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Casual Articles - LEAN or Six Sigma? Which Should My Business Be Using?
Are you the type to sing in your car? Play air guitar or air drums? I am, mostly to lost classic hair bands on my satellite radio. Having fun in what you do is critically important to the overall success of your business. If you are not having fun doing what you are currently doing, why are you doing it?You need to question why are you doing something if you are not enjoying it or having fun doing it. The fun factor is a c
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that
Upper Saddle River, N.J. - September 19, 2006 – As year-end is rapidly approaching, companies are beginning to scramble to finalize their salary budgets for the next year. It is time for Human Resource professionals to put their thinking caps on and make important merit increase decisions throughout the next couple of months.According to a recent survey published by WorldatWork, total salary budget increases and salary structu
Looking at a process or system to decide which approach to use isn’t always black and white. A lot depends on the culture of the organisation and what type of data is available.
Organisations that are driven by objectivity and have many Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will often find more comfort in the Six Sigma approach. This is a result of the perception that it is more “scientific” as it appears to be complex because of the statistical tools that can be applied. Those companies that are more subjective and intuitive feel more comfortable with the LEAN approach. To them, it seems less daunting as it does not rely on high order statistics in analyzing situations and tends to focus on team activities and employee engagement in solving problems.
Often people describe continuous improvement programs as a journey. If we consider the LEAN journey then I would say that Six Sigma can be used as a stop-over along the way. For instance, an organisation on the LEAN journey finds that it has a specific problem with yield in a particular department or a specific piece of equipment then area is a likely candidate for a Six Sigma project. This means that the organisation can still proceed under the LEAN umbrella but acknowledge that there is a specific activity that can benefit from the Six Sigma approach. To make things easier it may also be beneficial to engage an expert in Six Sigma for that activity so that the organisation maintains their LEAN focus.
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that t
Ever hear the story of the two masons working side by side at a building site? They're doing the same work under pretty much the same conditions. Then, one day a stranger comes along, approaches one of the men and asks him, "What are you doing?" "I don't know and I don't care," replies the man, his voice brimming with irritation. All I do is slap this crummy mortar on these crummy bricks and pile them up in a crummy line. That's what
Looking at a process or system to decide which approach to use isn’t always black and white. A lot depends on the culture of the organisation and what type of data is available.
Organisations that are driven by objectivity and have many Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will often find more comfort in the Six Sigma approach. This is a result of the perception that it is more “scientific” as it appears to be complex because of the statistical tools that can be applied. Those companies that are more subjective and intuitive feel more comfortable with the LEAN approach. To them, it seems less daunting as it does not rely on high order statistics in analyzing situations and tends to focus on team activities and employee engagement in solving problems.
Often people describe continuous improvement programs as a journey. If we consider the LEAN journey then I would say that Six Sigma can be used as a stop-over along the way. For instance, an organisation on the LEAN journey finds that it has a specific problem with yield in a particular department or a specific piece of equipment then area is a likely candidate for a Six Sigma project. This means that the organisation can still proceed under the LEAN umbrella but acknowledge that there is a specific activity that can benefit from the Six Sigma approach. To make things easier it may also be beneficial to engage an expert in Six Sigma for that activity so that the organisation maintains their LEAN focus.
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that
If you've ever bought inkjet printer cartridges, whether for your own business or your employer, you know how expensive they can be. It doesn't really matter what industry your business is in, you've probably got reams of reports, announcements, invoices and other paperwork that you have to print regularly.The end result of this constant stream of printing is that you have to replace the ink in one or more of your printers on a
Often people describe continuous improvement programs as a journey. If we consider the LEAN journey then I would say that Six Sigma can be used as a stop-over along the way. For instance, an organisation on the LEAN journey finds that it has a specific problem with yield in a particular department or a specific piece of equipment then area is a likely candidate for a Six Sigma project. This means that the organisation can still proceed under the LEAN umbrella but acknowledge that there is a specific activity that can benefit from the Six Sigma approach. To make things easier it may also be beneficial to engage an expert in Six Sigma for that activity so that the organisation maintains their LEAN focus.
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that
Before conducting an interview, the interviewer must understand the fundamentals of behavior as it relates to the act of lying. During the interview, the interviewer must be concerned with whether or not a potential employee is telling the truth and accurately describing his or her background. A candidate may be able to lie successfully because the interviewer is not in tune with the prospective employee’s non-verbal clues that indi
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that
The job interviews are the twisting point in a job search where job seekers can do well in winning confidence of potential employers, make them believe that you are the model candidate for the position you are looking for. Most likely job seekers stagger through interviews as if the recruiter asks jumpy questions. But generally interview questions are to be expected. Prepare your interview answers and rehearse your role before the sho
Similarly, those undertaking a whole of business approach using Six Sigma as the process improvement vehicle can find that as part of the Improve phase there are opportunities to implement LEAN approaches. For instance, a manufacturing operation that uses Six Sigma finds that there is a high degree of variability in the setup and changeover times for equipment in various departments. Analysis shows that the cause of this variation is a result of a poorly organised workspace where valuable time is wasted in locating the appropriate tools and attachments. 5S and Quick Changeover techniques are used to improve this aspect of the operation or improve both the speed and variability of the set-ups.
Whichever approach is leadership is vital. It is crucial that senior management not only embrace the process, but seen as driving it. Senior management must be engaged and be able to provide the necessary leadership to maintain the momentum within the organisation. Active involvement in projects and in the monitoring and review process is essential so that improvement activities are seen to be integrated into the business.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter which approach you take. The important point to recognise is that you want to better in the future than you are today and there are powerful tools to help. LEAN and Six Sigma are not mutually exclusive and in fact make great partners to any business looking to leap forward in performance.
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