More and more manufacturing companies are realizing the value of combining Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. Who doesn’t want a strategy that eliminates waste, simplifies procedures and speeds up production combined with quality-assurance principles?
Reliable Plant features an Oracle whitepaper on combining Lean and Six Sigma. The paper listed the following chief benefits:
- Cost efficiency: Many companies initially look to lean methods as a means to reduce manufacturing costs. But focusing too much on reducing cost could leave the company with unsustainable improvements. A healthier approach is to treat lean as a stimulus to growth.
- Inventory reduction: Carrying inventory costs a company in warehouse space, constrained capital and potential handling damage. However, inventory management is crucial when a manufacturing company imports raw materials. There is really a need to make careful forecasts that anticipate market demand rather than relying solely on real customer orders.
- Shorter cycle times: This eliminates waiting in lengthy queues, and the company can attend to customer orders in a timely manner.
- Greater flexibility: Be real-time enterprises with enhanced agility — the ability to respond almost immediately to customer demands.
Source:
Reliable Plant, “Lean/Six Sigma: The quest for efficiency in manufacturing,” with link provided by iSixSigma.
*Photo credit: MorgueFile.com
This is a great post! This is a nice graphic which provides an overview of some of the beneifts of lean six sigma: http://www.airacad.com/Images/Services/lean6implementation4.jpg
I personally believe Lean Six Sigma can be made even more powerful by adding the requirements of ISO9001.The standardization of documentation, mapping of processes, collection of data, auditing of process to assure control and the goal of a quality customer experience are important to both.
Rob
http://www.63buckets.co.uk (lean)
http://www.qualityhero.co.uk (six sigma)
http://www.rob-thompson.net
Thanks, Robert for the link. I hope it’s okay to put the graphics on this post.
Well, yes, I believe ISO requirements will be helpful in streamlining (or making lean) processes. ISO accounts for all the steps taken til the end of the production line so to speak, so it will be easy to spot which process are duplicates or not necessary at all. Yet, Lean Manufacturing has methods that will spot those, too.
A combination of strategies is always recommended. Especially when you are designing a quality methodology unique or appropriate to your organization.