Lean Six Sigma

About: Lean Six Sigma is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1919 publications have been published within this topic receiving 29142 citations.

Lean Six Sigma : combining Six Sigma quality with lean speed

Abstract: From the Publisher: The Breakthrough Program for Increasing Quality, Shortening Cycle Times, and Creating Shareholder Value In Every Area of Your Organization Time and quality are the two most important metrics in improving any company's production and profit performance. Lean Six Sigma explains how to impact your company's performance in each, by combining the strength of today's two most important initiatives Lean Production and Six Sigma into one integrated program. The first book to provide a step-by-step roadmap for profiting from the best elements of Lean and Six Sigma, this breakthrough volume will show you how to: ? Achieve major cost and lead time reductions this year ? Compress order-to-delivery cycle times ? Battle process variation and waste throughout your organization Separately, Lean Production and Six Sigma have changed the face of the manufacturing business. Together, they become an unprecedented tool for improving product and process quality, production efficiency, and across-the-board profitability. Lean Six Sigma introduces you to today's most dynamic program for streamlining the performance of both your production department and your back office, and providing you with the cost reduction and quality improvements you need to stay one step ahead of your competitors. "Lean Six Sigma shows how Lean and Six Sigma methods complement and reinforce each other. If also provides a detailed roadmap of implementation so you can start seeing significant returns in less than a year." From the Preface Businesses fundamentally exist to provide returns to theirstakeholders. Lean Six Sigma outlines a program for combining the synergies of these two initiatives to provide your organization with greater speed, less process variation, and more bottom-line impact than ever before. A hands-on guidebook for integrating the production efficiencies of the Lean Enterprise with the cost and quality tools of Six Sigma, this breakthrough book features detailed insights on: ? The Lean Six Sigma Value Proposition How combining Lean and Six Sigma provides unmatched potential for improving shareholder value ? The Lean Six Sigma Implementation Process How to prepare your organization for a seamless incorporation of Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques ? Leveraging Lean Six Sigma Strategies for extending Lean Six Sigma's reach within and beyond your corporate walls "Variation is evil." Jack Welch Six Sigma was the zero-variation quality lynchpin around which Jack Welch transformed GE into one of the world's most efficient and valuable corporations. Lean Production helped Toyota cut waste, slash costs, and substantially improve resource utilization and cycle times. Yet, as both would admit, there was still room for improvement. Lean Six Sigma takes you to the next level of improvement, one that for the first time unites product and process excellence with the goal of enhancing shareholder value creation. Providing insights into the application of Lean Six Sigma to both the manufacturing processes and the less-data-rich service and transactional processes, it promises to revolutionize the performance efficiencies in virtually every area of your organization as it positively and dramatically impacts your shareholder value. Michael L. George is founder and president of George Group which, with over 70 consultants, is the largest Six Sigma consulting practice in the United States. The firm also provides its clients with a wealth of experience in Lean Methods, Supply Chain Acceleration, and other essential business strategies.

Critical failure factors of Lean Six Sigma: a systematic literature review

Abstract: Purpose – Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a continuous improvement methodology that aims to reduce the costs of poor quality, improve the bottom-line results and create value for both customers and shareholders. The purpose of this paper is to explore the critical failure factors for LSS in different sectors, such as manufacturing, services, higher education, etc. Design/methodology/approach – The following research is based on a systematic literature review of 56 papers that were published on Lean, Six Sigma and LSS in well-known academic databases from 1995 to 2013. Findings – There are 34 common failure factors of LSS cited in this paper. There are some common factors for failure, such as a lack of top management commitment and involvement, lack of communication, lack of training and education, limited resources and others. Many gaps and limitations are discussed in this paper and need to be explored in future research. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first systematic literature reviews to explore ...

Lean, six sigma and lean sigma: fads or real process improvement methods?

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore if six sigma and lean are new methods, or if they are repackaged versions of previously popular methods – total quality management (TQM) and just‐in‐time (JIT).Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a critical comparison of lean with JIT and six sigma with TQM, a study of the measure of the publication frequency – the number of academic articles published every year of the previous 30 years – for each topic, and a review of critical success factors (CSF) for change efforts.Findings – The more recent concepts of lean and six sigma have mainly replaced – but not necessarily added to – the concepts of JIT and TQM. lean and six sigma are essentially repackaged versions of the former, and the methods seem to follow the fad (product) life cycle. The literature offers fairly similar and rather general CSF for these methods, e.g. top management support and the importance of communication and information. What seems to be missing, however, is the need ...

Lean Six Sigma for Service : How to Use Lean Speed and Six Sigma Quality to Improve Services and Transactions

Abstract: "How do I apply Lean Six Sigma in my service organization?" This is a question many executives and managers are asking. With all the emphasis on using Lean Six Sigma in manufacturing environments, the need for a clear methodology for implementing these major quality improvement initiatives in service functions has been mainly overlooked - until now. "Lean Six Sigma for Service" provides a service-based approach, explaining how companies of all types can cost-effectively translate manufacturing-oriented Lean Six Sigma tools into the service delivery process. Six Sigma expert Michael George reveals how easy it is to apply relatively simple statistical and Lean tools that will reduce costs and achieve greater speed in service processes. It's no secret that service functions have a harder time applying Lean and Six Sigma principles. The manufacturing roots of these initiatives have made it unclear how to apply these tools to services; this book effortlessly makes that translation.Here, for the first time, you'll read about how classic Lean tools such as "Pull systems" and "setup reduction" are being used in procurement, call centers, surgical suites, government offices, RD become a customer-centered organization; gain control over process complexity Improve response time on signature services; apply value-based management to project selection; clean up your workspace; and develop supplier relationships.For guidance in deploying Lean Six Sigma in service organizations, reducing lead times, streamlining processes, and holding down costs, "Lean Six Sigma for Services" is the most complete, authoritative guide you can own. "Lockheed Martin recognized that our business support processes have as much opportunity for improvement as our design and build areas. By applying Lean process speed and Six Sigma quality tools to marketing, legal, contract administration, procurement, etc. we have created a competitive advantage...The lessons learned and practical case studies contained in "Lean Six Sigma for Service" provide a road map which can create great value for customers, employees and shareholders." - Mike Joyce, Vice President, Lockheed Martin. For operational excellence deploy Lean Six Sigma in your service organization.Would you like to: reduce your company's service costs by 30 to 60 percent? Improve service delivery time by 50 percent? Expand capacity by 20 percent - without adding staff? If you answered yes - and who wouldn't - then this is the book for you. "Lean Six Sigma for Services" reveals how to bring the miracle of Lean Six Sigma improvement out of manufacturing and into service functions.Michael George describes the basic elements of successful deployment, including insights from corporate leaders who have already "walked the talk" to accelerate your own journey. Filled with case studies detailing dramatic service improvements in organizations from Lockheed Martin to Stanford University Hospital, this bottom-line book provides executives and managers with the knowledge necessary to blend Lean and Six Sigma to optimize services. You'll see how Lean Six Sigma can cut costs by reducing complexity; how to utilize its tools to provide better quality service; and how you can use shareholder value to drive project selection - without needing an MBA.