Six sigma and lean manufacturing both are the toolkits that are helpful to reduce the waste involved in business processes. With the help of six sigma and lean manufacturing, the clients can save a lot of capital as well as time. There are three types of wastes in any Business process that can be removed by lean manufacturing:
1. non-value-added work known as “muda”
2. overburden known as “muri”
3. unevenness known as “mura”
Lean Manufacturing is the first step to reduce the cost and increase the turnover by reliably and systematically wiping out functions that do not add values in any business process. Basically lean manufacturing helps any production unit to achieve projected ratio of production by acquainting techniques that are simple and user friendly. On the other hand Six Sigma is also a method that is designed to bring improvement in any business or manufacturing process. Six Sigma is a quality measure and betterment technique. By reducing the waste, the quality of process and production can be bettered and the cost can also be reduced.
Difference: Below given are the points that will differentiate the six sigma and lean manufacturing.
• Lean works on five principles while Six-sigma has a DMAIC model.
• To assure the reliability and in-time delivery lean applies a total productive maintenance technique while Six Sigma employs project methodology to check the defective process.
• A cross function team with black belt has to support Six sigma operations while a small team operation is enough for Lean Manufacturing process.
• The process mapping is used in Six Sigma Porter’S Five Forces Example Starbucks while Lean has to follow value flow.
• The Six Sigma strategy follows a specific designed strategy while lean involves a strategy known as Kanban.
• Lean manufacturing utilizes SMED process to ensure fast turnaround time, on the other hand Six Sigma follows advice of Master Black Belt.
Now we will explore the advantages of both Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma:
Advantages of Lean Manufacturing:
• Impressively reduces the waste chain processes.
• Reduces the requirement of inventory.
• Generates more strong and powerful production system.
• Formulates befitting systems for material delivery.
• Enriches more flexible layouts.
Advantages of Six Sigma:
• Can reduce the 50 % of cost as well as the waste chain processes.
• Perfect analysis of client requirements.
• Brings betterment in delivery and quality operation.
• Better understanding of changing requirements of client.
• Generates more strong and powerful production system.
• Generates rapid development in the processes with the help of domestic resources.
Which is Better?:
Irrespective of choosing any out of the two techniques, Lean Manufacturing can provide the good results. The fact is that without Six Sigma the potential development and improvement operations in any business unit will always be limited. Both the technology single handed will not be able to give 100 % quality checks or process improvements and reduction in wastes.
The important point here is that if both the techniques are blend well together and utilized the results will really amaze anyone easily. Both have Ipi Meaning In Finance their own limitations and expertise that are necessary. So it solely depends on the type of business problem which technique should be applied for.
