subject: 5 Steps Breakthrough Strategy Of Six Sigma [print this page] To achieve Six Sigma, companies must determine how to focus and deploy the Six Sigma Breakthrough Strategy so that key business priorities and strategy issues are addressed. Six Sigma improvement efforts depend upon the contributions and teamwork of skilled participants. The executive leaders keep the Six Sigma program focused on real business problems so that six sigma impacts well. The same way Projects champions take their companys vision, goals, and metrics and translate them into individual unit task which help in increase the profit of the organization. A company that has recently had substantial losses, such as shrinking market share or losses due to high labor costs, might decide to focus on short-term cost reduction. On the other hand a company enjoying strong profits may decide to focus on long term projects aimed at strengthening its business by improving overall quality and customer satisfaction.
There are five main steps in the Breakthrough strategy of Six Sigma:
1. Select key Problem areas
2. Select and train the right people
3. Develop and implement improvements
4. Manage Six Sigma Projects
5. Sustain the gains
Step 1: Selecting key problem areas
Key problem areas in an organization would be those that:
1. Have a high impact on customer
2. Are critical to success
3. Show fastest or largest return
Step 2: Select and train the right people
Successful implementation of quality initiatives needs complete participation from every employee in an organization. They should be well informed, trained and motivated. A few people have to own the Six Sigma process.
Six Sigma Experience Levels
Six Sigma improvement efforts depend upon the contributions and teamwork of skilled participants at the following experience levels.
Executive Leaders
Executive Leaders keep the Six Sigma program focused on real business problems. They provide overall alignment with both the culture of the organization and its strategic vision of the future, and they create the system context for the organization.
Black Belt projects
Project selection approvals, liaise with the CEO or Chair of the Board, Communications, Deployment, Company Metrics, Command and Control functions, recognition of individuals and teams, and establishment of business targets all depend upon Six Sigma Executives.
Project Champions
Project Champions take their company's vision, missions, goals, and metrics and translate them into individual unit tasks.
Additionally, Champions must remove any roadblocks to the program's success.
Project Champions are involved in selecting projects and identifying Black and Green Belt Candidates.
They set improvement targets, provide resources, and review the projects on a regular basis so that they can transfer knowledge gained throughout the organization.
Master Black Belts
They are the technical leaders of Six Sigma.
They serve as the instructors for both Black and Green Belts and also provide ongoing coaching and support to project teams to assure the appropriate application of statistics
A built-in part of the long-term Six Sigma infrastructure, Master Black Belts help to create most of the key elements, such as metrics, enterprise maps, and training
In addition, they provide strategic and operational assistance to project Champions and management in the formulation and deployment of the Six Sigma program
Black Belts
Black Belts are the backbone of Six Sigma deployment and continuous improvements.
They build teams and attack problems by managing projects and then driving the teams for solutions that work, resulting in delivery of bottom-line results
As the Executive Leaders and the Project Champions work through deployment and resolve issues concerned with the recognize and define phases of Six Sigma, Black Belts work through each project using the principles measure, analyze, improve, and control
Green Belts
Green belts provide internal team support to Black Belts.
Are able to assist in data collection, computer data input, analysis of data
Using the software, and preparation of reports for management
Are respected workers who can manage the team in the absence of the Black Belt
Are part-time workers on a team and may migrate to this position because of their skills using basic quality analysis tools and methods and their ability to facilitate team activities
May become Black Belts over time as they build a personal base of experience that boosts them into a more technical role
Step 3: Develop and implement improvements
Broadly this has five important steps:
1. Define
2. Measure process
3. Analyze process
4. Improve process
5. Control process
There are 5 fundamental steps involved in applying the implementation strategy to achieve the Six Sigma process:
1. Plan
2. Assess
3. Evaluate
4. Enhance
5. Control
Step 4: Manage Six Sigma Projects
As a manager of the Six Sigma initiatives, it is necessary that you:
1. Lead a focused effort
2. Frequently review process and remove barriers
3. Check real business impact
4. Continuously communicate progress to executive leadership and those involved in projects
Step 5: Sustain the gains
The most difficult part is to sustain the gains that have been achieved.
1. Implement effective control plans
2. Conduct regular Six Sigma training to reinforce the initiative throughout the company
3. Review the projects effectiveness at regular scheduled intervals
4. Continually identify and launch new Six Sigma projects Successful implementation of Six Sigma
