Which method combines eliminating waste with quality improvement practices?

The method that combines eliminating waste with quality improvement practices is Lean Six Sigma. This approach integrates the principles of Lean manufacturing, which focuses on reducing waste, with Six Sigma, which emphasizes improving quality by identifying and removing defects in processes.

Lean practices aim to streamline operations by eliminating non-value-added activities, making processes more efficient. At the same time, Six Sigma leverages data-driven approaches to ensure that the processes meet high-quality standards, minimizing variability and defects. By combining these two methodologies, Lean Six Sigma seeks to enhance overall performance and efficiency in organizations.

In contrast, Agile methodology primarily focuses on iterative development and adaptability to change, making it less centered on waste elimination and quality management in the same way Lean Six Sigma is. The Scrum framework is a subset of Agile that emphasizes collaboration and fixed time frames but does not directly incorporate waste reduction principles. Design thinking is a creative problem-solving approach that encourages innovation and user-centered design, rather than focusing specifically on waste elimination or quality improvement as primary objectives.