An organization would like to implement as follows
1) Six Sigma
2) Lean Manufacturing
3) TPM
4) ISO 9001
5) IMS
6) EFQM
will it not be conflict to each other tools - during implementation / replication of improvements.
What would be your suggestion and why?
Regards,
Sridhar
In general, the implementation of the methodologies in your list do not necessarily mean that conflicts will occur or efforts will be suboptimized. However, proper planning needs to consider a company's culture, its resources, and case for change.
For example, the implementation of lean involves identifying value and eliminating non-value-added activities. When implemented properly, lean activities can enhance the use of Six Sigma by eliminating these non-value added activities before they are optimized. Perhaps, Six Sigma can then increase the value in the organization by improving the leaner processes that remain by reducing their variability.
TPM is a lean tool that can improve the organization's maintenance process. It may be more or less helpful depending on the type of organization. For example, whether the organization is involved in discrete or continuous manufacturing and how its systems are organized (product, process, functional, etc.).
ISO 9001 is a management system that can incorporate any of the tools that are being considered. Its general structure follows a plan, do, check, act (PDCA) cycle, but does not prescribe a particular methodology to achieve these results. Certainly, the management review team will be very interested in supporting the implemented tools and helping to eliminate barriers.
The use of technology such as IMS or aligning an organization towards operational excellence in EFQM could potentially be used as an enhancement to other improvement efforts as long as it again is a proper "fit" with the organization.
My overall opinion is that a conflict does not need to occur. However, I would be more concerned about the organization having a proper focus in pursuing a buffet of methodologies without proper planning. The effectiveness of any particular approach may be diluted as training is sought concurrently on each tool simultaneously and frustration in the learning curve causes the organization to back off when short term gains do not meet expectations with organizational efforts.:truce: