Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in Industry 4.0
The objective of this paper is to summarize the impact of Industry 4.0 on the most representative methods and tools of Lean Six Sigma methodology. General information about the most important Lean Six Sigma methods is given so that the reader can easily understand possible scenarios when comparing the original Lean Six Sigma tools with new evolving ones. Main references to this paper were systematically analyzed and compared to Industry 4.0 principles. The assumptions about survival of Lean Six Sigma in Industry 4.0 are based on the rapid progress of Big Data and High-Performance Computing. Lean and Six Sigma will survive Industry 4.0. Lean should retain its universality with little modification or update requirements, but Six Sigma will need some adaptations. The Six Sigma will be relevant in some cases, but to survive the Big Data and smart plants, it will require some changes in its analysis, methods, and tools. The paper provides useful insight into the adaptation of Lean Six Sigma methods to Industry 4.0, by explaining possible scenarios under which the original Lean Six Sigma tools will evolve into adapted ones.