TeamAssurance

    What is Lean e 6 Sigma?

    Short answer

    Lean e 6 Sigma means Lean and 6 Sigma, the name used in Italian and Portuguese for Lean Six Sigma. Lean removes waste and delay so work flows faster. 6 Sigma uses data to reduce variation so the output is consistently right. Used together, they make a process both quick and reliable.

    Last updated · TeamAssurance

    Key facts

    • The name: the "e" is the Italian and Portuguese word for "and", and "6" is the digit form of six. It is the same method as Lean Six Sigma.
    • Lean answers: where are we wasting time, effort and material?
    • 6 Sigma answers: why does the result vary, and what causes the defects?

    What is the difference between Lean and 6 Sigma?

    Lean6 Sigma
    Main targetWaste and delayVariation and defects
    Typical question"Why does this take so long?""Why is the result different each time?"
    Core methodValue stream mapping, 5S, SMED, flow and pullDMAIC projects, measurement, statistics
    Data neededTime, queues, stock, observationMeasured results over many cycles
    Who runs itEveryone, through daily kaizenTrained belts leading projects

    Lean comes from the Toyota Production System. 6 Sigma came from Motorola in the 1980s, where the name refers to a process capable of about 3.4 defects per million opportunities.

    Why are Lean and 6 Sigma used together?

    Each has a blind spot. Lean can speed a process up while quality drifts. 6 Sigma can make output consistent while the lead time stays in queues. Together, lean clears the waiting and rework, and 6 Sigma removes the causes of variation that are left.

    Which should you start with?

    1. Slow but stable quality: start with lean. Map the flow and remove the waiting and handoffs.
    2. Fast but scrap or complaints: start with 6 Sigma. Measure the defect, find the cause and test the fix.
    3. Both are a problem: lean first, because a simpler, steadier process is far easier to measure.
    4. Not sure: collect a week of simple data. If the times are consistently long, it is a lean problem; if they swing widely, it is a variation problem.

    For belt levels, training and the full tool list, see what is Lean Six Sigma and what are Six Sigma tools.

    Example

    A site shipped orders in an average of four days, but some took ten. Value stream mapping showed orders waiting in a queue for sign-off, which lean removed by changing who could approve. The ten-day orders were still there, so a small project measured them and found most came from one product family with a missing label step. The fix went into standard work and the lead time measure went on the board.

    How TeamAssurance helps

    In TeamAssurance, both halves sit in one place. Everyday lean improvements are raised as kaizen ideas and actions from the tier meetings, and larger Six Sigma projects that follow the DMAIC steps are raised from measures that stay red on the tier board. Owners, due dates and the link to the goal are tracked for each, and the control step ends in updated standard work and checklists.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What does the e mean in Lean e 6 Sigma?

    It is the Italian and Portuguese word for "and", so Lean e 6 Sigma reads as Lean and 6 Sigma. It is the same approach that English speakers call Lean Six Sigma.

    Is Lean the same as Six Sigma?

    No. Lean removes waste and delay to speed up flow. Six Sigma reduces variation and defects using data. They are different methods that work well together.

    Is Lean 6 Sigma only for manufacturing?

    No. It started in manufacturing, but the ideas of waste, flow, variation and defects apply to any process, including healthcare, logistics, offices and services.

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