Look before you Lean: Getting returns from Six Sigma and lean manufacturing

When organizations pursue Six Sigma and lean manufacturing without first explicitly tying these approaches to clear operational and business objectives, the tools lack the legitimacy of compelling purpose. Worse still, Six Sigma and lean manufacturing can actually set a business's operations back.Since many companies apply Six Sigma and lean manufacturing in combination, it's important to ensure that they are applied with the maximum effect and clear business reasons articulated. This white paper from Celerant Consulting offers a list of common pitfalls in using the two work processes together and how to avoid them.

Six Sigma was pioneered in the U.S. as a statistics-based method for relentlessly measuring and eliminating defects, waste and rework. Many companies now apply Six Sigma in combination with lean manufacturing, a powerful set of techniques for stripping unnecessary activity out of work processes. According to Celerant Consulting, companies can better ensure success with the two approaches through a thoughtful assessment and analysis.

• Email This Page
• Print This Page