Search the internet for an article/blog that supports and one that questions the benefit of a lean and/or Six Sigma approaches to improve an organization's processes.

Critically think about the articles to complete a 2-3 page paper with the following:

Compare and contrast the assertions made in each article/blog. Where do they agree and disagree?

Using the lean and/or Six Sigma approach, what two actions could an organization take to improve the possibility for long-term improvement in an organization's processes?

Select a product with which you're familiar as a manufacturer or customer and make an assumption about its stage in the product life cycle.

Assuming your organization is using a Lean approach to remove waste from your organization, use the readings through Week 3 to explain the factors you will look for from your critical suppliers to support the Lean approach.

Resources & References

Week 3 Reading, Adding Value Through the Sourcing Process:

From IndustryWeek:

The Goal of the Lean Supply Chain

Choose 2-3 articles from LeanCor, a site dedicated to lean supply chain :

LeanCor Supply Chain Group - Articles

A write-up on the linkage between sourcing and the product life cycle by Source One:

Strategic Sourcing Throughout the Product Lifecycle

Quality terms glossary