Page 273 - Design for Six Sigma for Service (Six SIGMA Operational Methods)

242 Chapter Nine

Infancy
The birth of a new technical system is the starting point of the infancy stage;
it is the first stage of an S-curve. The new system appears as a result of a high-
level invention. Typically, the system is primitive, inefficient, and unreliable
and has many unsolved problems. It does, however, provide some new
functions or the means to provide the function. System development at this
stage is very slow, due to lack of human and financial resources. Many design
questions and issues must be answered. For example, most people may not be
convinced of the usefulness of the system, but a small number of enthusiasts
who believe in the system’s future continue to work toward its success.

In the infancy stage, the performance level is low and its improvement is
slow (Fig. 9.4a). The level of inventions is usually high, because the initial
concept is often very inventive and patentable. It is usually level 3, 4, or
even 5 (Fig. 9.4b). But the number of inventions in this system is usually
low (Fig. 9.4c), because the system is fairly new. The profit is usually
negative (Fig. 9.4d), because at this stage of the technology usually the
customers are few but the expense is high.

Growth (Rapid Development)
This stage begins when society realizes the value of the new system. By this
time, many problems have been overcome; efficiency and performance have
improved in the system, people and organizations invest money in deve-
lopment of the new product or process. This accelerates the system’s deve-
lopment, improving the results and, in turn, attracting greater investment.
Thus, a positive feedback loop is established, which serves to further
accelerate the system’s evolution.

In the growth stage, the improvement of performance level is quick (Fig. 9.4a)
because of the rapid increases in investment and the removal of many
technical bottlenecks. The level of inventions is getting lower because most
inventions in this stage deal with incremental improvements. They are
mostly level 1 or 2 (Fig. 9.4b), but the number of inventions is usually high
(Fig. 9.4c). The profit is usually growing fast (Fig. 9.4d).

Maturity
In this stage, system development slows as the initial concept upon which
the system was based nears exhaustion of its potential. Large amounts of
money and labor may have been expended; however, the results are usually
very marginal. At this stage, standards are established. Improvements occur
through system optimization and tradeoffs. The performance of the system