What is Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma combines the two most important improvement trends of our time: making work better (using Six Sigma) and making work faster (using Lean principles) by improving the work flow.
The "Lean Six Sigma" term refers to a philosophy, goal, and methodology utilized to drive out waste and improve the quality, cost and time performance of any business. These methods provide companies with a series of methods and statistical tools that lead to breakthrough profitability and quantum gains in quality.
Lean Six Sigma is the combination of two methodologies around process improvement that are essential to success in a business or organization.
Lean Six Sigma is the powerful integration of
- Six Sigma the method that target reducing defects, improving quality and eliminating variation and
- Lean Manufacturing the method that is focused on improving process speed and eliminating waste.
Lean deals with improving the speed of a process by reducing waste and eliminating non-value added steps. Six Sigma improves performance by focusing on those aspects of a process that are critical to quality from the customer perspective and eliminating variation in that process. That is, as quality improves speed the speed in turn improves quality. By integrating Lean speed and Six Sigma quality, the rate of improvement in quality, cost and speed increases exponentially and goes much further than either discipline alone could accomplish solely.
From execution standpoint, Lean Manufacturing utilizes "Kaizen events" to quickly identify improvement opportunities and goes one step further than a tradition process map in its use of value stream mapping. Six Sigma uses a formal project methodology known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) to allow project efforts to bring measurable and repeatable results. Whereas, Lean Six Sigma uses the combination of these two.
Lean Six Sigma brings to continuous improvement efforts several tools, concepts and engagements such as voice of the customer as a definition of quality, Six Sigma DMAIC structured improvement methodology, CEO and P&L owners actively engaged in process, value-based benefit matrix for project selection, defined set of roles and responsibilities (Black Belts, Champions, Sponsors) to create accountability, rigor and ‘can do’ culture.