Drilling the Data: Students Use Six Sigma DMAIC to Improve Dental Practice Inventory Management

Abstract

This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), was used to diagnose and improve the inventory management process at a local dental practice which was operating at a loss. The analytics was done as part of a capstone 58 The BRC Academy Journal of Education Vol. 6, No. 1 project. The students defined the problem using data mining, and further identified the scope of the problem using Critical-to-Quality trees, Supply-Input-Process-Output-Customer (SIPOC) diagramming, and prioritizing the focus on the problem using a prioritization matrix. They further refined the business case and set specific goals for the improvement, in terms of revenue spent with regard to inventory and enumeration of expired materials. As a result, the dental practice got a report that allowed them to realize significant savings. Additionally, the students gained invaluable experience in taking a data-driven look at problems.