Productivity improvement is an important goal for any organization, and there are numerous options available for achieving it. But which of the following nets the largest productivity improvement? This article will compare and contrast four of the most popular productivity improvement initiatives: Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Total Quality Management (TQM).
Lean
Lean is a system of strategies, tools, and techniques that are used to eliminate waste and reduce costs. It is focused on streamlining processes and improving efficiency by eliminating non-value-added activities. Lean focuses on reducing the time and cost associated with activities that do not add value to the customer.Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a set of methods and tools used to identify and eliminate defects in processes and products. It is focused on achieving consistent and predictable results by improving the quality of processes and products. It is based on the concept of variation reduction and uses statistical methods to reduce variation in processes.Kaizen
Kaizen is a system of continuous improvement. It is based on the idea that incremental improvements can lead to significant improvements over time. Kaizen focuses on improving processes and products through small, incremental changes. It is focused on eliminating waste and increasing efficiency.Total Quality Management (TQM)
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a system of strategies, tools, and techniques used to improve the quality of processes and products. It is focused on improving the quality of processes and products by reducing variation, eliminating waste, and increasing efficiency. TQM is based on the idea that quality is an ongoing process and should be improved over time.Comparison
| Initiative | Focus | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Lean | Eliminate waste and reduce costs | Reduce time and cost associated with non-value-added activities |
| Six Sigma | Reduce variation and improve quality | Achieve consistent and predictable results |
| Kaizen | Continuous improvement | Eliminate waste and increase efficiency |
| TQM | Improve quality | Reduce variation, eliminate waste, and increase efficiency |