The document discusses the implementation of Six Sigma to improve web application performance at GE Medical Systems, focusing on reducing page load times. Initial load times averaged 5.8 seconds, which was improved to 2.7 seconds, resulting in a 47% increase in speed and annual cost savings of over $34,000. Key changes included configuring the JRun server appropriately and instituting monitoring measures for sustained performance.

1. Six Sigma in Action:
Web Application Performance
Master Black Belt: Steven Bonacorsi

2. Six Sigma in Action
TEDS Systems Performance
Customer Profile - 31,000 active Training & Employee
Development System (TEDS) users – and potentially every GE
Medical Systems employee, contractor, and vendor. Process Capability Analysis for Module 2nd C
Process Capability – Before
USL
Business Problem & Impact USL
Process Data
4.00000 ST
LT
Average web page load time was 5.8 seconds. GEMS Learning Target
LSL
*
*
Mean 4.70867
Solutions General Manager Pete McCabe requested a 4 sec. Sample N
StDev (ST) 0.607092
21
average time based on general rules from other web applications, StDev (LT) 0.624410
such as the GEMS homepage. Potential (ST) Capability
Cp *
Measure & Analyze CPU
CPL
Cpk
-0.39
-0.39
*
Data Collection: Web page load time was measured. The existing Cpm *
3 4 5 6 7
process sigma was less than 1. Overall (LT) Capability Observed Performance Expected ST Performance Expected LT Performance
Pp * PPM < LSL * PPM < LSL * PPM < LSL *
Root Cause: The JRun server was improperly configured not to PPU
PPL
-0.38
*
PPM > USL
PPM Total
904761.90
904761.90
PPM > USL
PPM Total
878458.02
878458.02
PPM > USL
PPM Total
871799.38
871799.38
compile data, which slowed down many processes. Ppk -0.38
Improve & Control Process Capability Analysis for Module 2nd C
Removed the Djava.compiler=none setting from JRun server, Process Capability – After USL
taking it out of debug mode and allowing it to run more USL
Process Data
4.00000 ST
Target * LT
efficiently. Load times decreased 3.1 seconds and the sigma LSL *
Mean 1.69512
increased to greater than 6. To control the process, the TEDS Sample N 52
StDev (ST) 0.276561
server was placed under the Topaz monitoring scheme, which StDev (LT) 0.325387
sends a text message alert to a pager when the page load Potential (ST) Capability
time drops below 4 seconds. Cp
CPU 2.78
*
CPL *
Results/Benefits Cpk
Cpm
2.78
*
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
By decreasing the web page load time of the average TEDS page Overall (LT) Capability Observed Performance Expected ST Performance Expected LT Performance
by 3.1 seconds (making it 47% faster), this frees up over $34K in Pp
PPU 2.36
* PPM < LSL
PPM > USL 0.00
* PPM < LSL
PPM > USL 0.00
* PPM < LSL
PPM > USL 0.00
*
productivity cost savings per year. Additionally, all page load times PPL
Ppk 2.36
* PPM Total 0.00 PPM Total 0.00 PPM Total 0.00
average less than 4 seconds, satisfying the main customer CTQ.
A savings of over $34,000 per year.