Can Project Management Help Improve Lean Six Sigma?

Today, project managers are challenged with improving efficiency and overall productivity while working on specific tasks. They must be flexible and understand how to use tools and methods to improve results. While Lean Six Sigma (LSS) provides an overall data-driven process for detecting and enhancing system defects, project management has tools to evaluate and create a defined plan and manage a project. This paper examines LSS alongside project management. It breaks down Six Sigma's define, measure, analyze, improve, and control process, and shows how to incorporate both LSS and project management tools. If LSS only focuses on minimizing defects, then time management, cost reduction, and overall project planning must be integrated to achieve successful project completion. The question ultimately is “Can project management benefit LSS?” By combining some critical aspects from project management, this paper proposes a more comprehensive approach to LSS. The approach is known as define, measure, analyze, improve, implement, control, and closure; a list of comprehensive tools and concepts that could be applied are also presented and discussed.