A compressed Lean Six Sigma approach that delivers

In the world of private equity and scaling SMBs, time is the enemy.

Process improvement efforts must deliver rapid, measurable impact.

Ask an operating partner about Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and you’ll likely get an eye roll. End of conversation. LSS methodologies, while effective, are often viewed as too heavy and slow for the velocity PE firms demand and what is best for agile SMBs.

Here’s the shift: a 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗮 approach retains the rigor but sheds the overhead. Instead of six-month DMAIC cycles and binders of documentation and process maps, think in sprints of 30 to 45 days that are targeted at cash-critical workflows.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀:

• Quote-to-Cash

• Hire-to-Onboard

• Close-to-Report

• Customer Onboarding-to-Billing

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀:

• Define & Measure in 5-7 days with SIPOC and value stream mapping

• Improve in 2-4 weeks using Lean tactics directly tied to OKRs

• Control through lightweight governance

• Sustain results through dashboards + KPI owners (no PMO army needed)

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻:

• Improved DSO through quoting, order entry, and fulfillment improvements

  • 22% faster revenue cycle

  • 30% fewer AR exceptions

• Days stripped out of the monthly close process

• FTEs reallocated from wasteful correction of orders and invoices

• All outcomes aligned to OKRs

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀

This model isn’t about perfection. It’s about sustainable impact and speed. Much like implementing CIS 18 controls in stages over the full NIST catalog of cybersecurity controls, compressed LSS prioritizes speed and impact without compromising effectiveness. Both approaches focus on what matters most, eliminating unnecessary overhead, and creating impactful results.

Private equity operating partners and SMB CEOs don’t have time for frameworks that don't produce results with velocity. They need sustainable and measurable impact, revenue acceleration, and margin improvements. This approach delivers all three. So instead of glorifying the process, compress it.

Strip away the overhead. Keep what drives change. Move fast.