APPLICATION OF THE LEAN SIX SIGMA METHODOLOGY

The development of this work is based on the application of the Lean Six Sigma program and Quality tools. The scope of the project comprises the processes associated with the import of raw materials used in the production of iron ore pellets produced by the mining company Samarco Mineraçمo and aims to reduce the high costs observed. In this scope, raw materials are referred to as inputs.Samarco Mineraçمo uses in its production process inputs imported from several countries and the disbursement with this group represented, in the period from 2010 to 2012, 30% of the total value of inputs, a cost index well above the historical spending on the import of these raw materials. The need to import is generated, in addition to other factors, by the limitation of the domestic market, therefore, it is essential that the import process is continuously improved.The Lean Six Sigma methodology is applied here as a business strategy to obtain the improvement of the import process control, reduction of its variability, stability of the process and, consequently, the financial return.