Saranya Subramanian

Inorder to answer the question of this week. Let us first remind ourselves what lean and six sigma mean. Lean, as the name suggests, means to streamline processes so that there is minimal waste and cost in operations (efficiency). Six sigma on the other hand, aims at fulfilling all customer needs, delighting and sustaining a customer base in a highly competitive environment (effectiveness). Remember, the more efficient army effects it's own victory. This holds good for every business out in the market. Today with globalisation, market determines the price of a product and hence, the producer/service provider is left with lesser opportunity to gain profit margin through direct pricing. However, with the same technology which has enabled globalised market, there is more scope now than ever to reduce cost and thereby increase profit while still being competitive in the market. Hence the confluence of Lean with Six Sigma becomes essential and advantageous for competing organisations. While on the flip side, the only disadvantage of implementing Lean along with Six Sigma is that, it takes time and effort to initially align, mobilise and start governing people and such a streamlined process to attain effective implementation and control to excel in customer satisfaction and gain a good sustained profit margin.