Quality Digest

Original posting: Hi...Just began researching those 2 topics a few weeks ago and I have several questions I hope you can help me with:
1. I read a lot about Lean & 6-Sigma working hand in hand, yet I do not see any Lean/6-Sigma Certification offered...just one or the other. Is there such a certification?
2. They seem very alike....How would you summarize the difference(s) between the two?
Thanks Much!

Response:

Most Six Sigma certifications now address both Six Sigma and Lean tools.

Lean focuses on the reduction of waste across the value stream. 7 Wastes often stated within lean are: Overproduction, Transportation
Inventory, Waiting, Motion, Defects, and Over Processing.

I have found it to be very beneficial to use high-level statistical based measures to describe operational and functional hand-off metrics at the 30,000-foot-level. These metrics typically have subgroupings of day, week, or month.

If the 30,000-foot-level metrics need improvement then these metrics "pull" for the creation of a Six Sigma/Lean project. The metric type then pulls for the use of the most appropriate tool whether this is lean or Six Sigma. Note, this is one of the reason that I do not force the defining a defect for every Six Sigma project; i.e., what is a defect for WIP (you want to reduce overprocessing inventory)

Hope this helps. My contact information is below if you would like to discuss further.

Forrest Breyfogle
512-996-8288
forrest@smartersolutions.com
www.smartersolutions.com