Achieving operational excellence with AI
MIT Technology Review AI MIT Technology Review Insights
Companies are integrating AI into established process optimization frameworks like Lean Six Sigma and business process management to improve operational performance. The AI-powered process optimization market is projected to reach $113 billion within the next decade, with 88% of business leaders planning to increase AI process intelligence investments over the next 12 to 18 months. Organizations with mature process disciplines are better positioned to realize AI's value because they already operate with data-driven decision-making and measurement habits that AI systems require.
Why it matters
Frameworks like Lean Six Sigma and business process management (BPM) first gained traction because they promised clarity in the chaos—a structured way to bring order to messy, sprawling operations. Lean Six Sigma emphasized statistical rigor and quality control; BPM created end-to-end maps of how work should flow across departments. Both offered a repeatable way to…