Lean Six Sigma For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 2

Understanding the Principles of Lean Six Sigma

IN THIS CHAPTER

Merging Lean and Six Sigma to make Lean Six Sigma

Undertaking DMAIC to make things better

Reviewing what you do in order to do it better

In this chapter we look at the synergy produced by combining the approaches of Lean and Six Sigma to form Lean Six Sigma — along with the best of the approaches outlined in Chapter 1. The merged approach provides a comprehensive set of principles, and supporting tools and techniques, to enable genuine improvements in both efficiency and effectiveness for organizations.

Considering the Key Principles of Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma takes the features of Lean and of Six Sigma and integrates them to form a magnificent seven set of principles. The principles of each approach aren’t dissimilar (check out Chapter 1 to read more about the individual components), and the merged set produces no surprises. The seven principles of Lean Six Sigma are described in the following sections.

Focus on the customer

The elements of your service or offering that customers consider most important are known as CTQs (Critical to Quality requirements) in Lean Six Sigma. (See Chapter 4 for more ...