Six Sigma is not easy to implement and requires a lot of effort on part of the organization to make it a success. It makes sense to implement 6 Sigma concepts only in areas where the potential for reducing costs are quite immense. The best way of identifying the areas of improvement is to utilize statistical tools and techniques that help in measuring the existing value provided by a business process and also the potential benefits that can be derived by implementing Six Sigma. Statistical tools and techniques also help in assessing the cost of the implementations, which allows the senior management to select only the most cost-effective implementation projects.
Utilizing The Services Of 6 Sigma Professionals
For ensuring the success of Six Sigma implementations, it is necessary to utilize the know-how and expertise offered by 6 Sigma professionals such as Black Belts, Master Black Belts, Six Sigma Champions and others. Most of these professionals have live experience in executing 6 Sigma implementation projects and provide multi-level support during the implementation process. The only problem is that Six Sigma professionals charge top-dollars for their services, which can create financial problems, especially for organizations that are already facing a resource crunch.
Since it is quite difficult to implement 6 Sigma concepts without the guidance and support of Six Sigma professionals, the best option for these organizations is to train their existing employees. Depending on implementation needs, organizations can choose from a wide range of certification courses for their employees. By transforming existing employees into 6 Sigma professionals, organizations will be able to harness their existing organizational knowledge and the expertise that they develop during the training. Another benefit is that such organizations will never have to deal with expenses related with hiring Six Sigma professionals from outside because most of the skills and expertise will be available in-house.
Leadership Support And Guidance
For timely and effective implementations, it is necessary for top-rung management to provide continuous support and guidance to 6 Sigma implementation teams as and when needed. The senior management can provide valuable insights during the implementations and can define the specific roles of implementation team members in order to avoid the potential occurrence of conflict and confusion.
The actual execution of Six Sigma implementation projects is quite similar to the execution of any other management-related project undertaken by an organization. The aims and objectives of the projects may differ widely, but the managerial tools and techniques employed for executing the projects are more or less the same. We can thus conclude that the basic management principles apply to 6 Sigma implementations in the same way as they apply to any other management initiative.
Six Sigma basically aims at improving the efficiency of business processes by reducing the number of defects. The aim is to achieve near-perfect processes wherein the number of defects does not exceed 3.4 per million opportunities that exist for such defects to occur under normal circumstances. 6 Sigma concepts can be implemented in all types of organizations, be it a sole-proprietorship having a few simple processes or a large corporation having hundreds of complex business processes.
However, in order to realize the full potential of Six Sigma implementations, it is necessary to define and understand a few basics that are vital for the success of any 6 Sigma implementation. Explained below are some of the key characteristics of Six Sigma that organizations need to understand before actually executing 6 Sigma implementation projects.
Leadership support and commitment
The success of any Six Sigma implementation project depends a lot on the level of support that is provided by the top management to 6 Sigma teams handling the implementations. Support and commitment is required in the form of time, effort and resources, which are vital for the success of any quality improvement initiative undertaken by an organization. The leadership cannot afford to have a laid-back attitude while Six Sigma implementation projects are being implemented in the organization.
Data-Driven Approach
6 Sigma concepts, if successfully implemented, do help in reducing defects and improving efficiency. This is because Six Sigma quality improvement techniques are based on sound reasoning and make use of statistical tools that provide accurate results. The data-driven approach helps in reducing the dependence on human experience and gut feelings, which can sometimes prove disastrous, especially when dealing with complex business processes having multiple sub processes. Statistical tools are utilized at every stage of the 6 Sigma implementation process such as Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control to eliminate the occurrence of human-errors.
Training And Cultural Change
Six Sigma, as a quality improvement methodology, lays stress on providing the requisite training to employees so that they are able to carry out the implementations far more effectively. Appropriate training is necessary for all types of personnel associated with the implementation projects, be it a senior manager or a plant foreman dealing with routine tasks. 6 Sigma also stresses making employees aware about the changes that are bound to happen after the implementations.
Employees should be made aware about possible changes in their work environment and how it will help them in reducing their workload and increasing their overall efficiency.
All the above stated characteristics form the core of any Six Sigma implementation project and should be strictly adhered to for ensuring the success of the implementations. Non-compliance to any one of the above stated basics can seriously undermine the effectiveness of the implementations and can even lead to redundancies that can prove very costly for the organization.
Tony Jacowski has sinced written about articles on various topics from University, Six Sigma and Information Technology. Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online and certification classes for lean six sigm. Tony Jacowski's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.