ABSTRACT
Six Sigma has a project focus — defined efforts to solve a problem or make an improvement. Benefits are likely to be easily measured. Data‐based thinking will spread in the organization. A disadvantage is that it is doesn’t look at the entire supply chain for improvement opportunities. The authors note that some organizations distort the lean and Six Sigma methodologies, often combining them when they should be distinct. The authors, who were with the 3M Corporation, noted that an initial Six Sigma effort ran out of improvement projects. Adopting lean created new opportunities for improvement.
