What is Lean Six Sigma in Michigan?
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Whenever a company or individual decides to learn and work with LSS, answering the most common question of “what is Lean Six Sigma?” is the first thing to do. A general concept of it would be to mention it is a process improvement methodology that focuses on reducing waste and eliminate variations while considering customers’ requirements. In the category of process improvement, you will find several methodologies that can help organizations to achieve this main result.
But each one of them has a different goal or objective in order to actually improve processes. Therefore, it is not a matter of choosing the most popular or the one everyone is using but rather determine the best methodology for the company and how it can help with other areas and needs. Now, Lean Six Sigma is an exception to the rule since it is the most used one among companies and organizations from all industries.
But this is due to how effective and productive it is in achieving not only process improvement but also to identify problems and find solutions. For individuals, 6 Sigma represents the opportunity to climb positions within a business, have more career options, develop useful skills, and add value to their curriculums. This means the method is not only useful and relevant for companies but also for anyone that decides to learn about it and how it can be implemented.
If you consider yourself someone who needs it and wants to understand LSS or a company that is trying to integrate it into its processes, our team at Lean Six Sigma Experts of Michigan will help you in any circumstances. We will start by helping you answer what is 6 Sigma in a more specific way so you are able to determine how it is going to allow your company to grow or to boost your personal skills and professional life.
How Lean Six Sigma Is Structured
The methodology adapts and focuses on 2 process improvement methods separately: Lean & Six Sigma. Both methodologies have their own focus and principles, which makes the concepts of Lean Six Sigma lie on them in the first place. Lean is aimed to reduce or eliminate several types of wastes within processes and production while Six Sigma focuses on identifying problems, root causes, and find solutions to improve processes and performance.
Taking these two concepts and consider them as part of Lean 6 Sigma is just right, but this is only a small concept of the methodology. To understand it better, you must know the types of wastes you’re dealing with, the steps of Six Sigma, and how you can implement LSS in a company. When it comes to waste, there is an elimination of 8 types:
- Motion.
- Inventory.
- Overproduction.
- Non-utilized talent.
- Defects.
- Transportation.
- Inventory.
- Waiting.
With that said, Lean also provides 5 principles that need to be followed in order to achieve the desired results:
- Identify value.
- Map the value stream.
- Create flow.
- Establish pull.
- Seek perfection.
Finally, Six Sigma contributes with 5 more principles and a 5-step method that must be followed to eliminate variations and solve problems: DMAIC. The principles of Six Sigma are the ones that influence the most when it comes to considering them part of Lean Six Sigma. Therefore, you will notice an emphasis in them and pretty much adapt each one to the company’s needs:
- Work for the customers and their requirements.
- Find problems, their root causes, and focus on them.
- Remove all variations and bottlenecks.
- Improve employee involvement and communication.
- Flexibility and change.
And when it comes to DMAIC, each letter stands for one step: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
How Lean Six Sigma Works in A Company
Although the methodology establishes steps to follow just like with DMAIC, it is not that simple to use. A company needs to determine its needs and objectives even before starting to consider Six Sigma. In this way, there will be plenty of knowledge about the situation, how processes can start to improve when using the methodology, and the main objectives to achieve.
However, Lean Six Sigma works similarly for all companies. You need to focus on your customers’ requirements, identify the problems and waste in your processes, find solutions for them, and include a change and continuous improvement culture to guarantee future results and maintain the ones you have achieved so far with LSS.
When you are able to follow the previous steps and practices, consider the principles so far and actually focus on them, you will achieve many results with Sigma. Therefore, what we suggest companies and anyone interested in it is to think more about the results and goals that can be obtained when implementing the method:
- Customer satisfaction.
- Improve efficiency and qualify of processes.
- Find defects and eliminate them.
- Reduce all types of wastes.
- Provide valuable services and products.
- Measure processes and what needs to be improved.
- Automate repetitive processes and tasks.
- Improve communication between employees and team members.
Is Lean Six Sigma for Companies Only?
Its implementation and results are for companies only, but the benefits that come from it are not for organizations alone. Any person that decides to learn about Six Sigma can gain a lot from it since experts in the methodology are more than valuable for all companies. But being ‘valuable’ is not the only benefit.
Having a better salary, more career options and opportunities, add value to curriculums, and have better job positions are only a few of the benefits we can include. Therefore, we do not consider LSS to be for companies only but rather for everyone due to how much can be achieved with it on a personal or business level. If you are in Michigan and are interested in 6 Sigma for your company or personal growth, you can contact our team at Lean Six Sigma Experts of Michigan.
We have well-trained and experienced professionals who will provide you with training to learn about the methodology but also other services that adjust to your specific needs and goals.
There are so many areas or regions where we offer these services with most of them being cities.
However, if you need any of these services, you need to contact us. The list below comprises the areas where we offer these services.