(Avery Point Group: Atlanta, Georgia) -- After years of steady gains, lean has achieved a slight edge over Six Sigma as the more desired skill set. The accelerating demand for lean talent is an indicator that companies are increasingly looking to lean as a means to help them combat the current economic headwinds they are facing, according to an annual study by The Avery Point Group, a national executive recruiting firm.

“As an executive recruiting firm, we have a unique vantage point from which to observe the latest trends taking place in industry,” says Tim Noble, managing principal of The Avery Point Group. “Trends in industry are often telegraphed into candidate requirements in job postings, and they can serve as a window into the latest corporate initiatives. Our annual study continues to offer useful insight into the latest trends taking place in the area of corporate continuous improvement.”

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