Methodology
Lean vs Six Sigma
Two improvement disciplines often combined: one attacks waste, the other attacks variation.
| Lean | Six Sigma | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Eliminate waste, improve flow | Reduce variation and defects |
| Method | Value stream, flow, pull | DMAIC, statistical analysis |
| Speed vs quality | Speed and efficiency | Consistency and quality |
| Data intensity | Moderate | High (statistical) |
| Best for | Streamlining processes | High-precision quality |
The verdict
They are complementary — Lean Six Sigma uses Lean to remove waste and Six Sigma to cut variation, improving speed and quality together.