Journal of The Japanese Society for Quality Control

This article gives the way to assign six-level factors to the L₃₆ orthogonal array. Firstly, it is found that three six-level factors which are orthogonal to each other can be assigned. In the case of two six-level factors, two three-level factors can be also assigned additionally. Four three-level factors can be assigned with one six-level factor. Secondly, if we admit the least confounding between the assigned main effects, we can assign at most six six-level factors to L_<36>. At that time, all main effects are estimable by using regression model with dummy variables. The optimal design is determined based on D-optimal criterion. The way of assigning several six-level factors is shown by nearly orthogonal arrays. The remaining two-level columns are available for assignment of two-level factors in each case.

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　In recent years, Small-Group Activities (SGA) has expanded their objectives and scope, and it is expected to contribute to the management performance.
　And, about the result that the small group activity brings, it is also important to evaluate intangible effects of the improvement of a human ability and the organizational ability and the knowledge creations, etc. in addition to tangible effects and financial effects.
　However, existing assessment method is limited to assessment of tangible effects only, and the method for overall assessment of tangible and intangible effects is not established.
　In this research, the expected effects to SGA are clarified, and the new method of assessing them is proposed. Next, the method of assessing the capability level (maturity) of the small group is proposed. This assessment method consists of two methods
　(1) self-assessment method for small-group performs
　(2) assessment method for managers and promoters to support and promote SGA
　And, it proposes the tool of Life Cycle Assessment that uses the viewpoint of Balanced Score Card.
　Utilizing this new assessment method may make SGA activated.

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A software development project usually has the risk of unimplementing several requirements among the specified software requirements. The existence of the unimplemented software requirements is a problem that cannot be ignored, because it is directly connected to delivery date delay and a cost increase, and then leads to a deterioration of profitability.
As a software requirement, there is a functional one or a non-functional one. With focus on functional requirements, this paper proposes "Functional Requirements Implementation Management Table" (FRIM Table for short) as a management tool for reducing the number of unimplemented software functional requirements within a framework of a software project management. It also describes an experimental application of FRIM Table in a company, and clarifies concrete usage of FRIM Table in the company. Based on the data obtained from the experimental application, this paper statistically analyzes effects of the application of FRIM Table; and it shows that the application of FRIM Table leads to a tendency toward reducing the number of unimplemented software functional requirements.

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It is difficult to keep the competitive advantage in digital technology development, because both of digital technology and market requirement change so rapidly. In addition, due to complicated dynamic chain of coevolution between technology and market, crossing over chasms which are big gaps between life stages becomes difficult.
For sustaining competitive advantage during life cycle in the digital technology, it is necessary to grasp critical factors which affect success or failure by life stages of technology life cycle.
As a solution for these issues, this article proposes the two quality management models by case studies of digital camera development and interview study. One quality management model is coevolution between development of digital technology and market, and the other is spiral type model of quality management to keep coevolution of technology and market.
Critical factors in each life stage are also extruded and classified.
These two models of quality management and critical factors are effective for implementation of strategic quality management and evolution of digital technology development and market.

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