Participant Interview : Anish Mohandas- Quality Lead, Zylog Systems.

A Six Sigma Black Belt from Benchmark, Mr Mohandas has met heights in his career at an early age. He attributes his success only to one phenomenon that happened to him, Six Sigma. Read on...

Q1) Tell me briefly about your career Journey so far.

A) I started my career as a quality Executive in Cognizant Technologies. I completed my Green Belt training three years back and then completed my Black Belt training from Benchmark last year. With only 4.5 years of professional experience, my career growth has been tremendous only because of six sigma.

Q2) Has Six Sigma impacted your career? Have you reaped any benefits from it in your personal life?

A) Of course, Yes. It all started three years back when I did my first Six Sigma green belt project. It has not only improved the business process but it has personally improved my career. (Grins!) I got the exposure to talk to my senior management at early stage (in their language).I also learned that Six sigma is not only about statistical concept but also self development.

Q3) How precisely do you apply Six Sigma skills in your current job at Zylog Systems?

A) Six Sigma methodology is applied on day to day basis. I have come out with the four step approach as follows:

1. Project Selection and purpose

2. Current Situation Analysis

3. Solution Development ‘

4. Project Implementation and results

Some of my projects are as follows:

1. Reduction of OLA deviation in CVS Processing

2. Reduction of corporate wireless incidents

Q4) Which Six Sigma methodologies do you use most often?

A) DMAIC methodology.

Q5) You pursued your black belt from BSS. How conducive was the experience?

A) Yes, I attended the black belt training from Benchmark Six Sigma. To summarize in one line, I don't think we have any other six sigma training providers with such an excellent faculty and course structure.

Q6) What sort of SS Projects have you working on in past? Kindly mention some.

A) I am basically in to ISP. I have done 4 to 5 green belt projects including the black belt .

Some of my projects are as follows:

1. Reduction of OLA deviation in CVS Processing

2. Reduction of corporate wireless incidents

Q7) Do you think anybody if willing, can learn Six Sigma? Or it is only meant for academically brilliant people?

A) I don't think you need academically brilliant people to undergo Six sigma training but industrial experience is an added advantage. One should know how to implement six sigma concepts in their work place. I would recommend people to come up with business issues while attending the six sigma program.

Q8) Would you like to give any suggestions to us for improving our program?

A) Your training is good and very professional. I don't have any suggestions. Keep it up.

Q9) Would you like to tell us about your future plans? How will your Six Sigma learning benefit you?

A) I am planning to undergo Six Sigma Master Black belt training from Benchmark this year. I would like to implement Six Sigma across the organization and train every individual on Six Sigma concepts.

Q10) Would you like to give any message for readers.

A) Six sigma is not only a tool for process improvement or statistical concept that should be applied in the industry but it is a philosophy which mandates operational excellence. Also, out of my own experience, I have discovered that Six Sigma implementation fails only due to the following reason:

• Lack of Visible Leadership
• Lack of alignment to clear organizational strategy
• Lack of performance tracking and accountability
• Failure to link projects to bottom line
• Insufficient and Ineffective allocation of human resources
• Over Emphasis on rigid approach and technical tools

(Chuckles) So once you are on your road to Six Sigma and you reach the pillar of implementation, please heed these. Best of luck.