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So, you’re thinking of implementing a Six Sigma management system and providing Six Sigma training for your staff to help them to implement it? However, implementing Six Sigma successfully is about more than just training, so here are our top 10 tips to implementing Six Sigma successfully within your organisation.

In addition to our range of Six Sigma training courses, we can also provide private or bespoke training tailored to the needs of your business, and provide all the consultancy and assistance you need to implement Six Simga along the way. If you’re interested in learning more, call to speak to one of our Training Managers on 01273 622272, or e-mail info@siliconbeachtraining.co.uk

Our top 10 tips for getting the best from Six Sigma are:

1. Top management commitment and leadership is paramount.

To secure commitment from the top management the first step is to train them. This should start with an introduction to Six Sigma and the tools and techniques used, and then the responsibilities and roles of the management as Champions. The leadership should be convinced of the benefits six sigma brings. A steering committee should be formed from the executive management so as to ensure that firstly: resources are planned for and roadblocks removed, and secondly: organizational goals are aligned with Six Sigma projects. Also a person to lead this should be selected. They will be trained as a Black Belt and will give regular reports to the Committee. The person selected should be the best performing person for this job.

2. All leaders should be Six Sigma Champions.

This normally involves a 2 day Six Sigma Champions training session that ensures that they learn to ask the right questions of any Six Sigma practitioners. This will include the Steering Committee,functional managers and process owners.

3. Conjoin Six Sigma planning within that of your business plan.

Make sure that Six Sigma Project savings become an input for the Operating Plan for the next year.

4. Ensure that the person training your belts is the right person for the job.

It is important to remember that the best trainers are practitioners of Six Sigma as opposed to an academic who will only teach theory. A typical Black Belt training program will be delivered over a couple of months, after which the Black Belt will complete a project before they are certified. A Green Belt will take over 4 months but only requires one project for certification.

5. The return on training investment should be at least 20 times what is put in.

This can be achieved by good practitioner positioning and correct project planning.

6. Spread movement along all sections of the business.

Rather than just concentrating all the projects on a few Black or Green Belts, teach shop floor operators how to use the tools and techniques. The project leaders and their team should be rewarded, so as to motivate them. A basic Lean Processes and Tools training course will be sufficient for shop floor staff.

7. Have a certification process.

Make sure that the certification process is fair and well thought out. This will mean that only through a successful completion of projects and good use of the tools and techniques will the candidate get certified. The Six Sigma reviewer, Finance Leader and Functional Area Manager should sign a certificate that declares if any benefits have actually been had.

8. Start a mentoring process.

Proper guidance should be given by any experienced practitioners to new candidates. This will mean that projects are completed on time and course corrections are made regularly.

9.Financial validation of projects is also important.

The Finance Leader should always sign off on any project’s savings. The project leader should deal with any tracking responsibility.

10. Six Sigma should not be classified as a Quality Manager’s job.

A Quality Manager’s role is distinct and they will not be able to manage a Six Sigma process for an entire business.

For even more Six Sigma tips and information, visit the Six Sigma section of our Free Resources pages

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Lean, Six Sigma, Six Sigma Black Belt, Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Training, top tips

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This entry was posted by Colin Welch on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Lean & Six Sigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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