Defining Lean Six Sigma: ASQ (The American Society for Quality) states, “Lean Six Sigma is a fact-based, data-driven philosophy of improvement that values defect prevention over defect detection. It drives customer satisfaction and bottom-line results by reducing variation, waste, and cycle time, while promoting the use of work standardization and flow, thereby creating a competitive advantage. It applies anywhere variation and waste exist, and every employee should be involved.”
Lean Six Sigma combines the strategies of Lean and Six Sigma. Lean principles help to reduce or eliminate process wastes. Six Sigma focuses on variation - reduction in process. Thereby, the principles of Lean Six Sigma help to improve the efficiency and quality of the process.
Why is Lean Six Sigma gaining the importance in today’s scenario? Today’s environment is very dynamic. Lean or six sigma approach in this dynamic environment cannot bring full potential to improvements if applied in isolation. Integration of Lean & Six Sigma ensures exceptional improvements. In this management approach, traditionally the lean methodology is used first to remove the waste in a process. Later, the Six Sigma tools are used to improve process variations. However, these two methods go hand in hand in today’s time. The ultimate objective is to improve processes by reducing variation and eliminating waste. It’s a continuous improvement process, where Lean methods and Six Sigma approaches, both take their turn during PDCA. The extent of approaches may differ depending upon process complexities or improvement sought. The combination of these two methods helps to develop streamlined processes with high quality & results. It improves bottom-line profits and helps meeting business goals.
The integrated Lean Six Sigma management approach is being used across sectors and industries. It promotes to exceptional changes in organization's performance. Lean Six Sigma leads to enjoying competitive advantages in various companies in the world. They can be a product or service-oriented companies. The LSS methodology improves processes and makes them efficient. The key to success is management support, employee engagement and commitment to improving customer satisfaction.
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