Application of Six Sigma to the Loudspeaker Industry
This presentation demonstrates how Six Sigma can be used as a key discipline to increase profitability. Six Sigma seeks to improve quality by identifying and removing the causes of defects and minimizing variability. In this paper, Mr. Hill will demonstrate a practical methodology that can be applied to ASCII measurement data of drivers or tweeters, showing how measurements on a data from a small sample can be used to predict the performance of a much larger production run illustrating problems objectively,
so they can be solved cost effectively.

Geoff Hill has an extensive and varied career in loudspeaker development and acoustics. He co-founded Impulse in the early 1980's, worked at Goodman's from 1986 to 1999 and later at Wharfedale, Ericsson, Motorola, Sendo (Mobile Telecoms) and Monitor Audio from 2005-2010. He’s “lost count” of the number of products he has designed. He has extensive experience with loudspeaker and system simulation and modeling, statistical analysis, test and measurement and quality control. He’s designed and implemented anechoic chambers and laboratories for many companies in the loudspeaker and telecommunications industries.  Geoff continues to consult throughout the loudspeaker industry.

Introduction to Transducer Motor Design
This discussion will focus on the topics of magnetic circuits, magnet materials, thermal effects, and thermal demagnetization ranging in scope from basic theory, to the computational techniques commonly in use today. The ongoing challenges in motor design will also be discussed.

Richard Little is the Director of Advanced Design for Tymphany HK Ltd., based in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China, where he works on future developments for the Vifa and Peerless branded products. He has been working in the loudspeaker engineering field since 1995, working at Boston Acoustics for 2 years, and in Bose Corporation's Automotive Systems Division for 8 years, prior to joining Tymphany in 2005, and moving to Tymphany's China facilities permanently in 2006. Richard's expertise in transducer design and engineering includes magnetics engineering, computer modeling of transducer and systems behavior, and reliability engineering. Richard's industry experience includes products for automotive OEM, home theatre, multimedia, automotive aftermarket, consumer electronics, and professional sound products. Richard has been an active member of the Audio Engineering Society since 1997. He has published peer-reviewed papers published in the fields of acoustic engineering and non-destructive evaluation/testing and has co-authored several patents in electro-acoustic transducer design.  Richard holds a B.Sc. in Honors Physics from the University of British Columbia (1992), and a M.Sc. in Physics from Queen's University at Kingston (1995), where he specialized in the field of Applied Magnetics.

by Richard Little, Director of Advanced Design, Tymphany HK Ltd.