A friend recently returned from a visit to China; his company had been acquired by a Chinese organization and he had gone there as part of the mutual due diligence. Not only did he come back impressed by their lower manufacturing costs but also with their technological advancements. While we in the United States hear of low quality standards of Chinese products, he was awed by the their adoption of current lean measures and Six Sigma, or a combination of the two as lean Six Sigma.

Most organizations that have adopted these methodologies will attest to the savings they have achieved via maximized productivity, improved product quality, reduced defect levels, and shortened cycle times. However, if we were to ask them about any competitive advantages these initiatives might have provided, we would get mixed responses. Ever wonder why that is so? How is it that despite the adoption of these approaches, many organizations are still unable to compete in world markets. Perhaps the world is coming to a new equilibrium.

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