The Joseph M. Juran Center has helped dozens of organizations develop strategies for deploying Six Sigma, Lean and Baldrige improvement methodologies. Our experience is that many mature organizations use both Six Sigma and Lean methodologies and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our task is to help organizations discover what methods are appropriate for their strategic purpose, their industry and their maturity.

What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a disciplined, comprehensive organizational improvement system. Because the method rests on a base of statistical analysis and problem-solving techniques, it requires in-depth education. Many of America’s top performing companies, including General Electric, Motorola and 3M Company, have embraced Six Sigma as their lead improvement strategy. So have our customers such as Medtronic and Carlson Companies.


What is Lean?
Lean management is concerned with eliminating waste or non-value adding activities in organizations. There are many forms of waste, including defects in products or services, unnecessary waiting time, non-value added work, and excessive inventory. Lean management includes process improvement teams, fact-based decision making, standard work, visual management, prevention of problems, quick reaction, and customer directed improvements. Lean manufacturing, first developed by Toyota, has now been extended to services and all organizational processes by Toyota, Alcoa, Park Nicollet and many others.