Application of Six Sigma Technique in Improving UTP Fabrication and Manufacturing Laboratory Performances

The UTP Workshop Laboratory located at Block 21-00-[00-13] provided the users with the related facilities for the fabrication of the prototype, which included the Engineering Team Project (ETP) students. Lately, due to the increase of ETP students, the Workshop Laboratory faced some issues such as overcrowded in the laboratory, insufficient hand tools, low safety awareness, losses of assets and high material wastage. This project study aimed to analyze and enhance the Workshop Laboratory’s operational performance with the application of Six Sigma DMAIC technique. Three major problems, which included high congestion level in the laboratory during peak hours, unsmooth process workflow during laboratory booking by the customers (students) and the overutilize of hand tools among all the equipment were identified. Proposed solutions were implemented on ETP September 2018 semester through workspace booking system, new process workflow and edited floorplan layout have brought significant improvement in reducing congestion level controlling (limit to 16- 20 workspaces/hour), smooth workflow with the reducing of 79.2% waiting time and simultaneously enhanced the safety awareness of the ETP students. The insufficient hand tools records were collected and submitted to UTP LMD for further actions. Besides, standardization of operating procedure (SOP) and documentation towards related documents were conducted for future reference. Lastly, recommendations were suggested for future study, improvements or actions