Although,a lot of questions has to be answered before we pick up six-sigma project but these are the ten key questions one must answer for success of the project.

1.What is the importance of this project for your company's strategy?
2. What would be the impact on the paying customers (internal & External)?
3. What is the planned business impact?
4. What is the scope of project?
5. What are the processes involved?
6. What is defect and how is it measured?
7. What is targeted improvement?
8. What is project timeline?
9. What are the project boundaries?
10. What do you need from management to assure success of this project?

Contributions to the list would be highly appreciated. The objective is to make it a complete check list for starters of six-sigma poject.

Dear Nitin,

Here are a few more questions to your list:

11. What is the pain area - when does it occur, where does it occur, how often, quantify...

12. Is this a chronic issue or a one-time issue?

13. Is the solution already known?

14. Is the root cause already known?

15. Is data available to understand the root cause?

16. Who are the recommended team members?

17. Expected financial impact of the project

18. Identify risks for project failure

19. Can the project be successful - chance of success and can this project be completed on time

20. Are there other similar projects that have been done before?

Hi Suresh,

Many time discussions held in an oranization that in six sigma only those projects should be taken which need six sigma tools (Gage R&R, Cp, Cpk , DOE etc) while to maximize financial benefit thorugh six sigma various cost saving projects also taken in six sigma to spread six sigma culture and over all benefit of organization.

I want to know is it correct way or should we take only those projects in six sigma which actually need complex tools.

Bye

Vijay Sardana

Dear Vijay,

You bring a very valid point. I have seen some companies (and Master Black Belts) get bogged down by analysis paralysis - expect Green Belts and Black Belts to use all sorts of tools for no apparent reason which only causes projects to take a lot longer than required with no added value to the company.

At a high level, Six Sigma is a methodical approach to solve problems which includes the following steps:

a) Develop project charter

Ensure measurement data is good & establish baseline

c) Identify root causes

d) Develop best solution

e) Implement & control

None of the above steps can be skipped if you want a robust solution. Having said that it is up to the project leader to decide what tools really make sense in each phase of DMAIC for the given project. Not all projects need complex tools, you can use relatively simple tools to get to the right solution as long as you cover the bases and address the high level steps identified above.

In summary, Six Sigma is not about the tools and it does not have to take 6 months to a year to complete a Six Sigma project.

Best Regards,

SJ

Dear Suresh,

Thanks for the value addition to the list.

I hope it will definitely beneficial for all.

I appreciate your contribution and will try to initiate similar discussions.

Regards,

Nitin Raheja

Hi Nitin, I think you have many good responses to your question.

My only addition to this would be to leverage something called a Process/Product Drill Down tree that maps the key processes/products in the business along with the CTQs. What you end up with is a grid that displays all possible process-CTQ combinations and then you can select the combinations that need attention. Subsequenly one can apply the set of questions in this thread to prioritise which areas need attention and of what kind. As pointed out by Vijay not all Six Sigma projects need to be complex and long ... there are always low-hanging fruits that can be attacked quickly.

In the organisation I worked with it all Black Belts/Master Black Belts were advised to create a Process/Product drill down tree in order to identify improvement opportunities that links to organisational objectives.

Regards

Arup

Hi, Nitin it is now count down in the family of buisness. we have no short fall in the on going buisness. we have gone through ups and down and the process of bringing down the fag end and cutting down the entire monetary scenario and the opposite direction Economic which going down on all angles I consider that we have to have a sustain growth in the economy which in turn not only redusing the process of cutting cost we have to have a growth which is 7.5% we are standing good i suppose we have regular banking policy and industrial growth and Foreighn investment .

I suppose we have learnt from the international scenerio

New check list after a significant contribution from Six sigma trainers and Project experts...a must reference list

UPDATED LIST 21 QUESTIONS

1.What is the importance of this project for your company's strategy?

2. What would be the impact on the paying customers (internal & External)?

3. What is the planned business impact?

4. What is the scope of project?

5. What are the processes involved?

6. What is defect and how is it measured?

7. What is targeted improvement?

8. What is project timeline?

9. What are the project boundaries?

10. What do you need from management to assure success of this project?

11. What is the pain area - when does it occur, where does it occur, how often, quantify...

12. Is this a chronic issue or a one-time issue?

13. Is the solution already known?

14. Is the root cause already known?

15. Is data available to understand the root cause?

16. Who are the recommended team members?

17. Expected financial impact of the project

18. Identify risks for project failure

19. Can the project be successful - chance of success and can this project be completed on time

20. Are there other similar projects that have been done before?

21. Process/Product Drill Down tree that maps the key processes/products in the business along with the CTQs.

Hi, I have just gone through a white belt training for the very basic overview about six sigma. I read the above topics, and found them very useful. I just want to know about various six sigma tools available (like Gage R&R, Cp, Cpk , DOE). Actually these short forms are not very much helpful, can you please ellaborate on these (means what is Cp, Cpk, and DOE). I have a little bit of idea about Gage R&R, but nothing about the rest. If you could add some more to these, it will really be helpful.

Regards,

Amit

Dear Amit,

There are lots of tools in Six Sigma (> 50) and it would be a really long post to explain these tools. I would recommend that you get a introductory book on Six Sigma and read through that book for understanding the basic concepts. Or, you could also sign up for a GB training session to learn the finer points of these tools.

SJ

Dear Mr. Jayram,

I completed Six Sigma Green Belt this Feb, I would now like to go for a Green Belt project in my present organization. I have identified an area which needs a Six Sigma. Can you please guide me how to start this project.

Thank you

Fazal

Dear Fazal,

Individual project based assistance is only provided to past participants of Benchmark Six Sigma. If you are a past participant (been through Benchmark Six Sigma training), then please post your request on the forum for past participants and I would be glad to help.

Best Regards,

SJ>

I have completed 4 SSB Projects already in my previous organization with another one that would save around $3,10,000 per annum. However, after providing the initial idea and guiding, I could not complete the same as I was not trained on GB. Now is it that important to  be a certified GB to initiate and complete a project that meets/exceeds the $ value for a GB Project?

Dear Praveen,

Good that you asked this question. The answer shall benefit many.

Generating financial benefits does not necessarily mean that improvement initiative qualifies as a successful Six Sigma project. An improvement could happen through a brainstorming session and creative thinking with no use of data or data analysis tools. I am sure you would appreciate that such projects do not qualify as six sigma projects (which requires a structured approach like DMAIC)

To answer your question, it is mandatory to be trained as GB to be able to carry out a green belt project.

It is unclear what you mean by "4 SSB projects". Could you please elaborate further?

Regards,

VK