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NARRATOR: What are the differences between Lean and Six Sigma in project management? The two methodologies may seem similar at first, but they have different applications in projects. Lean project management is a method of minimizing waste so that money, time, and resources are used as efficiently as possible. Meanwhile, Six Sigma is a method of improving processes by eliminating bugs or defects. A project can achieve a six sigma rating if 99.99966% of the deliverable is defect free.

So what are the main principles of Lean? Every lean project must begin by defining the value to the customer. What are their requirements for the final product? Then, you must map out the project's value stream, lay out all the processes for creating the product, and analyze each one for areas of waste.

Next, make the value flow. Ensure that the remaining steps run smoothly without interruptions or delays. Ideally, to be lean, you must work at the customer's demand, move the project forward only on instruction from the customer to reduce inventory and save resources. Finally, it's important to embrace continuous improvement and pursuit of perfection. Processes should be reassessed regularly to root out unnecessary steps.

Now, let's look at the principles of Six Sigma. Like lean, Six Sigma focuses on the customer. Their requirements must be clearly defined before the project begins. With Six Sigma, data is king. Use data collection techniques, interviews and observations, for example, to discover the defects in your project processes. Then eliminate any defects.

It's important to continually improve processes by searching for and removing any steps that do not add value for your customer. For Six Sigma to work, you have to communicate clearly with your team. Employees across teams and departments should be trained in the method so they can identify problems faster. Most importantly, you must be flexible. Motivate your employees to be accepting of necessary process changes. It's worth it to ensure projects run more smoothly overall.

So what are the main differences between lean and Six Sigma? Firstly, lean is more about minimizing waste, while Six Sigma focuses on product quality. Six Sigma uses various methods for process improvement. Lean, on the other hand, utilizes only value mapping. Finally, lean is driven by customer demand, while Six Sigma depends on data.

The main benefit of lean projects is less waste streamlined. Processes allow employees to focus on meaningful tasks, which can lead to higher motivation. However, this minimalist approach to the use of resources leaves a low margin for error, and team buy in is critical for lean to be a success.

Six Sigma is a great way of ensuring quality in your final deliverable. The focus on constant improvement means that problems can be identified before they become major issues, but collecting and analyzing the data can be time consuming. What's more, higher quality can often lead to higher costs.

So which is better, lean or Six Sigma? You don't really have to choose, because lean and Six Sigma are often combined into one super methodology. Lean Six Sigma can cut costs and eliminate waste while improving the speed and quality of your processes. Sound good?

Here's how Wrike can help you improve project processes and outcomes with lean and Six Sigma. Wrike gives you a bird's eye view of your project processes, meaning you can spot bottlenecks and inefficiencies quickly, view resource availability at a glance, and seamlessly manage your team and inventory. Continually improve with data from our customisable reports.

For more videos and resources on Wrike's project management software, check out our YouTube channel.

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