Improved Model Applying the 6-Sigma Methodology to Evaluate Leaking Water Faucets

Abstract

Increasing population and advancing technology have been continually consuming natural resources to cause global warming and depletion of water resources. How to raise the efficiency and eliminate unnecessary wastes will assist in conserving precious resources. As the water resource is concerned, water leaking from a single faucet may not be much but considering the number of faucets being used globally, the total amount of water wasted is significant. The objective of this study is to target leaking water faucets in a school for developing a model that can be implemented to evaluate water wasting through leaking faucets. Indices for evaluating the characteristics of leaking faucets are first established; the statistical significance is based for proposing the evaluating procedures followed by developing a set of evaluating model based on the 6-sigma standard deviation measure, analyze, improve and control model for conducting detailed analyses. A leaking loss analysis diagram is then developed according to the leaking evaluation and leaking stability indices in order to facilitate the application of the evaluation process. These two indices are then used to propose a total leaking loss index for evaluating the quality of the evaluation results and improving the evaluation efficiency. Combining the leaking quantity evaluation index, leaking stability index, and leaking frequency index, a three-dimension water saving analysis diagram can be constructed. Through the subsequent analyses, improvement and control, suggestions on the regional quality of leaking loss analyses and experts’ recommendations for improvement can be established for references by schools and public or private sectors to improve water leaking situation. Finally, a control diagram is proposed to improve the accuracy and precision of water leaking improvement for achieving the objective of curbing faucet water leaking. The model proposed in this research can provide guidelines for schools and offices to implement the improvement and evaluate the efficiency of implementing the improvement for achieving savings of energy.