Explained below are some of the essential requirements of Six Sigma implementations.
Identifying Business Processes That Can Be Improved
Six Sigma implementations are certainly not easy and this is why it is often not feasible for businesses to implement Six Sigma in each and every business process that might exist. The right thing to do is identify processes that might hold the most potential for improvement and implement Six Sigma only in those selected processes.
Such identification should be based on the existing overall value that a process might be contributing to the end product and also on how much it can contribute in the near future after the Six Sigma implementations are over. However, since the identification process is itself quite complex, it's recommended that businesses rely only on statistical tools and techniques rather than depend solely on the gut feelings of employees, managers and implementation team members.
Getting Professional Help
Since even the basic concepts, tools, techniques used during Six Sigma implementations are quite different from what the employees and the team members might be using while performing their day-to-day scheduled tasks, businesses should always opt for professional help right from the start of the implementation process.
Depending on the exact needs, businesses can get professional help by hiring the services of Six Sigma professionals such as Black Belts and Master Black Belts. For best results, it's recommended that businesses select only those professionals who might have experience in executing Six Sigma implementation projects that are similar to the one being planned by the business.
Considering Other Cost-Effective Options
However, since not all businesses can afford the relatively high pay packages demanded by most of these professionals, it is recommended that businesses, especially those that are already facing a resource crunch, consider other cost-effective options that might be available. One such option is to finance the professional training of some of the existing employees who can then apply for Six Sigma certification exams.
This way, businesses will be able to develop an in-house talent pool of Green Belts, Black Belts and Master Black Belts, who can then take care of the implementations. They will also never again have to worry about paying the enormous amounts of money required for hiring Six Sigma professionals from outside.
Apart from these, businesses also need emphasize providing continuous support and guidance to the implementation team members as well to all those employees who might be directly related to the Six Sigma implementations. Incentives and other motivational schemes can also be launched to boost the performance of all the stakeholders associated with the implementations.
Businesses that use these effective techniques will be in a better position to successfully complete the Six Sigma implementations and consequently derive the associated benefits.
Explained below are some of the easier deployment methods that have been utilized successfully by smaller businesses over the past few years.
Eliminating the Pricey and Lengthy Implementation Process
The standard Six Sigma implementation technique stresses altering existing business processes with an aim to improve the quality of the end product. Since all this involves considerable amount of time and costs, it's often not feasible for smaller businesses to utilize this technique.
However, in spite of these barriers, some businesses did manage to deploy Six Sigma because they were wise enough to concentrate on the basics (i.e. maintaining quality and affordability of their products and services). This innovative method allowed these businesses to limit the time, effort and costs that are necessary for understanding customer needs and expectations and consequently altering or designing products based on these.
This method is quite effective because it successfully captures the real needs and requirements of the majority of customers, which is often just "quality and affordability".
Eliminating the Need for Top Management Support
Six Sigma deployments require continuous support and guidance from the top management, but since the senior officials in smaller business organizations are often too busy with their day-to-day activities, it becomes difficult for smaller businesses to derive the benefits of Six Sigma. To overcome this problem, what some of the smaller organizations did was that they appointed a single person as a representative of top management.
This method proved effective because it benefited both the deployment team members as well as the top management officials. Team members benefited because it made it easier for them to communicate their needs and requirements to the top management whereas the top management officials benefited because most of them were freed from the task of directly overseeing the Six Sigma deployments.
Eliminating the Need for Outside Six Sigma Professionals
Six Sigma professionals such as Black Belts play an important role during Six Sigma deployments. However, since most of them demand top dollar for their services, it's often not feasible for small businesses to employ them. To overcome this problem, what some of the smaller businesses did was opt to train their existing employees and offered incentives to anyone who might complete the standard certification courses such as Green Belts and Black Belts. This method not only solved their short-term problems, but also ensured that they will never again have to worry about incurring huge expenses to hire Six Sigma professionals.
As can be seen, most of these methods are based on sound business logic and most importantly - "common sense". As such, it's recommended that small businesses just concentrate on these to pave the way for Six Sigma deployments. Deriving the benefits of Six Sigma will then no longer be a problem for these small businesses.
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.