Save Your Steps
How One Organization Increased Productivity and Improved Efficiency Using Lean and Six Sigma
- Publication:
- Six Sigma Forum Magazine
- Date:
- May 2013
- Issue:
- Volume 12 Issue 3
- Pages:
- pp. 20-24
- Author(s):
- Waite, Patrick J.;
- Organization(s):
- The Linde Group, Munich, Germany
Abstract
Linde Group, a gases and engineering organization, conducted process makeovers at several North American facilities to improve process efficiency. The lean Six Sigma projects were the result of a program to find processes where the addition of lean principles to Six Sigma could make a real difference. Goals for the targeted sites were aggressive, including the elimination of nonvalue-added activities and unused products, strict stock controls and training of site personnel to effect and maintain the changes. On-site teams included both external experts and local staff and management. Even before the exact changes to be made were determined, efforts began to prepare site personnel for the changes. Processes were also standardized to improve the ability of workers to move from one site to another. The improvements increased productivity by an average of 20 percent and reduced production costs by an average of 13 percent.