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The importance of access to information and knowledge coordination on quality and economic benefits obtained from Six Sigma

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Abstract

This paper presents a structural equation model that relates knowledge coordination with access to information in the process of implementing Six Sigma and their impact on the quality and economic benefits obtained. The model integrates four latent variables (knowledge coordination and access to information as independent variables; quality benefits and economic benefits as dependent variables), that are intertwined by five hypotheses validated statistically through the partial least squares technique using data from 301 responses to a survey applied in the maquiladora industry. Findings suggest that to obtain benefits associated with product quality, information and knowledge acquired from Six Sigma, projects must be carefully saved, managed, and analysed with appropriate statistical techniques applied by green and black belts. However, to obtain economic benefits, the information and knowledge must be transformed into benefits associated with quality such as reduction in delivery time, reduction of customer complains and compliance with standards demanded by the customer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, 32310, Ciudad Juárez, Cihuauhua, Mexico

    Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz & Liliana Avelar-Sosa

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, C/San José de Calasanz 31, 26004, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

    Francisco Javier Flor Montalvo & Julio Blanco-Fernández

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of La Rioja, C/San José de Calasanz 31, 26004, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

    María Mercedes Pérez de la Parte & Emilio Jiménez-Macías

Authors
  1. Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz
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  2. Francisco Javier Flor Montalvo
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  3. Liliana Avelar-Sosa
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Correspondence to Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz.

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García-Alcaraz, J.L., Montalvo, F.J.F., Avelar-Sosa, L. et al. The importance of access to information and knowledge coordination on quality and economic benefits obtained from Six Sigma. Wireless Netw 26, 5713–5726 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11276-019-02180-7

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