Amarillo Residents - Learn Lean Six Sigma’s History Here
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Lean Six Sigma has been around for decades in the manufacturing industry. It has been recently applied or used in other industries as people see it fit, depending on how those specialized in it handle its implementation. It works because of the structured method that it offers, which allows organizations to achieve tangible results with the goal of continuous improvement. Lean Six Sigma Curriculum for Amarillo High School Students of Texas are experts in it, and we make sure to inculcate the methodology to those who want and need it.
But before we are able to offer training and certification, we highly recommend learning more about it and its history, so you make a well-informed decision about whether this is what you need or not.
Starting here, this methodology was created to help companies focus on customers’ priorities and keep processes clean and efficient while implementing those priorities in them. The methodology should also help reduce costs and eliminate waste when done right. The goal is to ensure that performance and quality are at the top in the end.
In addition to the above goals, this approach increases customer satisfaction and reduces lead times. It also utilizes existing knowledge and experiences from those involved in the process.
Lean Six Sigma improves quality and processes. This is easy because it uses two methods that originated from two separate methodologies:
- Lean aims at increasing flow and creating value.
- Six Sigma is dedicated to stable and efficient processes.
LSS was then created based on those two in order to answer the problem with the Japanese methods, one of them being the Kaizen methodology, and how they were boosting the results obtained by companies in production, manufacturing, and performance. Ultimately, they could focus on customer satisfaction, and the USA industries were falling behind in results.
Lean Six Sigma Principles & Origins
Understanding Six Sigma logic and its founding principles are essential before implementing Lean Six Sigma. Many techniques can be used to support your efforts as the method has come a long way.
Considering that LSS is an answer for Japanese manufacturing, many of the methods used in this country influenced its inception as well; this includes some like:
- Kanban method of workflow management. You can increase your efficiency and productivity by visualizing and restricting the work to a time frame.
- Kaizen will move towards a culture of self-development and continuous improvement, and Kaizen is one reason why LSS in America is necessary to be competitive with the Japanese market.
- Value stream mapping for optimizing your process delivery;
- Five steps to optimize your work with the 5S model
With this set and clear, it allows us to focus on the history of the two methodologies that originated LSS: Lean and Six Sigma.
What Are Lean & Six Sigma?
For starters, both methodologies have been around for decades as well, and in the case of Lean, it even appeared before Six Sigma itself. In this case, Toyota invented Lean for manufacturing in the late 1940s to reduce non-value-adding activities.
The core values of Lean management include:
- Your customers’ perspective is your guide.
- Reduce any work-related waste.
- Continue to improve.
This concept suggests that individuals should be involved in organizational change to foster a culture of excellence. Continuous learning and improvement are the two main pillars that Lean keeps and follow to ensure everyone is satisfied.
As previously mentioned, Toyota Production Systems (TPS) is the source of Lean’s foundations. Japanese Taiichi Ohno was its founder, while Lean was founded on Henry Ford’s innovations and Business Process Redesign.
To have a closer look at its ideals and principles:
- Lean starts with the determination of the customer’s added value.
- Value stream ad how processes can be mapped.
- This will enable you to identify wastes and increase your flow. Data is collected and shared with other people to expose the waste. This is the first step in improving the process.
- Next, Lean focuses on setting it up so that the process starts when the customer asks it and delivers when it is needed.
- Employees will be able to identify areas that need improvement and work together to improve them. This allows for process-wide thought, and everyone is focused on meeting the customer’s expectations smart, efficient, and effective.
As for Six Sigma, it is more data-driven. Motorola developed the method, and General Electric has successfully used it. Six Sigma is a process improvement method that dates back to 1980, and these companies utilized it mostly to identify and reduce variability in manufacturing processes.
The structure of Six Sigma focuses on the DMAIC option: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. It can be implemented in manufacturing, but many industries also find it useful for their automated processes and procedures.
Lean Six Sigma Today: How It Ended Up in the USA
The methodology was created to help American manufacturers compete against Japanese companies, which means it originated in this country by combining both previous methodologies.
It proved to be a valuable addition to the industry, as it improved processes, eliminated waste, and allowed for growth without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
The USA uses Lean Six Sigma is more than just manufacturing. Instead, it shows how healthcare, education, as well as other industries can reap the benefits of Lean Six Sigma’s inculcation, implementation, and application.
Schools and educational institutions can, for example, create better systems that teach students more effectively and automate other processes. Students can also learn LSS, which will help them have better job opportunities and career prospects.
There are a lot of benefits around it, and it can help you boost personal and professional opportunities. For more information or if you are interested in learning, feel free to contact Lean Six Sigma Curriculum Pros of Amarillo for it!