Lean Six Sigma in small and medium enterprises: a methodological approach

Abstract

Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing are quality improvement and productivity approaches which have been implemented with great success in large global companies in the field of manufacturing and services. But now researchers and experts in the field have found that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have difficulties in implementing such approaches. For this reason, this paper aims to develop a methodology for the implementation of an integrated approach, commonly called Lean Six Sigma (LSS), which is adapted to the needs and characteristics of SMEs. The methodology consists of four phases: the first phase establishes the key factors in which SMEs must be prepared to implement LSS, secondly the identification of improvement areas and definition of a project portfolio is set; as third phase, prioritized projects are executed, and finally, the results are evaluated. The methodology was validated in a SME dedicated to the manufacture of wooden furniture, where the execution of the first two LSS projects provided important savings in poor quality costs, reduction of product returns in addition to achieving the implementation of best practices in the process management.

Six Sigma y Manufactura Esbelta son enfoques de mejora de la calidad y productividad que han sido implementados con gran éxito en grandes empresas a nivel mundial, en el ámbito de la manufactura y los servicios. Pero en la actualidad investigadores y expertos en el tema han encontrado hallazgos que evidencian dificultades en la implementación de este tipo de enfoques en pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES). Por esta razón, el presente artículo propone una metodología para la implementación de un enfoque integrado, comúnmente llamado Lean Six Sigma (LSS), el que se adapta a las necesidades y características de las PYMES.