Six Sigma DMAIC Enhanced with Capability Modelling

The key idea of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is to merge the real and virtual worlds into an Internet of Things (IoT), and hence to exploit the full potential of the synergy between the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and the production sector. The platform for this concept is Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPS). The concept of smart manufacturing is based on the integration of the IoT and CPS to create Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPSs) which results in the continuous generation of high volume data, known as Big Data. One of the key challenges for the implementation of CPPS lies in the conceptualisation and design of such systems, or more precisely in obtaining the engagement of domain experts and key stakeholders and for them to articulate, agree, and validate the requirements for an intended system. Moreover, the large amounts of data, especially in light of Industry 4.0, need to be organised so that organisation can understand what insights they need in order to take strategic and operational decisions. This paper proposes an approach, referred to as the Six Sigma DMAIC Enhanced with Capability Modelling approach, through which requirements can be considered from an operational and strategic perspective. The main goal of this approach is to utilise a set of modelling techniques in a systematic way within a holistic and well established business process management approach to enable key stakeholders to consider requirements for improving existing problematic processes, exploit new business opportunities, and manage the transformation from traditional operations towards CPPS.