This post is used to further explain about the relationship between lean manufacturing and six sigma, refer to the article Lean VS Six Sigma 1.
In my last post about lean and six sigma, Lean manufacturing is more suitable to use for solving perspicuously problem. If the process is defined as labor intensive, we can identify the problem, or wastes according to the 7 wastes concept. disassemble the actions for the work station, we can easily to identify which is value-added actions and which is non-value-added. Sometime, we need to use a stop watch to measure the process time. We can also easily to adjust and balance the process by a bar chart and no need to use the statistic tools or quantitative analysis for improvement activities. In simply say, if we can identify the problem by observation or simple measurement, lean manufacturing concept can help us to solve the problem and speed up the improvement progress.
For Six sigma, it would be more suitable to use for solving recessive problem. You can not identify the problem directly and you have to dig out the issue and reduce the variances of process by a serious of statistical analysis. For instant, a process, which is highly automatic, is needed to use six sigma for improvement. We can not identify the problem by observation because there is no operator working in the station. The machine or process is all covered by a metal shell. All the hidden problem can not be found by our bare eyes. At this moment, we need to measure all the detail, such as temperature, current, pressure, speed, and the parameters of the machine or production line, so that we can use the quantitative analysis method in six sigma to identify the issues and make the suggestion to adjust the parameter accordingly.
Is that any conflict between lean and six sigma? Absolutely not, in opposite way, they can support each other. Let us review the process for our working place, the process is always combined with automatic process and manual process. Do you agree? The most important thing is which tools is suitable for our target process. Sometime, we need lean to speed up the kaizen process, but sometime we need the six sigma to dig out the hidden problem. Therefore, we always call the continuous improvement activities as Lean sigma activities. Those tools can be combine together organically, the critical point is the kaizen leader has enough experience for both tools or not.
If you have different ideas, please give a comment for this post, thanks!
4 comments:
Nice explanation on why lean and six sigma are complementary. I would add to this a thought brainstormed on long time ago. Its central idea is to treat any problem as a normal distribution, in which you try to bring mean on target with lean methods and reduce standard distribution by applying six sigma.
Hi
I like this post very much. It help me to solve some my work under my director’s requirements.
Apart from that, below article also is the same meaning
Lean manufacturing terms
Tks again and nice keep posting
Rgs
Hi
I like this post very much. It help me to solve some my work under my director’s requirements.
Apart from that, below article also is the same meaning
Lean manufacturing terms
Tks again and nice keep posting
Rgs
Great description of "respect for humanity." Remember also, even if your core strategy isn't necessarily focused on growth, the focus on delivering greater value for you customer will bring growth.
When a business out performs their competitors the growth comes. In the meantime use the opportunity to invest even more in your greatest asset, people.lean six sigma
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