Lean Six Sigma in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing the Power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

by Michael L. George, Dan Blackwell, Dinesh Rajan

The world’s leading expert on Lean Six Sigma provides the missing link for reducing waste and taking operations to the next Artificial Intelligence
“Whatever the industry, there is an executive with the grit and determination to apply AI to attain the fastest growth, the highest investment returns, to dominate that industry. The only question will it be you?” –from Lean Six Sigma in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Combine the power of AI and LSS to seize the competitive advantage―quickly, decisively, and permanently
Since 2001, business leaders have been using Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to drive improvements across industries, enabling their companies to reduce cycle time and waste, thus improving revenue and profits. Now they can finally unlock their company’s full potential by combining LSS and AI.
In Lean Six Sigma in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , the world’s most respected expert on LSS, Michael L. George, Sr., shows how to harness the power of the technology that promises changing everything as we know it―Artificial Intelligence―to dramatically enhance any LSS management program. This game-changing guide takes you through the process of using AI to unlock maximum speed, solve complex manufacturing challenges, reduce waste, increase company profits, and ultimately outflank your competition at every turn. With Lean Six Sigma in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , you’ll take this revolutionary approach to its limits―and that will make all the difference between business success and failure in the coming decades.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management, Leadership, Reference, Economics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2003

About the author

Michael L. George is founder and President of The George Group, the largest Lean Six Sigma consulting practice in the United States. He wrote the successful and influential Lean Six Sigma, also published by McGraw-Hill.

Source: Bookish

Reviews

[Samson Blackwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who seeks a better understanding of how the principles of these two philosophies can be combined in the context of service. It boils down to one fundamental truth: it's all about the people.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful information presented reasonably clearly but, like many business books, the art of writing has been overlooked. It was, at times, painful to slog through poorly constructed paragraphs.

[Mehul Sheth · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are interested in how AI-specifically deep neural networks-can support lean six sigma DON'T read this book. It seems to cobble together the buzz words of AI, Lean Six Sigma, machine learning, and deep neural networks and cover it with a veneer of complexity so that you can't see they aren't really using DNN's. They are simply using descriptive and predictive analytics using large datasets. The opening case example, under the section "artificial intelligence data mining" discuss with great seriousness using Matlab to identify interquartile range! This is not my definition of AI. I went through half this book and the only discussion of true DNN's was a picture they show at the beginning, even that was simplified and not put in context of Lean Six Sigma.

I took the time to write this review because this book either:

1. Doesn't use true AI/ML/DNN to enhance Lean Six Sigma or
2. It's so overlaid with jargon and complexity that you will have no idea how to actually implement AI in your business.

and I don't want anyone else seriously interested in these topics to waste their time on this book.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been using this book for a grad school class on process optimization. It outlines a process for creating sustainable improvements to service sectors. Reading about these principles has got me thinking differently about how I collect and use data to make decisions and how my organization can operate more effectively. The case studies show how a variety of organizations can use these concepts. I highly recommend the book if you’re interested in operational improvements.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people, especially in government sectors, look down on LSS due to its manufacturing genesis. George demonstrates how you can apply Continuous Process improvement tools to non-manufacturing organizations to increase efficiency and decrease costs. Highly recommended for anyone who is looking to improve their methadology in a non-manufacturing field.

[Anastasia Sidorova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Непонятная книга и не очень понятно для кого написана. Если для тех кто знаком с LSS (Lean Six Sigma) - то им будет просто скучно, ничего нового книга не привносит. Если для тех, кто только познакомился с методами LSS, то им будет тяжело читать из-за обилия терминов, которые нигде не объясняются.
Кстати, термины все переведены на русский язык. Особенно тяжело воспринимать Шесть сигма + бережливое производство. Наверное, можно было бы на треть сократить книгу, если просто писать LSS. Если вы изучали подход в английском варианте, некоторые термины на русском языке будут просто ставить в тупик.

Первые 2 части можно смело пропускать - очень много воды о внедрении LSS. Я ожидала от этой книги больше практического подхода, а там все время рассматривают 4 примера, причем уже очень старые - 2001 года. Самой интересной части - разработке новых сервисных услуг уделено от силы страниц 20.

Читается очень тяжело, как университетский учебник по экономической теории.

[Nickolay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ожидал от книги совсем иного — надеялся содержательно узнать про lean+six sigma , best practices по внедрению, опять же содержательному, но книга не про это. Книга наполовину состоит из хвалы методике subj и наполовину из очень общих рекомендаций по внедрению, напримр, что должно быть не менее 1% черных поясов в компании и т.д.
В общем,если бы я все знал про содержание lean+six sigma и мне надо было только получить пару советов как это внедрить на предприятии уровня газпрома, то я нашел бы много чего в ней полезного, но, увы,я искал в книге другое.

[Levi Borba · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book shows a lot of tools and valuable content. There are only few minor problems that makes me give only 3 stars: 1st - It focus only in huge corporations, while the content directed to small business is marginal. 2nd - It is badly written. The style (and the amount of grammar and ortographic mistakes) makes it a bit tiresome to read.

[Greg’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is really informative and useful if you have a strong background on industry specific terms being discussed in every chapter. This would really be useful for Lean Six Sigma practitioners who are looking forward to apply artificial intelligence in reducing variations and maximizing profit.

[Mehul Sheth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed through this book again. I don’t consider the examples he gives to big ML or even AI, but rather just using large amounts of data to make more precise targets for Lean Six Sigma improvements.

[Denis Scholokov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Есть интересные моменты, но, в целом, книга малоинформативна.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit out dated as it's published in 2003. examples are good, Part I is better than Part II and III

[Steve Feaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content is good, but dry as toast. I suppose that's inevitable.

[Chu Qiao · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is too lengthy. I found only one or two chapter are useful.
1. before improving productivity, first control variability
2. reduce complexity to add productivity

[Sunny Jaggi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lean Six Sigma for Service gives a realistic insight into approaches and challenges that are related to implementing Lean Six Sigma methodology in service operations. I found this book very useful for understanding the pain points which are normally not covered in a Lean Six Sigma course, such as the significance of buy-in from leadership when rolling out a change in the organization. Lean Six Sigma in service operations is very different from its typical application in manufacturing- the product is not visible, change management plays a much more important role, and more.

Although the book is providing a lot of useful tips and case studies, I feel that the book could have been shortened to half. There were too many repeats and some of the chapters were not providing additional value to the reader.

Overall, this is not a book for a reader who wants to understand the Lean Six Sigma toolset but rather about how to change the service operations with help of Lean Six Sigma - in other words: Transformation of Services. I would recommend this book for Lean Six Sigma practitioners in-service environment.

[Steve Whiting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide on the application of LSS to service activities, rather than the manufacturing world, where it is already well known.

The book won't go anywhere near teaching LSS - techniques are referenced, but not particularly explained. The case studies are useful, but really could have used both more detail, and a wider spread of cases.

All in all, it's well worth a read, but get an understanding of LSS first.

[Aaron Bolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quality summary of the six sigma process with examples. I liked the book and learned a lot, but it isn't really a stand-alone volume. That is, you couldn't read this book and get enough information to go out and start running improvement teams. Even so, this is a good first step on the process improvement journey.

[Tracie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for work. It applies very well to what I do and is making an impact on how I do my job already.

[LK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like an updated version of this book along with more focus on customer service with the public.

[Diana Muresan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tackles a technical topic and breaks it down to where it's pretty simple. Great book for skimming on this topic.

[Wendy]

I really enjoyed the case studies!

[Mary Judson]

PRAISE JESUS I’m DONE. This book two days and entirely too much time to read. I read it for a summer internship (my boss likes not only recommending books, but assigning them I guess). This book was dull overall, however there were moments in the book that captured my interests, and I did learn a lot about business practices, which can be transferred to any type of work I do. But oh my gosh. Only half the book was necessary, and half way through I gave up reading all the side boxes and italicized parts and all the parenthesis. So. Many. Parenthesis.