Abstract
Quality cost management system makes quality as quantified information to let top management understand the total cost due to resources spent for quality improvements and penalties for poor-quality. Base on this quality cost information, top management can make proper decision to improve quality. This research adopts the six-sigma analysis with saving-oriented improvement approach to reduce quality cost. Due to the qualitative characteristics of firmware quality factor, this study uses Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) method to quantify the firmware quality factors during six-sigma analysis phase. This method assesses the impacts of individual quality control factor to determine the priority of input resources to for improvements; and monitors the reductions in the frequency of occurrences, to evaluate the level of improvements and to assure their stability. Base on the results of a case study, this research discusses the success factors and future use of the six-sigma/FMEA-based quality cost reduction methodology. In the end, this research summarizes the methodology in a formal process for improving firmware quality.