Example Of Essay On Lean & Six Sigma

What is Lean and Six Sigma?

Lean manufacturing focuses on maximizing the value of the manufacturing process through reduction or complete elimination of waste that is produced during the manufacturing process. The lean manufacturing also takes into account the waste that is created through errors or an overload of the manufacturing process (Greenberg, 2002). Six sigma on the other hand is an approach that will help to reduce or eliminate defects. The main objective of Six Sigma is to focus on the improvement of the different processes involved in the manufacturing phase to reduce the variations that can occur during the production phase and can increase chances of error (Greenberg, 2002).

How do companies use Lean and Six Sigma philosophies to manage business and manufacturing process?

The implementation of Six Sigma in the business and manufacturing process is accomplished through DMAIC and DMADV which helps to improve the existing processes within the company that are operating on below average level and look for ways to improve the performance of these processes. The Six Sigma philosophy also helps to improve the system that helps in the development of new products or processes to meet the Six Sigma quality levels. The Lean philosophy is based upon the Kaizen approach that focuses on continuous improvement process. This philosophy implies that small but significant incremental changes should be implemented and must be sustained over a long period of time to achieve significant improvement (Soltero, 2002).

How does JIT enable this process management?

The concept behind Just-in-Time (JIT) is that the inventory should be available to a business at the right time when it is required. This will help in the elimination of waste and add value to the company processes. This will also lower the inventory management cost for the business which it will have to incur if it is overstocked in the warehouses. In order to implement the JIT system, the business needs to work efficiently with the stock schedule in order to lower the lean time and to manage the inventory well (Greenberg, 2002).

References

Greenberg, D. (2002) Just-In-Time Inventory System Proves Vulnerable to Labor Strife, Los Angeles Business Journal. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_40_24/ai_93009975
Soltero C (2002) Using Kaizen to reduce waste and to prevent pollution, Environmental Quality Management