Lean & Six Sigma
April 9, 2012
I attempt on this blog to expand on the potential of combining lean and six sigma methodologies. I do this in part for the readers, but also for myself, someone that is new to both methodologies and how they interact. The following is a link to an article put out by TBM Consulting Group, Inc. that explores that interaction.
http://www.tbmcg.com/acrobat/press_public/QP_-_Lean_and_Six_Sigma_-_One_Two_Punch.pdf
Vacation Time!
March 2, 2012
I want to explore the application of LSS in the hospitality industry for a couple of reasons.
1) The majority of my work experience has been in the hospitality industry. I worked for a couple of years as a front desk associate at a ski lodge in Crested Butte, CO.
2) I’m about to go on vacation in Crested Butte, which I am very excited about.
Here’s the study I found out of UNLV, how appropriate.
http://digitalcommons.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2151&context=thesesdissertations
This is a great look at the challenges faced by these companies hoping to implement LSS. From my point of view, I would be afraid of misguided lean minded employees sacrificing customer service in the name of lean. This does not have to be the case. LSS has the ability to improve the behind the scenes activities. This would limit employee frustration, and hopefully lead to better employee/guest interaction. A guest can always sniff out an unsatisfied employee, even if that employee is doing all they can to hide their dissatisfaction.
I was fortunate to work at a lodge that had great management, and we were selling a great product. The employees loved where we lived, and were proud of the amenities we provided. Guest’s commented on this apparent good will often in surveys. This is my big point, I believe the greatest benefit LSS can have for the hospitality industry is the engagement of their employees. Too often, hospitality employees view themselves has doormats both for the guests and management. They grin and bear because oftentimes they are doing for the ability to live in a resort town. However, if these employees could be empowered, and given the tools to manage their own work environment and have a real voice, their improved morale will be seen by the guests. This leads to happy guests, which leads to return guests, which are a resort’s best friend.
LSS & Government, is it the cure all?
February 15, 2012
To piggy back on the previous post, here’s a link to an article discussing the challenges to implementing LSS in government.
The two big takeaways in this article are…
- LSS is not the sole answer to the government’s financial woes
- Use the right tool for the right challenge
It would be foolish to say there is one silver bullet to the problem of reducing government waste because of the multitude of variables in government and sheer size of it. However, LSS can provide real savings to government agencies while improving their service to us, the taxpayers. The current deficit is really the first time in a while there has been real financial incentive for government to improve. In the past, government performance was irrelevant, everyone was still getting paid. However, budget cuts and reduced revenue are forcing agencies to justify their existence and trim their budgets. LSS can assist in these kinds of changes, but it needs to be coupled with intelligent policy making and leadership that supports this kind of thinking.
I also like the idea of using the right tool for the right challenge. This idea is taught in LSS itself, it should also be utilized in it’s implementation. While I think LSS can benefit all areas of government, the method for doing this is going to be different depending on what service that part of government provides. Here are two examples of government that are feeling the majority of the budget crunch.
Medicare/Medicaid – The healthcare industry as a whole is relatively new to LSS. It would benefit government leaders to work closely with industry leaders so that they may learn from each other and ensure their policy changes are in sync with each other. Just as Medicare/Medicaid, has offered financial incentives for providers who go electronic, the same could be done for providers who effectively implement LSS whilst working closely with government officials.
Defense – LSS requires leadership support, and in a leader driven sector such as defense their support would be crucial. It would benefit middle management leaders to be given a bit more independence in their decision making, so that small scope, high reward, LSS projects maybe carried out quickly, gaining buy in from all parties. Once this buy-in occurs, and the culture begins to shift, the larger scale projects could be tackled. Offering preference to contractors who use LSS would boost LSS’s presence in the military in the private sector and encourage LSS teams to work across public/private boundaries.
Perhaps a tool could be developed that would effectively take into account the environment a government agency is working in and through analysis determine the best strategy for implementing LSS programs. That’s something to think about.
What can Lean do for…..the EPA?
February 13, 2012
http://www.epa.gov/lean/environment/pdf/leanreport.pdf
For my first post, I wanted to share a study conducted by the EPA. The link is above. I’ve seen lean associated with environmental causes before. However, one of the things I find interesting about this study is this quote…
“The goal of this effort is to help public environmental agencies understand ways to better leverage lean manufacturing, existing government environmental management programs and initiatives, and regulatory requirements in the hope that even greater environmental and economic benefits will result.”
As a person who loves the outdoors and would love to see a more sustainable society, I like this sell. Actually, one of the big reasons I am so drawn to LSS is it’s potential to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly world.
Companies can save some money by changing to fluorescent bulbs or turning down the air conditioning. However, LSS offers real cost savings with environmental benefits. Government regulatory agencies are often seen as a burden to business, a necessary evil (or completely unecssary, depending on your view point). Here’s an approach where all stakeholder’s benefit, internal, external, and Uncle Sam.
