Falling revenues and changing customer requirements have forced many companies to look for ways to reduce the workload on current staff while developing long-term solutions. When companies are forced to downsize, the increased workload on remaining employees frequently results in stress, anxiety and decreased productivity.

Long-term solutions might lie in the development of more efficient systems. Some businesses shift from mass producing standard products to small-lot production of customized products, with even greater focus on quality. This often proves to be shortsighted in the long run. However, if a company can omit steps from its design, manufacturing and servicing processes, as well as fine-tune those that remain, it would be able to deliver better products to customers faster and cheaper.

Lean Six Sigma has taken root across corporate America over the past two years. Companies are using the techniques to analyze and improve tasks ranging from simple processes like customer credit checks to complex product design challenges. Lean is a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste--nonvalue-added activities--through continuous improvement to allow product flow at the pull of the customer in pursuit of perfection.

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