Doug Burgess is senior vice president, corporate Lean Six Sigma at Xerox (Rochester, NY). For more information, e-mail douglas.burgess@xerox.com or visit www.xerox.com
Process improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma have gone through several boom and bust cycles since their introduction in the mid-80s. Despite moving in and out of favor, the longevity of Lean and Six Sigma can be attributed to the flexibility and applicability to companies of all sizes in all industries.