A BLENDED APPROACH OF LEAN SIX SIGMA AND TRIZ TO DISCOVER AN OPTIMAL LEVEL FOR EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT IN PURCHASING INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS

This paper focuses on using Lean Six Sigma principles incorporated with TRIZ to develop a strategic approach to establish the level of empowerment. Leadership decisions can either overly empower individuals beyond acceptable levels or under empower them and do not provide any benefits. The latest trend within all organizations is to invert the organizational triangle. All organizational leadership seeks to leverage the workforce to make decisions and prevent bureaucracy by empowering individuals closest to the process. One area that gets a lot of focus and attention is the Inventory Management department, where goods are purchased for the services. Researching historical spending via the Six Sigma DMAIC program structure and fundamentals of the TRIZ principles were exploited to develop the optimal value ensuring there is significant satisfaction of the customer.