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Variation is a serious thing

Many parts have to fit together to make a product, like a cell phone. When engineers design the parts, they account for the fact that all parts will display some amount of variation as they are produced. Variation is the degree to which a part, product, service, or transaction differs from all others in the same class or category.

In the case of a phone, each class of parts, like the plastic casting, vary in size, weight, and even color. Just as the phone cases vary, so does the clear plastic display that covers the liquid crystal display. Then you have the many hinges, buttons, antenna, internal component, and so on. All these parts have to snap and fit together well if the phone is to perform its function to your satisfaction. In other words, you can only tolerate a certain amount of variation. A little too much variation and the phone won’t work property. A little more variation and it won’t work at all.

And we all know who’s going to end up with the bad phone, right?

Comments

Sedighe Javadpour said…
thanks dear, I was searching for long time, this figure helped me to get the statistical meaning of 6 sigma!
wish you all the best.
May 26, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Sedighe Javadpour said…
Thanks dear, I was searching for so long!!! this figure helped me to ger the statistical meaning of 6sigma.
wish you all the best
May 26, 2009 at 11:14 AM
six sigma process said…
All the process is talking about variation. The big variation is a "bomb", not sure when it will going to explode. So, to control the variation is very important. And six sigma methodology help on reduce the variation.
July 29, 2009 at 9:00 AM
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