The Intricacies of Six Sigma and Kaizen
Six Sigma combined with Kaizen is not a methodology as much as it a belief system. It recognizes that while a certain way of doing things may be good enough for today’s standards, it does not mean it will be good for the future. Methods of business operation are constantly changing due to the constant changes of the needs of consumers and other businesses. There is always room for improvement is the underlying theme with Kaizen.
Six Sigma methodology is typically wider in scope and largely driven by statistics. The “Lean Six” that is widely seen these days is usually an adaptation that includes lean waste elimination. What you need to remember is that Kaizen and Six Sigma are different and that they have distinctly different purposes.
One method that you read and hear about is the Kaizen Event which basically is a group that participates in a continual event that focuses on improvement. These events usually last 3 to 5 days and are made up of a cross section of a company’s staff. The number of people participating should be limited to 7 or 8, as too many will just complicate the experience.
The tools that are used here can consist of data collection, brainstorming, and spaghetti charts. There is nothing very complicated about this as it aims for a quick solution to an issue before it becomes a problem. These quick fixes are designed for long term implementation until the time comes that they need to be improved upon more for the sake of staying current.
Kaizen targets reductions in activities that do not add value to a company. Given enough time, every company in business will find these types of things. Six Sigma, on the other hand, emphasizes variation reduction for the purpose of streamlining the entire process. It may be difficult to determine where to start here, but it is suggested that you start with the reduction of variances.
Remember also that Kaizen is more of a philosophy while Six Sigma is a toolbox of measuring systems and techniques. The difference here would be the kind of problem being addressed and what the possible solutions might be. While the former is more hands on in nature, the latter is more technical and where they meet in the middle is in the fixing of mistakes.
They complement each other and choosing one does not mean the elimination of the other. One cannot do what the other does, but one cannot do its job without the other. If given a choice, you should start with the hands on approach and then work everything into the technicalities. By training in both, you will run into people who have experienced the “Lean Six Sigma” hybrid. If you choose to go this route you will be doing yourself a favor. Both programs have been proven to be very successful tools for many individuals and companies. When you get this down to a science, you will be better equipped to handle most any situation that comes your way; either with your Six Sigma brain or your Kaizen brain.
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