Lean and Six Sigma evolved in the past, when manufacturing industry is growing fast, so that quality becomes the most important concern.
Lean is a method originally used in the automotive manufacturing industry, while Six Sigma is a method to reduce variation in process in the semiconductor industry. However, along with its development, Lean Six Sigma can be used in any industry, although the majority of manufacturing equipment that uses it. Lean’s focus on reducing costs through optimization processes, while Six Sigma focuses on customer needs, meet the expectations of stakeholders and improve quality by eliminating defects.
Lean Six Sigma is not just efficiency measures alone, but also how it can create good quality for customers, so they are satisfied, and ultimately provide a better bottom line for the company. Innovations are also usually created through the Lean Six Sigma. So, Lean Six Sigma is not only more economical, but also offers growth opportunities.
Method of Lean Six Sigma has been frequently discussed. Then, how can you run with a focus on Lean Six Sigma? AT Kearney suggests a three step approach in implementing Lean Six Sigma is focused:
First, create a destination which is a breakthrough
The initial step which must be done first is to create a destination that is a breakthrough. Its purpose is to create a challenging vision and goals for the organization, so that not only presents small but significant changes. Vision is a long-term goal of the organization, which was then sorted into goals in the short term, which is about two to three years, as well as what critical strategies that will be applied to achieve that goal.
Furthermore, from the goals and strategies must be translated into goals even smaller. Normally, each division had a goal each, and this must be consistent with the objectives of the organization. This goal is possible that Lean Six Sigma initiatives can have a more specific target.
Second, the Initiative and Target Identification Process
Once we have business goals more specific, the next is make a list of initiatives and Lean Six Sigma process whatever needs to be done, certainly in harmony with these goals.
Usually, after going through these steps, will find two things:
1) A gap between plans with breakthrough goals which have been proposed, and
2) Many initiatives that are not in harmony with one another or with a big goal, so the fishing dispute. After this process, then these initiatives are evaluated and repaired again.
Third, Allocating Resources
The team designing the scenarios to implement various initiatives once the list of this initiative is fixed. Allocate resources properly, to ensure a balance between time and effort given, with the value generated. For example: to allocate too few workers would be less productive, but if too much is also going to happen the law of diminishing returns.