What is considered the foundation of Lean Six Sigma?

The foundation of Lean Six Sigma is centered around identifying customer value and streamlining processes. This is essential because the primary goal of Lean Six Sigma is to improve overall customer satisfaction while increasing efficiency in processes. By understanding what customers value, organizations can eliminate non-value-added activities, which leads to more efficient processes and better products or services.

Focusing solely on waste reduction is a subset of the broader goal, and while it's important, it doesn't encompass the full philosophy of Lean Six Sigma. Similarly, improving employee satisfaction and reducing production costs are significant aspects of operational excellence but do not represent the core principle that combines understanding customer needs with process optimization. Identifying customer value and streamlining processes ensures that all efforts align with delivering the best possible outcome for customers, which is the ultimate aim of both Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.