An Introduction to Lean Six Sigma

•Lean tends to be used for shorter, less complex problems. Often time driven. Focus is on eliminating wasteful steps and practices.

•Six Sigma is a bigger more analytical approach 

– often quality driven 

– it tends to have a statistical approach. Focus on optimizing the important steps 

– reducing defects.

•Some argue Lean moves the mean, SixSigma moves the variance. But they are often used together and should not be viewed as having different objectives.

–Waste elimination eliminates an opportunity to make a defect

–Less rework means faster cycle times

•Six Sigma training might be specialized to the “quality” department, but everyone in the organization should be trained in Lean