Six Sigma has nothing to do with QA. Six Sigma is a methodology whereby a process can be imporved to be more efficient. Yes it cuts waste but it also looks at what can and cannot be cut from a process. All factors are considered in the process development. LEAN is an addition to the methodology the "streamlines" the process and eliminates that which hinders the process or what can be considered waste or "Lost Time" That being said it is NOT the Six Sigma methodology that is doing what you state above but rather the misguided individuals that are examining the process. They are taking an easy cost cutting measure at the expense of employee engagement. They are not factoring in the intangible loss of production in disengaging the workforce whereby there "cost cutting" has the opposite effect due to a decrease in production because of the disengagement. While that all sounds like double speak, in simple terms. Pissing off the employee to save cost drives up sick time and decreases efficiency due to **bleep** off employees losing interest.