Don’t let fads like Agile and Six Sigma hijack true Lean thinking

Exposing mis-understandings, mis-applications and mis-appropriations

Lean is an established methodology that has brought transformative operational improvements in many industries. Lean has its roots in Toyota Production System (TPS). A huge credit goes to various authors who have distilled the essence of TPS into Lean concepts which are universal in application, and understandability.

While Lean tools, concepts and principles are presented in simple sounding terms, they are much more nuanced. They may be easy to understand, but are difficult to master. Being (seemingly) easy to understand brings a downside. Terms like flow, value etc., seem easy to understand but can also be used superficially or insincerely.

As a Lean enthusiast, it’s galling to see Lean concepts being hijacked by fads or sabotaged by inaccurate understanding.

In this post, I expose such hijackers and saboteurs, in the interest of encouraging a deeper appreciation of Lean.

Photo by Sergiu Nista on Unsplash

Hijackers

Six Sigma

Let us start with the biggest hijack of Lean till now — Six Sigma or “Lean” Six Sigma as it’s often called / sold as. Six Sigma is a scam that “uses” Lean to feign…