Explained below are some of the major factors that are often held responsible for Six Sigma project failures. Businesses need to consider these well in advance if they are to get anywhere near to their stated goals and objectives.
Lack of Proper Communication
Top management may very well understand the importance of Six Sigma projects and may be doing its best to ensure the success of such projects, but if it does not make an effort to get the message through to the employees, they are most likely to think that this is just another quality improvement initiative or simply irrelevant.
Such developments are certainly not conducive for Six Sigma project implementations because ultimately it's the employees who carry out the implementations. If the majority of the employees fail to understand the real potential of such projects, they are highly unlikely to lend their full support and cooperation, something that is vital for ensuring the success of Six Sigma project implementations.
This is why businesses need to get their communications right before starting a Six Sigma project.
Lack of Professional Support
Implementing Six Sigma is certainly not an easy task and often requires the expertise of seasoned professionals whose main job is to provide the necessary guidance to Six Sigma implementation teams. Since most of these professionals demand top-dollar for their services, businesses are sometimes forced to do go on with the implementations without having these leaders in the implementation team.
If the team members are good enough, then the business can surely get what it wants, but if not, then not much can be said about the project's success. However, businesses that do not have the requisite funds to hire Six Sigma professionals need not worry too much because they can always opt for other more affordable options that might be available.
For example, they can opt to provide professional Six Sigma training to their own employees, which will be far more affordable and effective than hiring a Six Sigma professional from outside. Empowering its employees with Black Belts and Green Belts certificates will go a long way in ensuring the success of Six Sigma project implementations, not to mention the huge cost savings that will follow.
There are many other reasons as to why Six Sigma projects sometimes fail to deliver the desired results, but since it's the human aspects that often matter the most, businesses should primarily focus on factors described above.
It is only when the employees are fully motivated, can a business hope to achieve the desired goals and objectives through the Six Sigma project.
So, what exactly can businesses do for reducing the quantum of risks associated with Six Sigma implementations? Well, for the right answer, you simply have to look at the existing trends in the business world, which is increasingly making its preferences felt in Pilot Six Sigma projects.
Defining Pilot Six Sigma Projects
To start with, you need to know that Pilot Six Sigma projects are nothing but toned- down versions of full-scale Six Sigma implementation projects. You can compare them with the clinical trials of an experimental vaccine, medicine or diagnostic tool that has not yet been cleared for commercial production.
In effect, Six Sigma Pilot projects are basically experimentations that a business conducts in order to check for compatibility and to get a hang of the real thing. The best thing about Six Sigma Pilot projects is that the business benefits, irrespective of the success or failure of the Pilot project.
If the project succeeds, the business gains because it then becomes eligible for full scale Six Sigma implementations. And it gains even in the event of a failure, because a failed Pilot project provides a good opportunity to identify the latent shortcomings of the business that may be difficult to point out in the due course.
Who Are The Most Prominent Beneficiaries?
Over the years, Six Sigma Pilot projects have been carried out by almost all types of businesses, large and small. Benefits, it seems, have also been distributed equally, irrespective of the size or nature of the business.
However, it wouldn't be wrong to say that it's the small businesses that have benefited the most, obviously because they are the ones who often do not have the financial muscle to sustain the grave business risks that can easily become a possibility during full-scale Six Sigma implementations.
Six Sigma Pilot projects have helped these businesses in reducing risks associated with full-scale Six Sigma implementations. Large businesses may be doing the same, but since they often have many other options to choose from, they are not completely dependent on Six Sigma Pilot projects.
Small businesses, on the other hand, hardly have any other option - and this is why they are the ones who stand to gain the most from Six Sigma Pilot implementation projects.
For deriving the best possible benefits from Six Sigma Pilot projects, businesses should make an effort to identify processes that have comparatively lesser risks associated with them.
This way, the day to day functioning of the business will not get affected even if the Pilot project fails to take off. This is applicable for all types of businesses, large and small.
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.