Reliability Consulting

Product reliability shortfalls can have an enormous impact on bottom line profits and brand integrity in the marketplace. Consider for example, a company having a 20 present gross margin. It requires $5 in sales to replace every $1 in warranty costs. The intangible costs of product image and customer dissatisfaction have an additive impact on profitability in the long term.

Using the Six Sigma approach to problem solving can stop the financial drain that poor quality brings to the brand. Six Sigma Black Belts are trained to lead these types of projects and to train project teams in the use of the tools. I am trained to the Black Belt level and can provide the team leadership and coaching that is needed to find true root cause and end warranty problems.

Descriptions of typical projects include:

  • Commercial Broiler Ignition System
  • Portion Control Ice Dispenser
  • Solenoid Valve Reliability

Product Development and Manufacturing

JM Corliss & Associates provides professional services to support new product development at client companies. These services focus on design review, reliability enhancement and manufacturing improvement.

I provide an independent review of a product design spanning from the voice of the customer to final product release to manufacturing. My services focus heavily on achieving high reliability in the final design by applying Lean Six Sigma principles during the early design and test phases. For example, I assist my clients by developing a design of experiments matrix to help them understand key factors in a products performance or life expectancy. I assist clients in gathering data through process sampling and by analyzing data from a process or test to understand the potential reliability of a product and the certainty of the life expectancy.

My product development services also include helping clients eliminate waste in the manufacturing process. I work with clients to understand the source of waste and variability in the process and how to eliminate them. This provides higher profitability through lower warranty claims and field failure, and also results in more satisfied customers for my clients.

Please contact me with any questions about my product development experience. A brief list of example products include:

  • Residential combined heat and power system
  • High-efficiency gas fryer
  • Various combustion systems
  • Battle field kitchen equipment
  • A novel ice maker
  • Water filters for restaurant equipment
  • Agricultural dryer
  • Beverage dispensers
  • Ice dispenser portion system
  • A wide variety of commercial appliances and cooking equipment
  • Refrigeration equipment