, 관리부) ;
  • 박용원 (녹십자의료재단, 임상화학검사실) ;
  • 추경복 (녹십자의료재단, 임상화학검사실) ;
  • 윤근영 (녹십자의료재단, 임상화학검사실)
  • Published : 2004.12.31

Abstract

The primary goal of six sigma is to improve patient satisfaction, and thereby profitability, by reducing and eliminating defects. Defects may be related to any aspect of customer satisfaction: high product quality, schedule adherence, cost minimization, process capability indices, defects per unit, and yield. Many six sigma metrics can be mathematically related to the others. Literally, six means six standard deviations from the mean or median value. As applied to quality metrics, the term indicates that failures are at least six standard deviations from the mean or norm. This would mean about 3.4 failures per million opportunities for failure. The objective of six sigma quality is to reduce process output variation so that on a long term basis, which is the customer's aggregate experience with our process over time, this will result in no more than 3.4 defect Parts Per Million(PPM) opportunities (or 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities. For a process with only one specification limit (upper or lower), this results in six process standard deviations between the mean of the process and the customer's specification limit (hence, 6 Sigma). The results of applicative six sigma experiment studied on 18 items TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA tests in clinical chemistry were follows. Assessment of process performance fits within six sigma tolerance limits were TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA with 72.2%, items that fit within five sigma limits were total bilirubin, chloride and sodium were 3 sigma. We were sure that the goal of six sigma would reduce test variation in the process.

Keywords