The 10 Best Lean Six Sigma Software for 2023

What is a Lean Six Sigma Software?

A Lean Six Sigma software, in simple terms, is any software that helps you perform Lean Six Sigma regularly. The expected outcomes of using Lean Six Sigma software are increased efficiency, standardized operations, and higher productivity. It can be used by any business looking to improve its processes.

Importance

Most of the Lean Six Sigma software tools available today are overly complicated and confusing, resulting in employees becoming intimidated by the Lean Six Sigma method in general. This is why it’s important for an organization to understand its needs and goals to be able to pick the most suitable platform to use in managing tasks, projects, and systems using Lean Six Sigma practices. Maximizing the smart features and functionalities of a Lean Six Sigma software helps improve productivity and achieve maximum efficiency across the board.

Additionally, Lean Six Sigma software solutions allow organizations to enjoy the following benefits:

Create Custom Lean Six Sigma Templates

While some Lean Six Sigma software solutions have several pre-made Lean Six Sigma templates that you can use and download for free, you also have the option of creating your own custom Lean Six Sigma template within the software’s template editor. You can also add a variety of response types to your templates, including multiple-choice items, logic fields, files, photos, text answers, numbers, and more.

Find Sources of Waste and Variation Easily

A Lean Six Sigma software makes it easy for you to spot trends and patterns so that you can fix inefficiencies in a snap. View commonly failed items across facilities, departments, and processes. Delve deep into why a problem occurred in the first place by conferring with your teammates.

Act on Analytics for Maximum Efficiency

This kind of software has the functionality to combine data and actions into one powerful analytics dashboard. You can set scoring systems in your templates to see their averages in the form of percentages and graphs. To make the most out of the Lean Six Sigma software you’re using, you can also create an action for each issue spotted and input the due date, status, and priority for it to show up in your dashboard.

Applying Lean Six Sigma Using Software

Though many in the manufacturing industry are already familiar with the Lean Six Sigma method, for those at a loss as to how to actually apply it in their business operations, here are a few steps to help you get started:

Collect Consistent Data

Before you can even begin improving your processes, you have to understand them first. And to do this, you need data. While gathering and organizing data can be time-consuming, it’s still an essential step since the backbone of Lean Six Sigma is ultimately data.

However, this does not necessarily mean that you have to start from scratch. If you already have solid documentation of your business processes and they’re on paper, you can use these valuable sources of information by converting them into digital files.

If you do not have any valid records of your systems, then you can start by conducting an audit. There are many different types of audits for various industries. While audits are mostly third-party examinations of a business in order to assess its compliance with standards and regulations, businesses themselves may perform internal audits for process improvement.

Pinpoint Problem Areas

Now that you have all your data in one place, you can begin identifying areas or phases within the process where problems frequently occur. However, take note that the strength of this step relies on the robustness of your issue-raising platform. After all, if day-to-day issues aren’t flagged by your employees, then neither you nor their manager would be able to see or notice that a problem needs to be solved.

Embrace Teamwork

For businesses looking to fully implement the Lean Six Sigma method and not just apply some of the principles, one of the most vital actions you need to take is to form a cross-functional team. While this may not be necessary for smaller businesses or ones with a completely integrated workforce, it is crucial for medium to large-sized enterprises with isolated departments.

When forming your cross-functional team for Lean Six Sigma, you need to ensure that there’s a knowledgeable representative from each department. This person must be adept at the previous and current processes that the department is using and have good communication and coordination skills.

Grow With Change

While the earlier steps reviewed the effectiveness of your operations by analyzing your processes, this last step is focused on both attitude and action. For Lean Six Sigma initiatives, it’s ideal for you, your employees, and their managers to have an open-minded attitude that is eager to change. Why? Because change brings about innovation if handled successfully.

However, while having the right attitude is a good start, it can only get you so far. Even if you have the best intentions and ideas, if your execution is lacking, then the impact of any solution you come up with is minimized to the point of only slightly improving a small part of the process. That’s why it’s critical to turn any issues you’ve encountered while doing Lean Six Sigma into feasible actions that can be adapted to change.

How to Pick the Best Lean Six Sigma Software

To help you choose, top Lean Six Sigma software programs must have these features:

• Smart Templates – Create unlimited smart templates and convert your existing paper forms to digital templates.
• Inspections – Complete inspections from anywhere at any time with a Lean Six Sigma software program.
• Fast Reporting – Detailed inspection reports help problems get solved quicker.
• Insights & Analytics – Turn your Lean Six Sigma data into actionable insights.
• Integrations – Connect your other to business software systems such as Tableau, Sharepoint and more.
• Workflow Automation – Automate the boring stuff—from scheduling inspections to sharing reports.

For a quick overview of which Lean Six Sigma software is best suited for your needs, here’s a roundup of our best 10:

• Best Overall: SafetyCulture
• Best for Complex Project Management: TRACtion
• Best for Organizations with Internal and External Teams: Tallyfy
• Best for Enterprises: The Lean Way
• Best for Managing Continuous Improvement Efforts: KaiNexus
• Best for Manufacturing and Service Companies: iGrafx
• Best for All Industries: Minitab Engage
• Best for Quality Supervisors and Project Managers: EdApp by SafetyCulture
• Best for Healthcare and Chemical Industries: JMP
• Best for Business Compliance Management: SoftExpert

You may also use this table for the comparison of free version availability, pricing of paid plans, and mobile app capability:

Lean Six Sigma Software	Free Version	Paid Plan	Mobile App
SafetyCulture	Yes	$19/month/10 users	Yes
TRACtion	None	$7,500*	None
Tallyfy	None	$5/member/month**	None
The Lean Way	None	$20/user/month***	Yes
KaiNexus	None	Details upon request	Yes
iGrafx	None	Details upon request	None
Minitab Engage	None	Details upon request	None
EdApp by SafetyCulture	Yes	$1.95/user/month	Yes
JMP	None	$125/month	None
SoftExpert	None	$200/user/month	Yes

* one-time installation fee for a minimum of 10 users, with a separate annual usage fee
** for a minimum of 10 members billed annually
*** for 25 users billed annually

To better support your Lean Six Sigma efforts, utilize other related apps and software solutions in improving your processes, maintaining quality, and enhancing your organization’s overall productivity:

• Kaizen App to help ensure continuous improvement every day in the workplace
• Project Management Software to assign tasks, schedule activities, track progress, and monitor resources
• Workflow Software to manage documents and processes
• Quality Control App to streamline quality control inspection processes
• QMS Software to standardize operations and enhance quality in your organization

You may also check out these ready-to-use Lean Six Sigma checklist templates you can download and customize using SafetyCulture:

• 7 Wastes Checklist
• DMAIC Template
• DMADV Template
• Kaizen Report Template
• Gemba Walk Checklist

Browse more templates