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Lean Six Sigma, Pt. 2: AI Changes Processes. It Doesn’t Eliminate Discipline.

This second of our four-part series explores why the most successful AI transformations are built on trust, control and domain expertise, not technology alone.

June 18, 2026

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Editor's Note: This is the second in a four-part article series. See Part 1 here.

The Challenge

There is a growing belief, especially in tech circles, that “AI doesn’t optimize processes. It replaces them.” Examples often cited include no-code AI agents replacing multi-step workflows; customer service shifting from queues to conversational resolution; planning moving from structured cycles (S&OP) to continuous prediction; and back-office functions collapsing into autonomous systems. The implication: If processes disappear, then Lean Six Sigma becomes irrelevant.

My view: This is partly…

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