Smart Cane Developed with DFSS, QFD, and SDE for the Visually Impaired

This study shows an application of the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Methodology in the field of medical engineering. This research aims to demonstrate the application of a systematic design approach in the development of the “Ocane”, an innovative concept of smart cane for visually impaired patients which was thought of in answer to the end user’s needs, deploying an easy to transport, locate, and adjust element with ultrasonic sensors and tactile feedback. DFSS is an analytical design methodology meant to organize project workflow in a sequence of specific steps. Other standardized design procedures such as Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE) have been used to support DFSS in terms of targeting customer requirements and focusing on aesthetics for ergonomics analysis, respectively. First, the QFD process is introduced and applied to gather the final customer needs, completing the analysis with benchmarking and similar-thought products on the market. Afterwards, a description of the DFSS methodology and application to the case study was deployed. Thereafter, the SDE procedure is exposed by identifying the “Ocane” concept and development, and moving towards the completion of an inventive product with a creative design and careful attention to visually impaired clients’ requirements.

Ten commandments for successful implementation of Design for Six Sigma

PurposeThis article aims to provide Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) practitioners, researchers and academicians with Ten Commandments to successfully deploy projects.Design/methodology/approachThe commandments are the brainchild of four authors' experience and expertise for more than 15 years of DFSS deployment in the spectrum of fields as a consultant, researcher, academic and Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and general quality management and engineering disciplines. Thus ascertained commandments were validated and classified through the “Delphi Study” to ensure its applicability.FindingsThe Ten Commandments from authors' perspective include: alignment of DFSS with organisational strategy; top management support and involvement; listening to the voice of the customers (VOC); effective training programme for right project teams; project selection and prioritisation; linking DFSS with ISO international standards; linking DFSS with organisational learning and innovation; linking DFSS with the 4th Industrial Revolution; effective use of DFSS methodology and the integrated tools within the methodology and reward and recognition schemes.Research limitations/implicationsThe commandments presented in this article are the authors' personal experience in different industrial scenarios and settings and demographical locations. The authors are planning to conduct a longitudinal survey to understand further insights of these commandments with the input of several DFSS Black Belts and Master Black Belts, academicians and leading researchers from various countries.Originality/valueAll the organisation's stakeholders can use this article as general guidelines to ensure effective deployment of the DFSS approach.