{"id":588,"date":"2025-09-02T23:44:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T23:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8080\/?p=588"},"modified":"2025-10-02T14:32:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T14:32:06","slug":"588-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/588-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Train for competence and self-development &#8211; Lean Six Sigma for SMEs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\" style=\"min-height:430px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-595 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-2\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-2-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Train for competence and self-development &#8211; Lean Six Sigma for SMEs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/category\/sme\/\" rel=\"tag\">SME<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag is-style-post-terms-1 is-style-post-terms-1--3 wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/tag\/learn-six-sigma\/\" rel=\"tag\">Learn Six Sigma<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/tag\/productivity\/\" rel=\"tag\">Productivity<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/tag\/quality-management\/\" rel=\"tag\">Quality Management<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Increased efficiency and productivity through working smarter is of paramount for any SME manager or start-ups now. They are often involved in constant fire-fighting dealing with day-to-day problems in this uncertain economy making them more vulnerable without knowing the solution. This guideline initiates developmental journey for these managers to do things better, cheaper, faster and in easier and greener way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">About<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover page-nav-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-591 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image2-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Train for competence and self-development &#8211; Lean Six Sigma for SMEs Basics<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover page-nav-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-592 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image3-2.jpg\" style=\"object-position:46% 97%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"46% 97%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">How<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Toolkit Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover page-nav-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-84 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert-768x1024.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Experts Advice<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover page-nav-4 has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b250d795c34cd91e0b7f1eb360fd2b56\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-86 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks-768x1024.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">External Links &amp; Further Reading<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover page-nav-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-83 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-576x1024.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Coaching  FAQs<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-591 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image2-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-4\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-4\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2 2\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-5\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-5-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70021b37 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The purpose of this guideline is to provide an overview of what lean management, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies are and how and why they can be beneficial for SME managers and start-ups. This guideline contributes to management and staff development\/training and sustainable continuous business improvement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Lean Six Sigma Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The dynamics of the business environment are changing, driven by increased globalisation and variable stakeholders\u2019 orientations. Furthermore, the economic downturn in the last decade has caused organisations to strive for continuous improvements in productivity and efficiency while pursuing enhanced customer satisfaction through better quality products and services (Sreedharn et al, 2019). This has led many organisations to embrace reliable continuous improvement strategies such as Lean and Lean Six Sigma (LSS), regardless of their type and size of organisation (Antony et al, 2017).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LSS is a business improvement methodology that aims to maximise shareholder value by improving quality, speed, customer satisfaction, profitability and cost efficiency (Laureani and Antony, 2018). This methodology has evolved through a combination of Lean as a waste reduction tool and Six Sigma as a data-driven tool to reduce variation and defects (Shokri et al, 2016).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This report offers concise information about LSS, presented in a form that is accessible for stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, with the purpose of raising awareness and knowledge about Lean and LSS and their principles, benefits, challenges and critical success factors. The report will conclude by introducing summarising principles, benefits, challenges and key success factors of Lean and LSS to stakeholders from different sectors including service, manufacturing, Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SMEs), Higher Education (HE) and Start-ups with micro businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept of lean is rooted in Japanese manufacturing, although it has now been adopted by various organisations of different sizes. The significant economic crises, high unemployment rate and destruction of markets due to Word War II led Japanese organisations to adopt the philosophy of lean (Toyota Production System at the time) in order to eliminate waste and increase productivity (Drohomeretski et al, 2014). Lean was defined by Womack and Jones (1996) as a continuous improvement philosophy to reduce waste through identifying the non-value adding (NVA) activities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Six Sigma is defined as \u201ca well-established approach that seeks to identify and eliminate defects, mistakes or failures in business processes or systems by focusing on those process performance characteristics that are of critical importance to customers\u201d (Albliwi et al, 2015). Six Sigma is a systematic rigid and reliable methodology with top-down approach that focuses on the opportunity of defects and sources of variation to remove them or minimise them with the purpose of achieving customer satisfaction and exceeding their requirements. It attempts to attain similar values as lean management such as productivity and cost efficiency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many studies recommended the adoption of LSS as a hybrid programme to overcome shortfalls of Lean and Six Sigma individually for performance improvement and cost efficiency in organisations with a proper infrastructure built on leadership and change culture (Costa, 2021). Nevertheless, despite its successful application in many organisations of different sizes, LSS is not always a suitable tool for start-ups due to its resource intensity. This, however, does not prevent start-ups from deploying lean management in their businesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image4-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-593\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Additional Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fac038b648d96480d53d2aee48ea3e1f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/1099-050X(200024)39:4%3C347::AID-HRM6%3E3.0.CO;2-C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/BPMJ-03-2014-0019\/full\/html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A systematic review of Lean Six Sigma for the manufacturing industry<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9c95405e92c55a13056796ed7e200ad2\" style=\"color:#444444\">Albliwi, S. A., Antony, J. &amp; Binti Abdul Halim Lim, S. (2015)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fb28f405c4ed6e7394c2638937a6abe4\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/IJQRM-03-2018-0074\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Six Sigma for small-and-medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: a systematic review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44313da17dabc16014e3cac2b7a058be\" style=\"color:#444444\">Alexander, P., Antony, J. &amp; Rodgers, B. (2019)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3dff4ba32ecf12c736eebc35ae2915fd\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/IJQRM-03-2016-0035\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Six Sigma: yesterday, today and tomorrow<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-abc26f0d1eab426eb4d75fb41df9e599\" style=\"color:#444444\">Antony, J., Snee, R. &amp; Hoerl, R. (2017)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d81492c5bfe2a165e5b7c254e8e670b5\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/IJQRM-07-2021-0238\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Readiness factors for the Lean Six Sigma journey in the higher education sector<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5abe10332682d7242d04eebb033e685f\" style=\"color:#444444\">Antony, J. (2014)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-764dd4688fcf35d66db4402a2f23e84f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpe.2020.107843\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean six sigma in the food industry: Construct development and measurement validation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35f48834c21455b74f16ff6c4a10df6a\" style=\"color:#444444\">Costa, L.B.M., Godinho Filho, M., Fredendall, L. D. &amp; Dev\u00f3s Ganga, G.M. (2021)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6f0859b7a56bbbe2b4c0782ddfd8dbc8\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/IJLSS-10-2015-0039\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2017.04.054\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/IJLSS-10-2015-0039\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Impacts of Lean Six Sigma over organizational sustainability: A systematic literature review on Scopus base<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9560d78fddeb06fce87fb9e56ed99b9c\" style=\"color:#444444\">de Freitas, J.G. &amp; Costa, H.G. (2017)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-839f6d52325aba3fc6c25f8cd7b7cb34\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2017.04.054\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Impacts of Lean Six Sigma over organizational sustainability: A survey study<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c76278e70268ad4d440124fb0c4067cf\" style=\"color:#444444\">de Freitas, J.G., Costa, H.G. &amp; Ferraz, F.T. (2017)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4f9ac639e91f977b874ecc59a2e60fe0\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/00207543.2013.842015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma: an analysis based on operations strategy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7737715438266911d287787c453b222b\" style=\"color:#444444\">Drohomeretski, E., Gouvea da Costa, S. E., Pinherio de Lima, E. &amp; da Rosa Grabuio, P. A. (2014)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-079ff2d72716d50464b35cb6646cd40d\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/14783363.2016.1211480\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leadership \u2013 a critical success factor for the effective implementation of Lean Six Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7ef2cbcf2150e18090b32a4d141d9628\" style=\"color:#444444\">Laureani, A. &amp; Antony, J. (2018)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-297e5edea24a44b47c0efdcbefecb8e2\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/researchportal.hw.ac.uk\/en\/publications\/assessment-of-lean-six-sigma-readiness-lesire-for-manufacturing-i\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Assessment of Lean Six Sigma Readiness (LESIRE) for manufacturing industries using fuzzy logic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c790c7f14462fd32a779ea22a84eb4a0\" style=\"color:#444444\">Sreedharan, R. V., Raju, R., Sunder, V. M. &amp; Antony, J. (2019)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3f14f7fdb4df3b0bd64062e90b7b448f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IJOPM-11-2014-0530\/full\/html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Investigating the readiness of people in manufacturing SMEs to embark on Lean Six Sigma projects: An empirical study in the German manufacturing sector<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cfb5a6fabfd95529ac92672e826608e6\" style=\"color:#444444\">Shokri, A., Waring, T. S. &amp; Nabhani, F. (2016)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b3baa1d2c31d6c47bafeab75e422e260\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oreilly.com\/library\/view\/the-lean-six\/9780071441193\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to Nearly 100 Tools for Improving Quality and Speed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dabdbfab0bf072cbb38f94c68902c0b2\" style=\"color:#444444\">George, M. L., Rowlands, D., Price, M. &amp; Maxey, J. (2005)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6e8807ef3d50ea27c396541a747121f9\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/263496351_Lean_and_six_sigma_-_critical_success_factors_revisited\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean and six sigma \u2010 critical success factors revisited<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-73d33b0b44db31471f0b2705f15c5565\" style=\"color:#444444\">Naslund, D. (2013)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ec5fd164a94c1243f9b98c0b3ce5084a\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/derby.openrepository.com\/handle\/10545\/625610\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Six Sigma project selection in a manufacturing environment using hybrid methodology based on intuitionistic fuzzy MADM approach<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0c76cdbe34e021d2771f02d1567e1e78\" style=\"color:#444444\">Singh, M., Rathi, R., Antony, J. &amp; Garza-Reyes, J. A. (2021)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8f2de5a76bca658def84afb452ecdd0f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/operations-management\/oclc\/965703336\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Operations Management<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f6d6bceb1997be864199625532d021d8\" style=\"color:#444444\">Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. &amp; Johnson, R. (2016)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0b18b48bf230f5e7a0acba3b2f7d319f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/Lean-Thinking\/James-P-Womack\/9780743249270\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Thinking<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d3e1498e18b31a84be62c0842965cc19\" style=\"color:#444444\">Womack, J. P. &amp; Jones, D. T. (1996)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2b43bde3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"page-nav-1 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6bab8ce46e3fca8ea148e2e92b3a4dd1\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">&lt; Back to Toolkit<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"page-nav-3 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3645665b0300621386838aea3d413875\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">Next Section: How? &gt;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-592 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image3-2.jpg\" style=\"object-position:50% 72%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 72%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-6\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-6\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2 3\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-7\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-7-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70021b37 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The purpose of this section of the is to present how lean and Lean Six Sigma can be implemented in any organisation including SMEs and start-ups. Below you&#8217;ll find dynamic road maps for the implementation of both lean and LSS.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to implement lean management and lean Six Sigma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<strong>lean<\/strong>&nbsp;roadmap helps \u201clean\u201d practitioners identify and address waste and its drivers, as well as understand how and when to apply the various \u201clean\u201d approaches in the organization in order to achieve business excellence. A roadmap would also help \u201clean\u201d practitioners use the full suite of tools to realize the greatest benefits. A \u201clean\u201d roadmap provides a systematic implementation process: specific actions in order of precedence that are milestones in the journey from mass to \u201clean\u201d production. A \u201clean\u201d roadmap is not a cookbook of actions that must be strictly followed for every implementation because every implementation will be singular, in that every company has its own culture, and inheritance policies and systems, which will either support or delay the \u201clean\u201d journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The important point to note is that \u201clean\u201d should be seen as a direction rather than as a state to be reached after a certain time. The importance of the human factor in lean thinking (LT) cannot be overstated. LT should be viewed as a way of thinking, and both culture and strategy should go in parallel to reach the required results: We need to think, see, and practice \u201clean\u201d. A \u201clean\u201d roadmap focuses on leadership, people, \u201clean\u201d knowledge, objectives, and strategic planning issues, and it provides an organizing framework for enterprise-wide transition. There are also may different road maps or pathway recommended to implement lean. Therefore \u201clean\u201d needs to be seen as a journey about learning and adding value, not a set of projects and tools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to accomplish benefits of<strong>&nbsp;LSS implementation<\/strong>, the creation of a hierarchical infra-structure team is necessary to provide dispersed and specialized training efforts, and to allow for cross-functional project execution. These include full-time Black Belts, who lead improvement projects and typically receive 2-4 weeks of training; Master Black Belts, who receive even more training, and generally serve as instructors and internal consultants; Green Belts, who are part-time improvement specialists that receive less training and perform supporting roles on the improvement projects; and Project Champions who identify strategically important projects for the improvement teams and provide resources and typically receive an orientation to Six Sigma rather than detailed training. However, implementation of LSS in SMEs do not necessarily need a great deal of training and infra-structure team building. For instance, Green Belts are capable of managing LSS projects in the SMEs with the support from project champions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having created an infra-strucutre team building, following a road map and methodology has been identified as one of the key top critical success factors of any LSS project. This means unlike lean that was recognised more like a journey, LSS needs structured approach and cook-book with rigid set of methodology and tools to generate the maximum success and avoid failure. However, before deploying the implementation methodology, organisations need to covey readiness phases in which the implementation methodology is embedded in one of the phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image5-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-594\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Additional Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c9de62cf4fbeabe7aac2c9a52d3e1466\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/1099-050X(200024)39:4%3C347::AID-HRM6%3E3.0.CO;2-C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/228833236_A_proposed_dynamic_model_for_a_lean_roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A proposed dynamic model for a lean roadmap<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f34d7794e13ba8d5cc80b6c7df87007b\" style=\"color:#444444\">Anvari, A., Zolkifli, N., Yussuf, R. M., Hojatti, S. M. H. &amp; Ismail, Y. (2011)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d3fb6df3a9db19a908db7be0cbd8a10b\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.aom.org\/doi\/abs\/10.5465\/AMJ.2011.59215081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/00207543.2016.1266406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A framework for the integration of Green and Lean Six Sigma for superior sustainability performance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-efcd50410eaa9ece572ed5551ae60050\" style=\"color:#444444\">Cherrafi, A., Elfezazi, S., Govindan, K., Garza-Reyes, J., Benhida, K. &amp; Mokhlis, A., (2017)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-55e5bf5308915e5e53374f1af2a91ac0\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/228343824_The_role_of_science_and_technology_education_at_network_age_population_for_sustainable_development_of_Bangladesh_through_human_resource_advancement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The role of science and technology education at network age population for sustainable development of Bangladesh through human resource advancement<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-691d6630af35d659c344373393b1ac64\" style=\"color:#444444\">Alam, G.M. (2009)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-796fb7bad5eea9ae9a4c91e4032c2645\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/a\/eee\/proeco\/v231y2021ics0925527320302097.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean six sigma in the food industry: Construct development and measurement validation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7a0ad29f619f0ddee93594a263216add\" style=\"color:#444444\">Costa, L. B. M., Filho, M. G., Fredendall, L. D. &amp; Ganga, G. M. D. (2021)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4e8a45a4409e18dfe7392eef82aff307\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/dspace.mit.edu\/bitstream\/handle\/1721.1\/81899\/PRD_TTL_ProdOpsDoc_V.1_2000.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Production Operations Transition-To-Lean Team. Description Manual<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5bd44e51655a64c3721a4b4383a2ddad\" style=\"color:#444444\">Crabill, J., Harmon, E., Meadows, D., Milauskas, R., Miller, C., Nightingale, D., Schwartz, B., Shields, T. &amp; Torrani, B. (2000)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-02681cef9705e6480f3fb14374166fce\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/docplayer.net\/21412104-Achieving-lean-success-a-pathway-for-implementation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Achieving Lean Success: A Pathway for Implementation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e57ddecd80d3711f0e1bf4e510c38758\" style=\"color:#444444\">Ginn, D. &amp; Finn, L. (2007)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2b43bde3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"page-nav-2 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f359e32b2d0032796b5d7d494fad1996\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">&lt; Previous Section: Basics<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"page-nav-4 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3160ff1fef7040125a5123db8645b182\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">Next Section: Experts Advice &gt;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-84 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitExpert-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-8\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-8\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2 4\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-9\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-9-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70021b37 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experts Advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn about Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma from the experts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma Insights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are numerous videos, media sources, podcasts and books about lean management and Lean Six Sigma. Here you&#8217;ll find a few videos that may be of interest for managers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Toolkit1Page4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-381\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Videos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Womack 1 -  5 Principles of Lean\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ommHzB-FCw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Reflections on Lean Leadership | Jim Womack\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Spxk71oyxOU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Six Sigma Interview with Jack Welch\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aNMULFcLuIM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lean Six Sigma And Small Business\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XXRJNLCaOwE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2b43bde3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"page-nav-3 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b6df85b4507b9405097f23b7c7927d7e\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">&lt; Previous Section: How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"page-nav-5 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-66a4e05d2ff3f058f5383276e3f0e07a\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">Next Section: Useful Links &gt;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-86 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks.jpg\" style=\"object-position:49% 14%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"49% 14%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitLinks-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-10\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-10\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2 5\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-11\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-11-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70021b37 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Links &amp; Further Reading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about Lean Six Sigma<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Lean Six Sigma resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Efficiency has never been more important to the manufacturing industry than now, both lean management and Lean Six Sigma can&nbsp;be implemented in SMEs to lead on change and work smarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean implementation is associated with continuous improvement philosophy in which small changes can make significant improvements and do not need sophisticated infra-structure, training, knowledge and skills. While lean management philosophy was first introduced by Toyota and was subsequently adopted mainly by large companies, with the resources below you can learn how to bring lean into your SME.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how big the company, time wasters and squanders can be eliminated everywhere without reducing the value of the end product. Also, lean thinking can be applied to companies and institutions in every conceivable industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean Six Sigma is feasible for SMEs as well. There are many SMEs that have already embarked on Lean Six Sigma phases and even implemented Lean Six sigma projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it is true to say that the traditional textbook approach to Lean Six Sigma deployment has been developed within the big businesses, with judicious application, small businesses can derive almost all of the benefits of Lean Six Sigma with only a fraction of the costs, effort and in much shorter periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the resources below you can learn more about lean and Lean Six Sigma and check if they would suit your SME.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tooklkit1Page5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tooklkit1Page5.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tooklkit1Page5-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tooklkit1Page5-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tooklkit1Page5-768x960.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Additional Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-909ebabd8233250c8f4e09d2da21214f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/1099-050X(200024)39:4%3C347::AID-HRM6%3E3.0.CO;2-C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theallianceframework.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1744-6570.2005.00515.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mknorthamerica.com\/Blog\/benefits-lean-manufacturing\/#:~:text=Lean%20manufacturing%20improves%20efficiency%2C%20reduces,would%20have%20previously%20been%20wasted.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Benefits of Lean Manufacturing: Why and How to Go Lean<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26a91c6734dd6a0773cd73fcaf45a0e5\" style=\"color:#444444\">mk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3136f87f6785179f9bc5ef73a9aeec61\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.aom.org\/doi\/abs\/10.5465\/AMJ.2011.59215081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tractionwise.com\/en\/magazine\/lean-management-sme-fail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Lean Management can help SMEs and where things still go wrong<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-334779bf505d28aa13f5093d9239478c\" style=\"color:#444444\">tractionwise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a0b3844ab5d05ebc20cc2afeeae6fd1a\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/hrm.21786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lean.org\/explore-lean\/coaching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coaching &#8211; How can it help with lean management?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5ba62fbfa9290921d5034977de6ea3b3\" style=\"color:#444444\">Lean Enterprise Institute<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6b13364839c090c6dc0241976d1833b4\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/hrm.21786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetprocess.com\/lean-six-sigma\/#:~:text=Lean%20Six%20Sigma%20for%20process,problem-solving%20and%20exploiting%20opportunities.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Six Sigma Explained: All You Need to Know<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0418c16c7ab61501123021d7f45f9077\" style=\"color:#444444\">Sweet Process<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fb90a72e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f614d951922fd9cab12009cc9edb8e4f\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2018.08.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.hrmr.2013.05.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.orgdyn.2008.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/hrm.21786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.continuousbusinessplanning.com\/blog\/22062019125457-lean-six-sigma-for-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lean Six Sigma for Small Business<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2da5a1e71be148f7122a0e2558d74c36\" style=\"color:#444444\">Continuous Business Planning<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2b43bde3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"page-nav-4 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4178dd62b5f2d5998e92e006cdb84f29\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">&lt; Previous Section: Experts Advice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"page-nav-6 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cb0a70abf5ace0494ff008458c204de7\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">Next Section: FAQs &gt;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1777\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-83 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ToolkitCoachingFAQs-864x1536.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8f13b0\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-73df7ea3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"197\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-102\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo.png 197w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search\"    ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-12\" >Search<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\"  style=\"width: 370px\"><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-12\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button has-icon wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" ><svg class=\"search-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fc306653 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 2 6\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  has-text-color has-contrast-color has-background has-base-background-color\"  id=\"modal-13\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-13-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive items-justified-right wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/smes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">SMEs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/institution\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Institutions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/students\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Students<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70021b37 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the following section you will find a list of FAQs on Lean Six Sigma<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c46939c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the following section you will find a list of FAQs on Lean Six Sigma<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1250\" src=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Toolkit1Page6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Toolkit1Page6.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Toolkit1Page6-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Toolkit1Page6-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Toolkit1Page6-768x960.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Why should I know about lean management?<\/summary>\n<p>Efficiency has never been more important to the manufacturing industry than now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By implementing lean management you can lead on change in your organization to do things differently and work smarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementing lean manufacturing practices in part means identifying and eliminating the wasteful practices and procedures that are specific to your business, and replacing them with more optimized lean strategies. Lean can improve just-in-time delivery, low wastage, and high-quality products and services for customers. Lean aims at making your organization nimble, agile, and adept at problem-solving and exploiting opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean has several benefits for every stakeholder and it can lead to an in-crease in revenue generation, lower costs of production, more efficient and effective business processes and the development of capable and up-skilled teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mknorthamerica.com\/Blog\/benefits-lean-manufacturing\/#:~:text=Lean%20manufacturing%20improves%20efficiency%2C%20reduces,would%20have%20previously%20been%20wasted.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Why should I know about Lean Six Sigma?<\/summary>\n<p>By implementing Lean Six Sigma&nbsp;you can lead on organizational excellence and driving maximizing shareholder value in your organization.&nbsp;Lean Six Sigma will allow your company to achieve success in an increasingly dynamic and complex business environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean Six Sigma\u2019s continuous improvement angle assures success for the most complex of processes. It has proven to bring a competitive advantage to various businesses such as General Electric, Microsoft, Wipro, and Motorola. Embracing business process improvement will cut down on waste, enhance mind share, and increase the efficiency of your operations. Your business will use its existing resources better. The refinement of business processes will identify talents and parts that require further grooming or distillation to improve the quality of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetprocess.com\/lean-six-sigma\/#:~:text=Lean%20Six%20Sigma%20for%20process,problem%2Dsolving%20and%20exploiting%20opportunities.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SweetProcess<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What benefits I and my organization will gain as the result of implementing lean?<\/summary>\n<p><strong>Lean management<\/strong>&nbsp;can help you identifying the hidden cost and increasing the efficiency and productivity of your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefits are manifold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increased product quality:<\/strong>&nbsp;improved efficiency frees up employees and resources for innovation and quality control that would have previously been wasted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Improved lead times:<\/strong>&nbsp;as manufacturing processes are streamlined, businesses can better respond to fluctuations in demand and other market variables, resulting in fewer delays and better lead times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainability:<\/strong>&nbsp;less waste and better adaptability makes for a business that\u2019s better equipped to thrive well into the future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employee satisfaction:<\/strong>&nbsp;workers know when their daily routine is bloated or packed with unnecessary work, and it negatively affects morale. Lean manufacturing boosts not only productivity, but also employee satisfaction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increased profits:&nbsp;<\/strong>more productivity with less waste and better quality ultimately makes for a more profitable company.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mknorthamerica.com\/Blog\/benefits-lean-manufacturing\/#:~:text=Lean%20manufacturing%20improves%20efficiency%2C%20reduces,would%20have%20previously%20been%20wasted.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Is lean management suitable and feasible for SMEs and start-ups?<\/summary>\n<p><strong>Yes<\/strong>, lean implementation is associated with continuous improvement philosophy in which small changes can make significant improvements and do not need sophisticated infra-structure, training, knowledge and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean management philosophy was first introduced by Toyota. The automotive industry, and more broadly the entire logistics and production management industry was the first to adopt Lean methods and minimize waste. However, the idea then quickly spread to many areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>No matter how big the company<\/strong>, whether DAX, SME or startup, time wasters and squanders can be eliminated everywhere without reducing the value of the end product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lean thinking can be applied to companies and institutions in every conceivable industry.<\/strong>&nbsp;Even hospitals are increasingly trying to streamline processes and eliminate waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tractionwise.com\/en\/magazine\/lean-management-sme-fail\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tractionwise<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What benefits I and my organization will gain as the result of implementing Lean Six Sigma?<\/summary>\n<p>Lean Six Sigma is a structured data-driven and systematic approach of solving complicated problems with un-known solutions with the ultimate objective of increased customer satisfaction, profitability, employee empowerment and cost efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By implementing Lean Six Sigma you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increase in revenue generation&nbsp;<\/strong>by increasing your capacity to carry out your processes while reducing your worker\u2019s workload per unit in production. Your production will speed up while your quality standards will improve.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lower costs of production by cutting&nbsp;<\/strong>down on waste to lower costs while meeting your customers\u2019 expectations. Lean Six Sigma tools will improve problem-solving, infusing your business with a proactive rather than a reactive approach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Establish more efficient and effective business processes<\/strong>&nbsp;by optimizing and documenting them. It makes it easy to perform, learn, enhance, and operate for faster growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Develop capable teams<\/strong>&nbsp;as Lean Six Sigma leverages team efforts for improvement. For this reason, it will give your workforce pride in process change and make them more accountable to each other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetprocess.com\/lean-six-sigma\/#:~:text=Lean%20Six%20Sigma%20for%20process,problem-solving%20and%20exploiting%20opportunities.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sweet Process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Is Lean Six Sigma suitable and its implementation feasible for SMEs and start-ups?<\/summary>\n<p>Lean Six Sigma is feasible for<strong>&nbsp;SMEs<\/strong>. There are many SMEs that have already embarked on Lean Six Sigma phases and even implemented Lean Six sigma projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Small businesses face many, if not all, of the challenges of their larger counterparts,&nbsp;but are typically not as well equipped in tackling these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is true to say that the traditional textbook approach to Lean Six Sigma deployment has been developed within the big businesses who were amongst the early adopters of this process and performance improvement methodology.&nbsp;However, with judicious application, small businesses can derive almost all of the benefits of Lean Six Sigma with only a fraction of the costs, effort and in much shorter periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The implementation of Lean Six Sigma is not recommended for&nbsp;<strong>start-ups<\/strong>&nbsp;due to its heavily-resource and training orientation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.continuousbusinessplanning.com\/blog\/22062019125457-lean-six-sigma-for-small-business\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Continuous Business Planning<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How coaching people can help implementing lean management in SMEs and for start-ups?<\/summary>\n<p>Lean management is the journey of doing things differently&nbsp;and needs transformation of people. Employers and managers can play the role of transforming leader and coach people to change before organizational change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lean coach creates the conditions for people\u2014whether managers or line workers\u2014to learn and develop the capability to do their work more effectively, at ever-higher quality, and in a way that\u2019s more personally rewarding. By guiding people to view their work\u2014to see\u2014as lean thinkers and take ownership of improvement\u2014to ask why\u2014as lean practitioners, the coach inspires them to do their best work and still strive to do better. Simultaneously, the coach shares lean tools and techniques that their client can use to improve their work process. Through coaching, the learner gains a significant level of autonomy over how to do and improve their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lean.org\/explore-lean\/coaching\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lean Enterprise Institute<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2b43bde3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"page-nav-5 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0de42d81bdabaf5afa957431faeaf880\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">&lt; Previous Section: Useful Links<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"page-nav-1 has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0c945c9a5d6d09b2d4448495726145fb\" style=\"color:#8f13b0\">Back to Toolkit &gt;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Toolkit Contents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[21,26,27],"class_list":["post-588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sme","tag-learn-six-sigma","tag-productivity","tag-quality-management"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image1-2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":935,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions\/935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ascnet.ie\/3wayswitch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}