Lean Six Sigma Refresher
Introduction to Lean
Lean in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is the part of the methodology that focuses on eliminating waste and streamlining processes to maximize value for customers.
Here’s a clear breakdown:
🚀 What Lean Means in LSS
Waste Elimination: Lean identifies and removes activities that consume resources but don’t add value (e.g., delays, excess inventory, unnecessary steps).
Flow & Efficiency: It emphasizes smooth workflows, reducing bottlenecks, and ensuring tasks move quickly through a process.
Customer Value: The central idea is that every step in a process should contribute to what the customer actually wants.
Continuous Improvement: Lean encourages ongoing small improvements rather than one-time fixes.
🗂️ The 8 Types of Waste (Lean calls them “Muda”)
Defects – Errors requiring rework or scrap.
Overproduction – Making more than needed.
Waiting – Idle time when resources aren’t used.
Non-utilized talent – Not using people’s skills effectively.
Transportation – Unnecessary movement of materials.
Inventory – Excess stock tying up resources.
Motion – Unnecessary movement by people.
Extra-processing – Doing more work than necessary.
⚖️ How Lean Fits with Six Sigma
Lean = Speed & Flow → Makes processes faster and more efficient.
Six Sigma = Precision & Quality → Reduces variation and defects. Together, Lean accelerates processes while Six Sigma ensures consistency and accuracy.
👉 In short: Lean is about doing things faster with less waste, while Six Sigma is about doing things right with fewer errors.