Question

Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and TOC each have distinct different focuses or “main thrusts”. List the main focus for each of the three. (To answer this question, list each methodology followed by its main focus. There are a few KEY words for each the three. These KEY words are unique to that specific system. These focuses can be one or two word phrases, or, at most a bullet statement.

Answer 1

Six Sigma is more about quality from the perspective of the customer. The main focus of this concept is reducing defects. Mathematically, this concept can be said as 3.4 defects per million. To achieve this status of quality, there various steps like analysing errors through root cause analysis or other quality defect evaluative tools and then rectifying those errors and ultimately fool proofing it if possible through poka yoke.

Lean Manufacturing is largely to do about reducing wastes. Since wastes adds to inefficiency and under productivity, lean manufacturing strives to cut down on the waste. To do this, it adopts techniques like 5S, Kaizen and Kanban.

TOC focusses on streamlining the flow of production and improving the productivity by concentrating and rectifying on areas that have the maximum impact on the productivity. TOC mention that there is a goal to the production and that there are bottle necks to a manufacturing line. To improve productivity, focus has to put on the bottlenecks.