Project reviews are simple checks of the stage at which the project stands, whether or not it is following the timelines, the usage of appropriate tools and so on. The key areas of the outcome or the targets achieved at various stages are reviewed.
Generally, the team leader or mentor takes on the milestone reviews with the project Champion and the team.
Participants: It is important to decide who will be involved in the project and those who will be involved with the reviews.
Very often it is the Green Belts, Black Belts, Master Black Belts, Champion and the other chosen members of management who will be involved in such review meetings.
Duration: Typically, the project should be reviewed after a single phase is completed. For example, if you are following the DMAIC methodology, you will have a review after all the phases.
The same would be true for other methodologies like DMADV, IDOV and so on.
Review preparation: You should prepare for the review by ensuring that a room is reserved, necessary presentation equipment is in place and white boards and markers are available.
Team leads should also communicate and schedule the review meeting with all participants.
Review content: The project review involves an initial introduction by the Champion on highlights and the importance of the project. Project team presentations follow, and explain the recently completed phase. The reviewers should be able to identify from this the positive results achieved by the team.
Any clarifications and suggestions should be put on the table and resolved during this time. Any drawbacks in the project or non-usage of a tool by the team should be considered - and if the tool has no utility, the Master Black Belts may decide to sign-off on the phase.
The session normally ends with the instructions of the Champion on areas for improvement, as well as supporting and inspiring messages.
Benefits of Project Reviews
-Project Progress: Reviews ensure that the team remains focused on the goals of the project and are aware of the formal milestones achieved on set timelines.
-Guidance: A project review is not about criticism of any drawbacks; it is more inclined towards providing a helping hand for the smooth flow of the project phases.
The experience of the champions and the team leaders helps in aligning the activities for the success of the project.
-Aligned Goals: Reviews ensure that multiple teams are moving toward achieving a common goal.
-Removal of Barriers: If the teams are facing certain barriers, they can be sorted out by sharing them with the Champion. They also share the best practices on the subject matter aimed at improvement.
-Rewards: The hard work being put in by team members is recognized on completion of the project - and team members are appropriately awarded for their contributions.
Project reviews are beneficial to the health of any Six Sigma project. Companies can achieve the desired outcome if timely reviews are undertaken.
For Six Sigma deployment to be successful in an organization, a sustained effort is required by all. The entire organization must be a part of the routine set forth during Six Sigma implementation. And the leadership has to be vigilant in patrolling the ongoing success of the project. Usually in the early stages of the project, a close eye is paid to the project areas to ensure everything is going forward correctly. At that stage, any failure is corrected right away. The declining support of projects is a major indicator of the current situation. It may be in the form of company leaders who show no commitment or when the Black Belts and Champions find it difficult to recruit people to undertake various responsibilities. Where there were high quality and expert employees in various roles, now the roles are given to those who lack such skills. The Six Sigma leaders should take a hint in any drop in the attendance of members at team meetings. When people start questioning their involvement and feel overburdened, then there is surely a lack of interest among the members. When the Six Sigma project selection is done without due consideration to the returns on investment, they should accept the fact that the support is lacking for the Six Sigma projects. Further, if project deadlines are not being met and their results are much below set standards, then it is time for project leaders to wake up. When the goals set for the project starts to become modest and the achievement is below the standards, it shows that the project is on the track to failure. For Six Sigma to be successful, all teams and employees need to share enthusiasm for their projects as well as interest and respect for the rest. Teams must coordinate their activities with other teams with no regard to exclusivity. Everyone must remain true to the task at hand, which is the project, and nothing else. The achievement of goals can not be done in the old ways of doing things. That is a clear sign of a setback. When the responsibilities of the Champions or the Black Belts or the Master Black Belts are assigned to other people who may not fit the criteria for the project, then it means the Six Sigma project is failing. Such erosion of Six Sigma roles and responsibilities and the loss of the enthusiasm of the Six Sigma members in the Six Sigma activities is a major sign that the project is failing. If Six Sigma leaders take due notice of these failure signs and take timely measures, they would be able to save and revive interest in the project. They can take measures to bolster the interest in the project and ensure that the goal of the project is achieved.
Both Tony Jacowski & Craig Calvin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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 six sigma pro. Tony Jacowski's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Craig Calvin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Six Sigma, Six Sigma and Six Sigma. Craig Calvin is a noted authority on methodology today. If you are thinking about taking the. Craig Calvin's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.