Choosing Which Process Improvement Methodology to Implement

A variety of methodologies are available for process improvement. These include Six Sigma, Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma, Agile Management, Re-engineering, Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time, Kaizen, Hoshin Planning, Poka-Yoka, Design of Experiments, and Process Excellence. Consulting firms all seem to have one of these that they claim is the best. The large number of competing approaches, all claiming to be the best way to achieve a similar goal, can leave any organization at a loss as to how to decide which is best for them. In this paper, these methodologies are briefly described and lists of common characteristics are developed. Implementation requirements for each are examined next. The same is done for organizations, comparing characteristics and implementation needs and limitations. The methodologies are then compared in terms of how each can be implemented. A scoring system is developed, where a company can list its implementation criteria and measure how well each methodology satisfies these criteria. The goal is to make recommendations as to which type of methodology should best be implemented in which type of organization under what circumstances.