What Is Lean Six Sigma

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Lean Six Sigma involves the use of the Lean and Six Sigma to increase speed and quality. The Lean program works to eliminate waste within an organization through constant improvement and teamwork ("What Is Lean Six Sigma?"). Improvement is formed from “stable yet flexible processes” with an uninterrupted flow of information ("What Is Lean Six Sigma?"). The Six Sigma program teaches a “problem solving methodology” to achieve a standardization of quality without variations ("What Is Lean Six Sigma?"). Standardization is attained by selectively restructuring and updating techniques and methods used in daily activities and manufacturing ("What Is Lean Six Sigma?"). The results of the combined programs show a decrease of costs and lead time …show more content…
According to Rick Smith in a 2014 Forbes article, the Six Sigma procedures that reduce variance can also reduce “innovation and growth”. The difference between focusing on standardization to increase effeminacy and the growth desired to create new business for the company (Smith). Smith regards variances as a path to the evolution of a new product, service, or technique. By ceasing all variances, the company can no longer evolve into the next stage. According to Mike Collins, the management techniques that become popular have inherent flaws. Companies looking for solutions to their problems see the newest technique as “The Magic Key” (Collins). Because of the perceived quick fix nature of the packaged solutions, executives lose interest when it takes longer to implement than planned. In addition, many solutions are too complex for the average person. Collins claims “Six Sigma is a very good approach to analyzing problems and finding the right solution, but doing it requires knowledge of advanced mathematics and statistics”. He points out the specified nature of the program and how that may detract from the overall effectiveness over time for a

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