Method and apparatus for using DFSS to manage a research project

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, an application of combinatorial materials development with minimum materials development, minimum variance, and maximum integration is provided. The embodiment is directed to a method of project development of a combinatorial materials development process using DFSS techniques having four major elements. The first element is the use of a design for six sigma (DFSS) process mapping to convert a complex and disorganized process structure to an organized structure that can be further analyzed. The second element comprises the use of quality function deployment houses as a method of flowing critical to quality characteristics (CTQ) through a research project. The third element comprises a transfer function that connects the overall steps of the project to the output which is measured as variability not as mean. Score cards are used as the “function” to total the variabilities of each process step. The final element comprises an extension of design of experiment (DOE) techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for using design for six sigma techniques for managing a research project, said method comprising: 
 using at least one six sigma technique to organize the research project;    using quality function deployment houses to flow critical to quality characteristics through said research project;    measuring a variability of each portion of said research project; and    using design of experiment techniques with combinatorial designs to minimize said variability and maximize research results.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said houses comprise a first house for developing and measuring critical to quality characteristics of the said research project.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said houses comprise a second house wherein said research project is analyzed.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said research project comprises a combinatorial material development project.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said project comprises a search for catalysts.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said catalysts are for the production of diphenyl carbonate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one six sigma technique include a decision on a system to study, a prework process, a setup, react and evaluate process, and a data analysis process.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said portions of said research project include sample preparation, chemical reaction, analytical preparation, chemical analysis, data analysis and database system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said design of experiment techniques include methods to reduce variability components of each portion of said research project.  
     
     
         10 . A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for using design for six sigma techniques for managing a research project, said medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code means for causing a computer to use six sigma techniques for converting a complex, disorganized process structure to an organized structure that can be further analyzed;    computer readable program code means for causing a computer to use quality function deployment houses to flow critical to quality characteristics through said research project;    computer readable program code means for causing a computer to measure a variability of each portion of said research project; and    computer readable program code means for causing a computer to use design of experiment techniques with combinatorial designs to minimize said variability and maximize research results.    
     
     
         11 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein said houses comprise a first house develops and measures critical to quality characteristics of the said research project.  
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 11 , wherein said houses comprise a second house wherein said research project is analyzed.  
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein said research project comprises a combinatorial material development project.  
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein said project comprises a search for catalysts.  
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein said catalysts are for the production of diphenyl carbonate.  
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein said six sigma techniques include a decision on a system to study, a prework process, a setup, react and evaluate process; and a data analysis process.  
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein said portions of said research project include sample preparation, chemical reaction, analytical preparation, chemical analysis, data analysis and a database system.  
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein said design of experiment techniques include methods to reduce variability components of each portion of said research project.  
     
     
         19 . A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform a method for using design for six sigma techniques for managing a research project, said method comprising: 
 using six sigma techniques for converting a complex, disorganized process structure to an organized structure that can be further analyzed;    using quality function deployment houses to flow critical to quality characteristics through said research project;    measuring a variability of each portion of said research project; and    using design of experiment techniques with combinatorial designs to minimize said variability and maximize research results.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said houses comprise a first house for developing and measuring critical to quality characteristics of the said research project.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said houses comprise a second house wherein said research project is analyzed.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said research project comprises a combinatorial material development project.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said project comprises a search for catalysts.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein said catalysts are for the production of diphenyl carbonate.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said six sigma techniques include a decision on a system to study, a prework process, a setup, react and evaluate process, a data analysis process.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said portions of said research project include sample preparation, chemical reaction, analytical preparation, chemical analysis, data analysis and a database system.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said design of experiment techniques include methods to reduce variability components of each portion of said research project.  
     
     
         28 . A computer program product, said computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program embodied in said program for using design for six sigma techniques for managing a research project, said computer program including:    computer readable program means for using six sigma techniques for converting a complex, disorganized process structure to an organized structure that can be further analyzed;    computer readable program means for using quality function deployment houses to flow critical to quality characteristics through said research project;    computer readable program means for measuring a variability of each portion of said research project; and    computer readable program means for using design of experiment techniques with combinatorial designs to minimize said variability and maximize research results.    
     
     
         29 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said houses comprise a first house for developing and measuring critical to quality characteristics of the said research project.  
     
     
         30 . The computer program of  claim 29 , wherein said houses comprise a second house wherein said research project is analyzed.  
     
     
         31 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said research project comprises a combinatorial material development project.  
     
     
         32 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said project comprises a search for catalysts.  
     
     
         33 . The computer program of  claim 32 , wherein said catalysts are for the production of diphenyl carbonate.  
     
     
         34 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said six sigma techniques include a decision on a system to study, a prework process, a setup, react and evaluate process and a data analysis process.  
     
     
         35 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said portions of said research project include sample preparation, chemical reaction, analytical preparation, chemical analysis, data analysis and a database system.  
     
     
         36 . The computer program of  claim 28 , wherein said design of experiment techniques include methods to reduce variability components of each portion of said research project.  
     
     
         37 . The computer product of  claim 28 , wherein said product includes an internet or intranet interconnection for access to six sigma flowdown programs and to provide data on the various variabilities.