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Going over the Lean Six Sigma History can be tough as many believe it started in Japan. Although this isn’t entirely wrong, it is not like it originated there. Instead, it is more about having an influence. At Lean Six Sigma Curriculum for Memphis High School Students of Tennessee, we ensure every individual or company trying to access our services and training understands the methodology and works around it by knowing every detail of its history.
First, you must know that this methodology was created to help companies prioritize customers, ensure efficient processes, and increase earnings. For this, it took principles and structures from two main methodologies: Lean and Six Sigma (the name of the main one we discuss today).
If done right, the methodology can help reduce costs and eliminate waste since these are the main focus as well. It is crucial to ensure that quality and performance are always top of mind in the process.
Now, it is more than a combination. Lean Six Sigma improves quality and process, and although it comes from the previous two methods, it integrates more needs and goals based on what a company needs.
The reason many believe LSS comes from Japan is because of how the Kaizen methodology and others coming from this country improved Japan’s industries and, especially, manufacturing by reducing costs, thinking about the customer, and guaranteeing waste reduction, which boosted production, manufacturing, and performance all at once.
Lean & Six Sigma Origins
Both Six Sigma and Lean have been around for decades. Lean was actually invented long before Six Sigma by Toyota around the 40s to reduce non-value-adding activities.
Lean’s main idea is that employees should be actively involved in organizational change to foster excellence. Lean believes continuous learning and improvement are the two most important pillars for ensuring everyone is happy and gets the desired results while maximizing all resources.
As we have already mentioned, Lean’s foundations came from Toyota Production Systems (TPS), which was founded by Japanese Taiichi Ohno. Lean was created using Henry Ford’s innovations and Business Process Redesign in specific.
Based on the previous information, this is what the methodology follows:
- Lean starts with determining the customer’s added value and how to satisfy them.
- Map both the value stream as well as how processes take place.
- This enables you to increase and identify your waste flow. Data is collected to expose waste and then shared. This is the first step in improving the process.
- Next, Lean refers to setting up the system so customers can request it and it delivers it when they need it.
- Employees will be able to identify areas that need improvement and work together to improve them. This allows for process-wide thinking. Everyone is focused on the customer’s needs efficiently and effectively.
While Lean follows all of the above, Six Sigma is more data-driven. The method was developed by Motorola and was successfully used by General Electric in the 80s.
Six Sigma’s structure centers around the DMAIC option. Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. This is useful for manufacturing but also in other industries to automate their processes and ensure waste reduction along with improving cycles and processes.
Lean Six Sigma Taking Over the USA
This method was created to enable American companies to compete against Japanese manufacturers. It’s a mixture of both existing methods, and, as you can guess, it began in the U.S.A before any other country.
The industry gained valuable insight and efficiency through this addition. This allowed growth without compromising customer service, and instead of being a simple combination, it allowed us to get the best of both worlds while still adding new values.
Lean Six Sigma wasn’t just for manufacturing, even when it started in it. Today, it is used in education, healthcare, and finances to automate and get the best in less time.
Schools and educational institutions can develop systems that are more efficient and easier to use. Students can learn LSS, which will improve their career and job prospects.
You can reap many benefits, and it can help you increase your professional and personal chances. If you are interested in learning more and getting involved, contact Lean Six Sigma Curriculum Pros of Memphis for more information.
We would love to help you include this methodology in your curriculum and add more value to it, which will enable you to have a career advantage in any job application as companies and even colleges value practitioners and the methodology itself.