As the entire world is turning into a competitive space, almost every company and organization is starting to implement different methodologies for overall management development. Many training programs are available to improve existing processes in organizations globally. Six Sigma and Kaizen are such programs that focus on real-life scenarios that cause consistent improvement in various sectors of business models.
Six Sigma has been proved as a prominent approach to deal with product variations and defects. Six Sigma mainly relies on statistical analysis to drive results for the customers. It aims at eliminating waste and creating an error-free business model.
On the other hand, Kaizen goes beyond just tools and data acquisition. “Kaizen” refers to Japanese terminology, which means constant change is better for exponential growth. Kaizen solely doesn’t depend on statistics, and it helps people see the variations in the corporation, and the loopholes are understood while being in the same situation. Collaboration and cooperativeness are highly encouraged, and it makes the team more goal-oriented, which in turn makes the organization more sustainable. In this article on Six Sigma vs Kaizen, let us check out the key differences between these two approaches.
Five Six Sigma Principle
Each of the following Six Sigma principles has been executed in many organizations to improve the quality of products and services continuously.
Methods to Simplify and Eliminate Waste
One has to identify any discrepancies or redundancies occurring in their revenue streams. If one could replace larger parts of their products with smaller parts without compromising quality, then that right there is the first step towards waste reduction. Things that do not add value to the customer are meant to be cut off; otherwise, they suck straight cash from all the value streams. In Six Sigma, the waste reduction takes place in eight stages. It can be in the form of transportation, and it can also occur with overproduction.
Customer Focus Rules
Six Sigma tries to create a unique bond with customers that is long-lasting. With customers labeled as top-priority, the overall performance changes, and the main objective will become to solve all their problems. This particular principle in Six Sigma has shown tremendous results in defect identification and boosting up of product quality.
Shooting down complications with facts
Facts and information rule all other philosophies when it comes to practical implementation. One should always run by numbers and not intuition. When people approach any problem or complication in business with facts, it automatically becomes a workable solution. Along with statistical data, one can use control charts to verify or measure a waste reduction.
Prepare Your Team
Rapid growth occurs with proper team management. Teams should be trained prior to any project. This makes them ready to think factually and not take any rational decision. Teams should be prepared to explore different sections of value streams. With the accumulation of everyone’s ideas, it is easier to identify problems that no one thought about before. Each member can contribute their expertise to narrowing down the waste management processes.
Consistent Market Observation
Before stepping into any Six Sigma project, one has to monitor the markets vigorously. They have to develop a tentative explanation to mark their consistent observations. This is a better approach than using predictions for business development. One can use multiple variables to understand the uncertainties, and they can come up with a solution based on deep root analysis.
Primary elements of Kaizen
Kaizen uses four main principles to evolve people’s way of thinking towards their business models. They revolve around participation, encouragement, and quality level improvement.
Teamwork
The perfect goal is always attained with the ideal team. The partnership builds trust and compassion for all the team members. A sense of responsibility is enlightened for each one to come up with innovative ideas. Communication is also one aspect that requires effort from the team. Everyone in the group should be excited when others share their customs and values. It is a matter of respect and individual preference for many people.
Quality Circles
Every Kaizen workshop involves teams working on quality control. A small group or circle is formed to provide suggestions and corrections in the project implementation plans. As employees form these, they tend to have more power and feel more inclined towards their duties. Quality circles create breakouts for employees to grab opportunities that make them active in the company, and they also prove their caliber in solving critical problems.
Five S Framework
The “Five S” framework is deployed for enhancing the existing work culture. It creates a system with rules and regulations that lead to a healthy relationship between employees and management. In Kaizen, this principle focuses on increasing customer as well as employee satisfaction. All of this is done in small steps, but there has always been a change for betterment. Self-discipline is a major fundamental in this framework. Work procedures and respect towards the organization’s policies tend to have a significant impact on their discipline and work ethic.
Suggestions for improvement
Kaizen aims at using suggestions given by every member, and their ideas are more valued than any other technical tool. The designation doesn’t determine any value in this case. Each individual has the right and duty to contribute to his or her company to make small but noticeable improvements. Change is good, and its volume doesn’t hold much value in Kaizen. It’s the involvement and contribution that matters the most.
Six Sigma vs Kaizen: Differences
Both programs hold great value in solving problems, but the approach taken differs largely. The main difference between Six Sigma and Kaizen is that Six Sigma uses technical data that are oriented to solve product deviations. In contrast, Kaizen focuses on making work environments better, which has a positive impact on overall performance. Six Sigma uses statistics for corrections, and Kaizen uses emotions to solve employees’ problems.
Kaizen’s methodology improves the company as a whole, and it believes relying solely on charts is not going to be enough in the long term. Six Sigma follows different philosophies that direct toward measurable targets. In the case of Kaizen, their primary focus has never been to hit this many targets in the first month or year. But they always try to concentrate on areas where one can make themselves better. Kaizen’s main objective is to make the individual’s life more refined and perfect.
Six Sigma is more leaned towards standardization, and Kaizen believes in the organization. With organizational processes, Kaizen hopes in widening their scope for improvement. Six Sigma’s unification makes the process target specific, which only increases a particular component of the whole product.
Nonetheless, both Six Sigma and Kaizen are outstanding concepts that help save a lot of time and money. Moving ahead with this article on Six Sigma vs Kaizen, let us discuss if these two approaches can co-exist.
Are they Contradictory Or Complimentary when they Co-exist?
If any organization adopts a hybrid system of Six Sigma and Kaizen, then they are set to make breakthroughs in the business that reveal non-existent problems, and in no time, they will provide accurate solutions.
When both of them co-exist, there is a high chance of reaching that peak performance. Kaizen constantly looks for effective changes to be made in the business model. With Six Sigma taking care of the target audience, it creates perfect and optimum conditions for exponential growth. They are complementary in many ways. This multi-training system puts management in a better competitive and financial position. The statistics and analytics is taken care of by the Six Sigma team and the promotion of work culture is entirely dependent on Kaizen.
Kaizen helps employees from making poor decisions while managing different Six Sigma projects. A combined system with strict protocols and innovative ideas makes the business model more prominent. It can become contradictory when either of them is incorrectly executed. The balance between both Six Sigma and Kaizen is essential for it to be sustainable.
Six Sigma vs Kaizen: What is the Conclusion?
The two methods work great on their own, but to crack more growth and revenue, it is better to create a hybrid system. When they work independently, the results will differ.
Six Sigma with Lean alone corrects mistakes and tries to make it more product-centric. Kaizen has different plans that concentrate on individual performance and improvement. Both increase a company’s productivity, but one requires more resources, and the other needs none. Both Six Sigma and Kaizen belong to a family of popular quality management certification courses. Workforce with a combined knowledge of Six Sigma and Kaizen can create greater value than ever before.
If one aims for creating a generation of management, then Kaizen can help in many ways; one of them is the innovative participation of employees. The confidence has seen to develop with various Kaizen’s activities. Six Sigma can be more immediate, but Kaizen is more sustainable. The front end aiding can be done with the help of Six Sigma, and the core principle can be brought to light with Kaizen. Hope this article on Six Sigma vs Kaizen, broadened your view on these approaches.
Some of the popular quality management certification courses that individuals and enterprise teams can take up are:
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Online
