The big difference between business process reengineering and continuous improvement programs such as TQM or SIx Sigma is that

reengineering is a tool for achieving one$-$time quantum improvements, whereas TQM and Six Sigma programs alm at incremental progress improvement $($striving for inch$-$by$-$inch gains again and again in a never$-$ending stream$),$

business process reengineering requires benchmarking, whereas TQM and Six Sigma do not.

reengineering is a tool for installing process organization, whereas TQM and SIx Sigma concern defectfree production methods and dellivering world$-$class customer service.

reengineering represents an effort to totally revamp a firm's value chain, whereas TQM looks at Incrementally improving the performance of two or three targeted value chain activities.

reengineering helps create core competencles, whereas TQM and SIx Sigma are tools for making a core competence stronger and more efficient.