Title: Lean Six Sigma in a hospital

Authors: Jaap Van Den Heuvel, Ronald J.M.M. Does, Henk De Koning

Addresses: Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6500 GS Nijmegen, The Netherlands. ' Institute for Business and Industrial Statistics, University of Amsterdam, Plantage Muidergracht 24, 1018 TV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ' Institute for Business and Industrial Statistics, University of Amsterdam, Plantage Muidergracht 24, 1018 TV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: Hospitals today face major challenges. Patients demand quality of care to be improved continuously. Health insurance companies demand the lowest possible prices. Lean Six Sigma is a programme that can help healthcare providers to achieve these (seemingly) conflicting goals. Lean Six Sigma is an integration of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing, both quality improvement programmes originating from industry. Lean and Six Sigma are highly complementary. Six Sigma provides an integrated improvement approach that increases quality by reducing variation, defects, and costs. Lean adds tools that increases process throughput by eliminating waste. In healthcare faster means rapid access and no waiting times, while reducing defects means less complication. Increasing speed and reducing defects both lead to lower costs. Hence, Lean Six Sigma is an excellent tool to tackle present-day healthcare challenges.

Keywords: hospitals; lean manufacturing; lean six sigma; healthcare; quality improvement; access; waiting times; defect reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2006.011566

International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.377 - 388

Published online: 01 Dec 2006 *

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