ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors strive to resolve the contradiction and prove that these two approaches are synergistic with one another. They discuss Lean philosophy and some of its models, such as Six Sigma, the Defining–Measurement–Analysis–Improvement–Management (DMAIC) and the Kaizen methodologies. Lean manufacturing (LM) aims at eliminating the value stream and reducing process variations, resulting in better quality and productivity and meeting customers' expectations. The PDCA methodology aims to improve the overall performance of the organisation, meet customer requirements, manage risks and opportunities and build a stable basis for meeting its own goals and those of sustainable development. The Six Sigma methodology is based on the principle of improving business processes by reducing their variability. The basis for achieving the stability of processes is to reduce the number of defects of the products and deviations from the required value of the product's monitored parameter.
