Changing With Lean Six Sigma

by A. Aruleswaran

Changing with Lean Six Sigma is different from the rest of the milieu in that it focuses more on how to change for the better using Lean Six Sigma as a tool rather than doing Lean Six Sigma for a change. It presents a unique and user-friendly description of the Lean Six Sigma methodology that cuts through all the lingo. The author points out to the fundamental questions organizations need to answer and deep diving into the structure needed to support a Lean Six Sigma change initiative, sharing a top consultant's often deeply held secrets on critical items needed to changing a company into a performing lean six sigma organization. Changing with Lean Six Sigma does not advocate Lean Six Sigma as a panacea for all business problems. It tells you where you can apply it and where not. The author also describes the various aspects of change that need to be managed during the initiative and the resultant benefits to the organization and to the individual change agents and champions. Illustrated with graphics that capture the essence of critical topics, Changing with Lean Six Sigma is imaginative as well as thought provoking. Written for senior executives who would want to know the basics of a Lean Six Sigma initiative and for executives responsible for operations, maintenance and service processes to know what to plan for before embarking on such an initiative. This book is also for the supervisors, mangers and a broad spectrum of corporate and entrepreneurial innovators who would be the change agents in a Lean Six Sigma initiative in the role of a Sponsor, Champion, Black Belt or Green Belt. Aruleswaran prepares the reader to embark on an effective Lean Six Sigma program through inductions on the philosophies, methodology and differences between going through the motions with Lean Six Sigma, and attempting to change a business in the usual way. This book is a must read for change agents, business leaders, and lean six sigma process experts.

146 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2009

About the author

Dr. A Aruleswaran is LSS Academy’s principal consultant and a strategic advisor aiming to assist companies to develop strategies and execution planning through continuous improvement methodologies. Arul began his career as a technical assistant for Minsec Engineering Services in 1994 and continued to site management, leading a group of 50 contract employees in an engineering fabrication facility. Following this, Arul pursued a degree and Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes, Oxford, UK.

Moving into a career of research and development, continuous improvement and Lean 6 Sigma, Arul joined Alcan in Banbury Laboratories, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom in 2001. He started as research scientist for Aluminium rolling and continuous casting process and engineering measurement technologies later moving on to Novelis Inc Global Technology Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 2004 for Lean 6 Sigma based continuous improvements, strategic and multi-generational planning for the Aluminium Light Gauge Metal business group and Technology Innovation group.

Among Arul’s finest Lean 6 Sigma achievements was a project to scope out a suite of projects to eliminate losses of process waste. The 6 sigma project is estimated to return US $3MM in value creation and reduce the dependence of tier 1 material supply. The project has both a positive economic and environmental impact. Arul led that project using a diverse group of engineers and operations personnel using the methodologies of Lean 6 Sigma. This work broke new ground by developing the required methods and tools to perform “scoping projects” and will serve to lead others to do the same.

Reviews

[Steven Bonacorsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book to read and a must have asset in the resource library of anyone leading a change initiative in Lean Six Sigma. The text is easy to follow with topics often left out of the standard tool and methods books on the market today. The author deep dives into the structure needed to support a Lean Six Sigma change initiative with an entire section dedicated to the Asian experience. Chapter 3 was my favorite, covering the often deeply held secrets of the top consultants, on critical items needed to changing a company into a performing lean six sigma organization.

In Chapter 7, Dr. Aruleswaran provides a fantastic case study that walks the reader step by step through the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) phases implementing Lean Six Sigma. Chapter 8 reviews the transactional side of lean six sigma implementations into the financial industry where the Lean Six Sigma’s seven wastes are reviewed in detail.

Now while the book is easy to understand, don't let that underestimate the challenges and complexity involved in building a data driven, lean six sigma organization. Challenges will always exist in building a team mindset where quality is continually improved, waste identified and removed (to increase the process speed, flow, and agility), and continuous improvement methods are in place to drive costs low, innovation and creativity embraced, and customer focused employees continually seek ways to blow the socks off the clients they provide services and products.

Bottom line, this book is a must read for change agents, business leaders, and lean six sigma process experts. Thank you, Dr. Aruleswaran, for sharing your experiences and wisdom in your well written book.

Warm Regards,

Steven Bonacorsi
Lean Six Sigma master Black Belt
Institute of Industrial Engineers, Vice President

[Dr. Satnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book to read with simple explanations of Lean Six Sigma Deployment in any organisation.