A Case Study on the Six Sigma Application to Reduce Waiting Day for Computed Tomography in the Radiology Department
The purpose of the study was to apply and to expand the six sigma to reduce waiting times for computed tomography (CT) examination which manipulated by the department of radiology. It was preceded by DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control). In the stage of definition, it wereselected for total 5 critical to quality (CTQ), which were the kindness, the waiting time, the examination explanation, the waiting day and the waiting stand environment, that increased the reserved time of CT examination. In the stage of measurement, the number of examinations and of reservation waiting days performed and resulted in final CTQ(Y) which measured each 1.68 and 1.85 sigma. In the stage of analysis, the examination concentrated on morning time, non-scheduled examination of the day, the delayed time of booking, frequent telephone contacting and equipment malfunction were determined as variable key causes. In the stage of improvement, it were performed with expansion of the examination in the morning time, integration of laboratories that used to in each steps, developing the ability of simultaneous booking schedule for the multiple examinations, developing program of examination request, and the customer management team operations. For the control, the number of examinations and reserved waiting days were measured each 3.14 and 1.13 sigma.