KAIZEN vs LEAN vs SIX SIGMA
Quality management is done to ensure up mark quality of a product or a service, a business is dealing in. To ensure that quality various techniques were developed by “Quality Gurus” like Six Sigma, Kaizen, Lean, 5C’s and so on. These techniques help in achieving the goal of maximum quality of a concerned product or a service with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Throughout the years, the terms Kaizen, Lean and Six Sigma have lost their individual definitions. These terms are being used reciprocally without knowing the genuine significance or usage of these words. What majority individuals neglect to acknowledge is that every idea/device is utilized to take care of particular issues rather being common solution to each issue. Knowing a methodology doesn’t mean you should use it in anything.
Kaizen is a Japanese word which means “continuous improvement” or “change for better”. It is a journey and not a goal, it is an outlook instead of being a particular tool. It is a culture that has to be changed and embraced by the associations. It utilizes individual imagination and inventiveness to recognize issues and after that create and execute solutions to take care of those issues. KAIZEN says that everything can be improved and everything can be performed better or all the more effectively. It helps to identify 3 MU’s — Muda (wastes), Mura (variation/ inconsistency) and Muri (strain/ burden on people & machines).
Kaizen suggests continuous improvement on the basis of some principles like good processes lead to good results, team work, data speaks clearer etc. The prominent feature of Kaizen says that a big change is brought by multiple smaller changes.
Lean basically suggests removal of wastes which is also referred as “MUDA” in Japanese. Those all operations are failure and called wastes which are not able to produce value for the end customer. A lean organisation comprehends value for customer and centers its key procedures to constantly expand it. A definitive objective is to give ideal incentive to the customer through an ideal value creation process that has zero waste. To achieve this, lean reasoning changes the focal point of the management from streamlining separate innovations, resources, and vertical departments to enhancing the progression of products and services.
On the other hand, Six sigma is set of rules and techniques which help to remove defects and variations and is therefore referred as “MURA” in Japanese business processes. It consists of two methodologies which are: DMAIC and DMADV. DMAIC refers to Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control, whereas, DMADV refers to Define, Measure, Analyse, Design and Verify. This technique is being used across industries whether it is manufacturing, construction or even healthcare. Initially, it was originated by keeping only manufacturing sector in mind.
The most important fact is that one should not be limited to only one methodology and it is important to be flexible and creative. One should be thorough with these methodologies and alter it and apply it in the manner that fits the situation best. The ultimate message is that one should not waste the resources or time and the final goal is business excellence and operational excellence.
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