Question

Analyze opportunities for volume metric improvement using Lean Management and Six Sigma principles

Answer 1

Lean Six Sigma focuses more upon the process than upon the cultural aspect. Hence studying Lean six sigma as an independent part, shall be essential in the field of the Total Quality Management technique which is a philosophy that involves everyone in the organization in a continual effort to improve quality and achieve customer satisfaction. Lean manufacturing is a systematic method for the elimination of waste within a manufacturing system. Hence, with Lean Six Sigma, the whole organization works together to guarantee product quality. The aim is to make products of perfect quality- with Zero Defect.

In case of Six sigma, it is a statistical program undertaken by the Organization for the process improvement. It has six standards that is set to reduce defects to 3.4 per million, thereby helping in identifying and mitigating any variances in the system. Six Sigma is also a quality tool that helps in maintain the high quality in process and products. These two methods play an important role in managing the quality in supply chain. It helps the company to make the production and the workers work with more efficiency. These processes allow different types of programs and activities to be a put in place in order to ensure the workers and processes to work at their optimal level. Companies and its supplier must work together in sync so to meet the customer expectation and avoid the leakages in the process. Both the methods and framework helps in managing the activities at different level and control the deviation in manufacturing processes. It is a customer-centric approach to cater the requirements of the end-users. The process starts with defining a problem pertaining to the ongoing process, measuring the same against the current performances, analyze such measurements to undertake the root-cause analysis, improving the variances with various innovative approaches and control the same by monitoring the performances.

References:

Bendell T. A review and comparison of Six Sigma and the Lean organizations. TQM Magazine.2006;18(3):255–262.

Kwak YH, Anbari FT. Benefits, obstacles, and future of six sigma approach. Technovation. 2006;26:708–715.

Arnheiter ED, Maleyeff J. The integration of lean management and Six Sigma. TQM Magazine.2005;17(1):5–18.