Analysis of Innovation Activities in Aviation Industry

Innovation activities represented by Six Sigma (6σ) led to improvements not only in manufacturing industries but also in various business fields. In the aviation industry, Six Sigma has been used as a tool of innovation since the beginning of 2000, and it has developed into a comprehensive form of innovation activity that includes various improvement tools. In this study, the innovation activities in K company that is a representative company of aviation industry are summarized in the last 10 years, and the effectiveness of the innovation tools and the performance of the tasks are also analyzed. The results of 2,091 projects over the past decade have been analyzed from various perspectives. First, we found out the tools that were used frequently at each DMAIC step, showed their frequency, and analyzed the evaluation results for the project. The project was evaluated from grade 1 (highest level) to grade 7 (lowest level) with an average grade of 4.1 for the overall project. The evaluation grades of the projects were compared and analyzed in terms of the qualifications of the leader, the roadmap for the implementation of the project, the financial effect, the size of the financial effect, the business classification, and the project execution period. These results may suggest new perspectives for companies considering or adopting innovation programs.