TABLE OF CONTENTS Lean and Six Sigma are designed to be comprehensive programs. Embedded within the two initiatives are pervasive philosophical principles, values, models, and tools. This creates a challenge when trying to describe what Lean and Six Sigma have to offer when combined. As well, it can make training and implementation challenging because employees may get confused between theory and practical next steps. This is especially true in logistics, given its hands-on focus on operations. Consequently, it is important for the logistician to understand Lean and Six Sigma beyond theory, from a practical point of view. In order to be effective, the logistician must be armed not only with theory, but also practical knowledge and tools that will lend directly to improved operational effectiveness and reduced costs.
Many training courses and books will attempt to separate the Lean tools from the Six Sigma tools. For example, one may argue that voice of the customer is a Six Sigma tool, whereas value stream mapping is a Lean tool. Although the tools' origins may be traced to one camp or the other, the logistician simply needs to know what tools are available and when they are best applied. For that reason, we have interspersed the tools commonly associated with Lean and Six Sigma across four categories: (1) strategy...
