The Application of Lean Principles and Six Sigma in the Mexican Health Care System

This research addresses the application of Lean principles and Six Sigma in health care. Lean manufacturing methods were developed in Toyota after World War II and focused on continuous improvement, involvement of personnel, and the elimination of waste. Six Sigma was introduced by Motorola in the late 1980’s as a variation reduction approach. Of the two, Six Sigma is fundamentally statistical. By contrast, Lean’s power comes from its simplicity although underlying this is a process basis that is arguably statistical. Both approaches started being used in health care, mostly in US Hospitals, having results such as the reduction of mortality rates, improving discharging processes, reduction of surgical site infections, to mention a few. In Europe, the Red Cross Hospital (the Netherlands) applied Six Sigma in at least three different areas; in the UK, places using these approaches include the Royal Gwent Hospital in Cardiff (reducing waiting lists for ultrasound), Bolton Hospital (death rates for patients having operations were reduced by a third); and just recently in Mexico. The goal of this research is to examine the applicability of Lean principles and/ Six Sigma in health care (with a focus on the Mexican health care system), as well as to identify the most useful tools/techniques, and what key factors are needed to succeed in the implementation of the approach in health care. Research was conducted at two different provider organisations in different countries: the University Hospitals of Leicester (UK) and at the ISSSTE Puebla Regional Hospital (Mexico). The research was undertaken using two pilot and two case studies. Interviews with consultants, hospital managers, staff and some patients were also carried out. Thus, qualitative and quantitative information was gathered.